Louis Christmas 2009

For Christmas, I got a new lens for my camera, so I have an obnoxious amount of photos from the Louis Christmas Extravaganza.

Our Christmas week started out with the arrival of the Whitesides on Monday, or as Henry calls them V.V (Evie), PimPee (M.P.- Mary Pat),and Roar (Ryan, duh, it sounds like Lion). They stayed the week with us and were great house guests.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

On Tuesday, the Herndon side of the family had lunch with Grandmother Herndon.

Grandmother Herndon with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildern

Wednesday was warm so we enjoyed the outdoors

We met up at the high school to watch Jack (Tom's youngest bro) get schooled by his girlfriend in a soccer shoot out.

Wednesday night, we had a Christmas dinner with Tom's dad's side of the family.

Young cousins

Older cousins


We had to document their cute outfits

And get a family photo

Christmas Eve

Thursday morning, Tom, Henry, and I opened our stockings.

Tom got this precious dress for Baby Margaret

"Choo Choo"

That afternoon, it started snowing

Before going to a Christmas Eve service, Mary Pat coordinated making cookies for Santa

MMM, they were delicious... Well, at least that's what Santa told me.

Tried to get a pic of Henry's Christmas outfit... he's pretty hard to photograph these days.

Tom's parents church

During the service, Tom's dad got up to speak and Henry shouted out "PawPaw! PawPaw!" and darted for the aisle... much to his displeasure we stopped him

Our lovely house guests

Post church service cousins' pic

Gabe, Henry, Thomas, Arden, Ella, Alice, Isabelle, and Evie

Dinner

Ross, Jenny, and Gabe

Jack

Oh, I've forgotten to mention that we (all 11 adults and 8 kids) spent the night at Tom's parents house. Restful? not really. Memorable? definitely!

Ella and Isabelle setting out cookies for Santa

Christmas Day

Henry and Evie snacking before our Christmas breakfast

Snow was still on the ground

Present opening

Playing with one of Alice's Santa gifts

(Henry later opened his at our home)

Yep, I got a Funnel Cake maker with mix

We took a break from each other for the afternoon :)

But before leaving, the cousins made a spectacular snowman.

Like my outfit???


We later gathered again to enjoy one last dinner together

The cousins performed the Christmas story

And we enjoyed each other's company one last time.

We missed the Charlotte Louises- Alex, Sam, Addie, Walter, Megan, and Baby Jackson!

Jenny and Mary Pat....

... there are multiple posts... keep scrolling :)

Arboretum / Maiden Voyage

On Monday, I decided to take the double stroller out for a spin and joined Amy and Meagan and their little ones at the Arboretum.

This was my last week with Alice, so it was fun to get out and do something special with her. She was such a trooper!

Whoa, this thing is big! It was a beast getting in and out of the car, but actually "steered" well and had lots of storage for all we needed.
I successfully fed Henry, Alice, and myself!!!

We thought the Arboretum would be decked out with Christmas decor. Not so much.

We did find Santa's Workshop.

"Knock, knock. Santa are you there??"

Meagan is expecting her 2nd kiddo, also, so she has this sit and stand. She showed Henry how to hop on and he enjoyed the ride!

Kiddos playing in the ship

Miss Brinley enjoying the sunshine

What a good friend Meagan was to help Amy push her stroller while Brinley ate.

It was such a beautiful day to be outside!