Gifts and Games With Generations

 Christmas was filled with lots of gifts and games, but most importantly, generations of family.

Before we went to Kansas we made some Happy Birthday Jesus cookies with the gospel colors.

We also ate a lot while in Kansas.

Sister couldn't make it, but we chatted on FaceTime.

Steve is always in our thoughts and hearts. 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the kids anxious to start presents.

I made everyone take family photos after.

On Christmas morning we discovered that Santa had found us in Kansas!

We played card games and Catch Phrase with Grandma. We also played our new game, Our Family is So Weird. Eli was crowned the winner of that one.

Daisy took the boys and the grandparents on a run with Zoey.

We had Little Christmas at our house. 

A few days later we hosted the Big Daniels Family Christmas. We played Left, Right, Center.

Zekers and Lijee were the winners of that.

Most of us played Clue and Apples To Apples,

but some of us napped.

I also forced family photos on this side, too.

We were pleased to have Jimmy and Susan join us,

as well as Grannie's roomie Jim.

Siblings...

Cousins.

Annual Santa pic. Don't think I've missed a year yet.

From our family to yours, wishing you joy and gladness this Christmas!

[Christmas time]

Lights, Camera, Birthday!

Five six. The number just keeps getting bigger and bigger, but I don't feel like I'm getting any older. But it sure does sound old. 

I kicked off the birthday week with lunch with my girls, Jen and Lindsay.  Ellen also took me to lunch one day but we forgot to get a picture.

That evening I drug DanFam5 to the Botanic Garden for the lights.

Eli pointed out the heart leaves.

Only in Texas do they have bluebonnet lights.

Cowtown wouldn't be Cowtown without a longhorn.

We found Santa!

One last photo on the way out. It helped because it was my birthday and they couldn't say no.

On the actual day we went to lunch.

That evening Abe and I watched Daisy play soccer.

The next night of the birthday week we did our annual fondue.

We've been doing birthday fun-do for 10 years.

The Christmas tree in Sundance Square never disappoints. 

This is the tallest live Christmas tree in Texas. Standing 86 feet, it is 11 feet taller than the Rockefeller Center tree in NYC. Everything's bigger in Texas.

I called an audible and we stopped to look at the Cook Children's light display.

 Because it was my birthday they got along splendidly and posed for cute pictures.

It was a great birthday week!

[December 16]

**outtakes**