Christmas Cookies & Outer Space

Grandpa Dick & Daddy took the boys to Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. We've been before but this time they were exactly the right age for it. They had a blast - pun intended!
Here are also some shots of them making Christmas cookies in the kitchen and giving one to Grandpa Dick. Yummy!

Christmas Day - Part II
Uncle David & Auntie Barbie's House

We enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Day and Evening in Los Gatos with Barb & David. They prepared a lovely meal that we adults ate while the kids sat in the other room watching a movie - genious!!! Why did we never think of that before. Auntie Barbie is pregnant with their first baby, so that made it extra fun.
What????Is this car too small for me?

Our little family...

Cindy & Barb

Jack, Gabe & Tyler with David's nephews Conner & Kevin. Watching Ratatouille during dinner.

The boys playing football.

Dick, Vera & Barb

David & Barb - the parents to be

David getting ready to open a bottle of Champagne. Notice Jack in the back covering his ears. Hilarious!

Barb & her new windowbox.

The guys having a drink.

Again, hilarious! He looks like he's in a bar...

Christmas Day - Part I
At Grandpa Dick & Grandma Vera's

"Santa" came ! The boys enjoyed opening their gifts and stockings while we adults sat and watched, trying to wake up. It's fun to just get right into it since Mommy likes opening presents in jammies. "Santa" is in quote marks because Geoff and I are working hard at letting the kids believe in Santa without lying to them. We ended up saying things like , "you guys can't sleep out by the tree tonight because the 'Santa Group' will be coming in there to leave your gifts". Jack and Gabe had been sleeping in the living room during the first part of our trip and he says to me one night, "Mommy, I figure I've got an excellent chance of seeing Santa while I'm sleeping here...probably about a 100%". Isn't that sweet? Regardless, the boys slept elsewhere on Christmas Eve.

A Visit With Benita

While at Cindy's parents house for Christmas, we had the pleasure of visiting with Dick and Vera's friend, Benita. They have known one another from church for 25 years. What a lady!!! She grew up in Latvia in the early 1900s and met her husband (who died a week before we took these photos) in one of Hitler's concentration camps. They learned how to farm and know all there is to know about animal husbandry, planting and cultivating crops and flowers. Benita lives off the land at her house except for the meat she buys at the market. Vera helps her out a lot with errands and while we were there, they were planning her husband's memorial service. She is just wonderful and it was a treat to spend the morning with her at her home. Here are some shots of us standing in front of her beautiful view of the Bay Area, collecting birds' nests and squash from her grounds, and picking fresh raspberries.