The Hard-to-get-a-degree's: TBT: Christmases #5 & #6 & Baby Luke's Timely Arrival

There are several posts I want to write from a few months ago that were not written for some reason or another (most likely due to my working mom schedule). Since I recently learned about the new-fangled acronym TBT (Throw Back Thursday), I figured I would start posting on Thursday about past things.

So, here is my first TBT post about the remainder of our big Texas Christmas trip. I wrote about Christmases #1 & #2 here and Christmases #3 & #4 here.

5) Clyde Christmas

On the 27th, we all headed to Clyde to have Christmas with Dana and Chris' sisters and their families. It was the first time the 3 cousins were going to meet. We were pretty excited. Of course, they were fairly indifferent to each other at the ages of 1.5 years (Chris' older sister, Mary's son Grayson),

9 months (Lottie), and 1 month (Chris' younger sister, Elizabeth's daughter Claire).

Grayson and Lottie did pay enough attention to each other in order to desire whatever toy the other had. Lottie didn't mind sharing when the only toys were Grayson's new toys. However, the tables turned when Lottie opened her gifts and suddenly had toys she didn't want to share.

In the end there were plenty of toys to go around with all the great books, games, baby doll, and such that Lottie received in addition to all the boy things Grayson received.

Chris even showed Lottie how to play with her new baby doll.

Mostly, it was wonderful being with everyone. The house was packed full of family, and the table covered in food. It was cozy, loud, and just as it should be.

Ganny with the Great Grandkids

Mary with Lottie & Grayson

Nana with Lottie

6) Aero Bee Ranch Christmas

We left Clyde Christmas and headed to the ranch to celebrate with Great Gran & Great Papa.

Kisses from Great Gran

They gave her a jumper, which she loves. She loves to bounce and sway and swivel.

Conversations with Great Papa

Uncle Mike also showed up for a little hunting, so we got to spend more time with him.

With all the family around, Chris and I sneaked in a little date. We went to the Burnet Air Museum. Although small, it was really cool. We were the only ones there at first, so the docent, a very sweet little old man, gave us a tour. He founded the museum, so he knew the story of each artifact and gave the perfect amount of detail. His brother was a crew member on a B-24 (same plane featured in Unbroken) and disappeared on a mission just like the book Unbroken describes as happening to so many B-24's. He was incredibly interesting.

Sitting in a B-24 gun turret

A C-47

After a couple of days, Chris left to go on his annual boys hunting trip, and Great Gran and Great Papa headed home, leaving Lottie and I with Poppa and Gigi. We relaxed and played--it was a nice change from the first half of the trip where we changed locations every 2 nights.

Walking to the "lake"

1st time to pull up on anything

New game with Gigi - being pulled around in a laundry basket

Discovering pots and big spoons

We partied hard on New Year's of course (Lottie went to bed by 9, and we watched a movie and did a puzzle). The next morning we did have mimosas though (Lottie cut her OJ with water--she lives on the wild side).

Meanwhile, Chris was stuck in West Texas due to an intense ice storm, so we ended up behind a day. We decided to load up and drive the 2 hours to Waco, stay with Bros and Sarah, and then leave early the next morning.

However, much to my excitement, Sarah went into labor that night. Chris and I opted to stay another night in order to greet Baby Luke on his first day. We had a fun, relaxing (at least for all but Sarah) day until Bros and Sarah left for the hospital that evening. Luke arrived at 530 am, and Chris, Lottie, and I swung by the hospital on our way out of town to see the precious new family of three.