Merry Christmas!

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas with all the usual festivities. We put up all the decorations adding some lit garland on the front porch this year. Mari Cagle and Nate loved putting the ornaments on the tree as they remembered all the ones they made and all the ones that were given to them over the years. Nate was especially cute as he pulled out each decoration stating, "This one is very special to me." And Caz is mesmerized with the lights, especially when we turn out all the other lights. We've done lots of shopping. Mari Cagle and Nate had their first experience online shopping. This year they picked out each others presents on Amazon. I've created a monster with Nate. He has now created a wish list of his own that is up to 109 items!! We have done lots of baking, cookies for church and pumpkin bread for teachers and neighbors. We've enjoyed Christmas music, especially "Angels We Have Heard On High" played by our favorite violinist. We visited Santa and got a great shot of the kiddos with him. Santa has his work cut out for him as their lists have changed from when he started making toys and now, the weekend before Christmas!! And now we are all set to pack! We can't wait to enjoy our favorite part of the Christmas season...time with family and friends!!! See you soon!

In our matching Christmas PJs...

On Skype with Grammy and PopPop...

On the way to MC's violin concert...

MC's duet...she's playing the melody.

Visiting Santa...

On another note, Caz turned 8 weeks old this week. Here he is peacefully sleeping in his favorite bouncy seat.

Thanksgiving

We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving thanks to a visit from Britton, Kim, Quinn & Payton. It made our holiday to have them come from so far away to see us and to meet Caz for the first time, especially considering Britton chose to celebrate his birthday with us too! If you check Kim and Britton's blog, these pictures may seem familiar. My camera battery went dead early in the visit so I copied their pictures, but when you're looking at faces like these, surely you don't mind seeing them again. :)

Payton was so sweet with Caz! I thought that her fascination with her would wear off, but she looked for him and sat with him and kissed on him and held him her whole trip. She and 'my baby Caz' had quite a time. I hope they'll be good friends always.

MC and Quinn were a pair as usual. Two peas in a pod playing dolls, barbies, princesses, Indian princesses, and anything else their imaginations came up with. The Indian princesses were so cute. They made headbands complete with Indian names, 'Gentle Heart' and 'Gentle Flower.' Nate got in on the game too playing the part of Lewis and Clark and also taking on an Indian name, 'Handsome Porcupine.' Together they made up 'Tribe Lockhart.' They hunted for food with bows and arrows made from clothes hangars. It was only slightly disturbing that they hunted their stuffed animals and then proceeded to skin and cook them. :) We tried not to read too much in to it rationalizing that they were just trying to be authentic in their play.

We tried our best to come up with fun things to do to make their visit worthwhile...we visited the Children's museum...

...the park (despite the cold weather)...

...bowling...

and Lost in Fun (an indoor playground with bounce houses, etc).

Caz was a sport on all our outings!! He tagged along sleeping most of the time, never complaining (aka crying or fussing). Have I mentioned how lucky I am that he is so easy-going?!?

And after all was said and done, the kiddos were pooped...

We really had a GREAT time.

Again, thank you Britton and Kim for coming!! Mari Cagle and Nate had a spectacular time with Quinn and Payton, and Brandon and I loved the late nights of Clue and Canasta. We LOVED having you here!!