This was the year for our children to go to their spouse's family for Christmas (we take turns). With small children and having to find housing for their dogs, we decided that it was easier for Jeff and I to go to NWA on Dec. 30th for our Christmas than for them to wait until the weekend of January 4th to come to Kansas. My sister and brother-in-law were gracious enough to let us use one of their lakehouses in Bella Vista. It made our time in NWA so much more enjoyable! Thank you, Kaye & Rob!
Rachel and Copeland came out shortly after we arrived on Monday. Because of our extra busy December, I hadn't found the time to wrap all the gifts. So thankfully, Rachel and Jeff wrapped them for me (it's a job that I absolutely hate and am terrible at!)
This lakehouse has a double fireplace. So the stockings and big kids' gifts (as well as the great-granchildren's stockings from Grandma Boore) were on one side.
And the grandchildren's gifts on the other side
Shortly after getting all the gifts wrapped, Andy & Josh joined us and then a little later, Carman and the girls came out. I sure love these three babies!
That evening we went to P.F. Changs in Rogers for our Christmas dinner. This is something we have done several times over the years.
Back at the house.....using Jonathan's timer, we got a family picture before gift opening and then pictures of individual families, etc.
Now time to open gifts and these two little girls were ready!
2013 was Copeland's first Christmas.....he learned quickly that it's fun to tear paper!
When Laine and Ellie went to see Santa (picture at the bottom), and Santa asked Laine what she wanted for Christmas, she responded, "A Reindeer." So of course, Papa had to find her a reindeer! Maybe not exactly what she was referring to, but she loves her reindeer and calls him, "Rainy"....and slept with him every night at the lakehouse :-)
The grandchildren spent two nights with us. It was our first time to have all 3 of them by ourselves. It went great and we loved every minute! The first morning......
Laine loves dressing up like a princess. Uncle JJ (Josh); Aunt Ray-Ray (Rachel) and Uncle Jonathan and Jeff and I all got her some dress up clothes. This outfit was from Uncle JJ. The crown was part of her stocking stuff from Great Grandma Boore.
Ellie wanted to dress up too, so we put Little Mermaid, Ariel's outfit on her (that I had got for Laine) and then Laine dressed in the outfit Rachel gave her.
Cute boy!
We had given Laine the game, Cootie, so Papa is playing with the girls. Laine whipped him :-).
New Year's Day, Carman, Laine and I went to see the new Disney movie, "Frozen." It has a red-headed princess, lots of snow and ice and a reindeer that is the star animal, so of course, we loved it!
The kiddos playing on the bed. Wish I could have posted all of the posings, lots of funny ones...but just chose two. So fun!
After several pictures, the girls just couldn't sit still any longer!
After a New Year's day of watching football, eating and having fun, it was time for everyone to go home.....one last picture with our "icing on the cake of life" .......
Just wanted to include these here for memories....loved how Copeland had to check out Santa's beard.....
And one of the girls.....Ellie wasn't too sure about Santa this year.
And then this one, is with snow that Google added, so of course, I love it!
