There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays

For the first time in four years we made it 'home' for the holidays!

So fun to be with this side of the family again. Aunt Kathy & Uncle Gene and Aunt Linda & Uncle Gary joined us for the afternoon but we forgot to get a picture. 

We missed Sister and her family, but here's Grandma and Grandpa with the rest of the grandkids and great grandkids.

We woke up to a dusting of snow for Christmas!

But first, Santa's gifts.

Santa brought group gifts, which the kids thought was pretty lame. At one point that they started  to guess the group gifts.

They figured it out!

After gifts we checked out the snow.

Not a lot of snow, but more than in Texas!

Zeke was taste-testing it.

We came in to warm up and play our new game with Grandma.

We saved our DanFam5 gifts for when we returned home. 

🎵 If you want to be happy in a million ways

 for the holidays, you can't beat home sweet home.🎵

[December 24-26]

 

A Clueless Murder

This year the theme for the annual Reinhaw murder mystery was A Clueless Murder,  involving the murder of Samuel A. Sapphire, an arrogant millionaire, questionable father, (un)loving husband, and a mysterious master. Here is DanFam5, all dressed and ready to do some sleuthing. 

Presenting the late Samuel Sapphuire's sister Madame Mauve and her son Pierre Pink, daughter Ms. Teal, the chauffeur Monsieur Slate, and the accountant Reverend Emerald.

I found a fun 'stache for Pierre Pink.

Monsieur Slate was devastated that his mother, Antoinette the maid, was also murdered. We thought it was good acting by Zekers, but turns out he had instructions to run to her body for reasons to be revealed later. 

The winners for the evening: Jason, aka Don Burgundy the pool boy as best dressed; Zeke, aka Monsieur Slate as the chauffeur and the the correct guesser of the killer; Matt, aka Officer Indigo as the best in character; and Preston, aka Sandy Silver the art specialist who bribed the players for the most money. A fun time had by all!

[December 23]

Big Daniels Christmas

Holidays are for family! The kids enjoyed some game time with cousins. 

Family groupie!

Grannie and Granddad with all their grandkids. 

Grannie and Grandad with us.

Love my goofy little boy. 

My little dog was happy to try out a new lap to lie on. 

[December 22]

Birthday Fundue

My favorite day of the year--my birthday! We kept with tradition and had dessert for dinner at Simply Fondue.

On the way out we popped over to Sundance Square for a picture with Santa.

Abe and I got out of the photo so I could have one of just the kids. Abe was stuck behind the sleigh, so he jumped over the flowers. His foot got caught on the sled runner and he fell. Santa told the kids, "That's what every kid wants for Christmas--to see Dad bust his ass." Look at the kids' faces in response.

Next we did one of my favorite winter activities of looking at Christmas lights.

We tried a new drive-through that had some very busy displays.

Chuey enjoyed the lights, too.

My birthday was topped off with gifts.

On advisory day Lijee gave me the axolotl that he crocheted just for me. 💙  My favorite day with my favorite people. 

[December 16]