Saturday, January 24, 2015

Pictures before everyone left

As I usually do, I wanted to take a group picture before people started taking off.  Joshua, Gabe, Emily, and Emerson were taking off first.  Gabe drove Joshua to SFO to fly to southern Ca to meet Erica and Thalia.  Joshua told me he wasn't changing his clothes for the picture because he was busy!  
 Back track...I went outside to see where to set up the tripod...
 A couple of my little men came out to see what their Mimi was up to...
 Another one of my little men, well, he used to be little, but he's still my baby boy...anyway, all three of them were letting me take pictures so I could check the light...
 We tested the timer...
 Then it was time for the group shot!

 Most of us were hanging out outside...and I started taking some more pictures.  Someone pointed out that Gabe and Emerson were dressed alike...
Oh, what a great reason to take another picture!
I took several...as usual!


 These jumping pictures make me laugh...
I'm not sure what prompted these..








 One of the reasons we had so much time for pictures, was that we were waiting for Brandon to come over.  Gabe was wanting to see him, if only for a few minutes..
Finally, the Fikester rolled in...

 Emerson and William were running around outside...William was carrying around this Pound Puppy that was his Mama's when she was a little girl.  It had been found in the attic clearning!
I think Benjamin was packing up 60052!
 I asked the Pops to go stand with Joshua...
he had to fix his hair first...


 Joshua then told me to come stand with him while his Pops took some photos..
 I'm so glad he did!


Lindsey and Eliza came out...
 It was definitely a bit cool outside...
I guess Donnie and Benjamin were still working on 60052...
 Emily and I ...
 Lindsey, Emily, and I

 After these, Joshua, Gabrial, Emily, and Emerson took off...
The next day, it was time for Lindsey, Donnie, Benjamin, William, and Eliza took off.
 So the car was packed...Lindsey and Donnie's, and the boys hopped in the trunk to look 
at 60052...



It was time..
to say good-bye this time..

What fun it was to have them all here...
I definitely missed Erica and Thalia..
and my mom..

but that's the way it was this year!  
It was absolutely wonderful!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Christmas Day

 These little men are amazing!  They were so excited when they got up Christmas morning...and they waited - patiently...and waited - patiently..until nearly 10 a.m. to open their stockings!  We were getting some food ready...Joshua had an urgent need to go get a 'Buckey's'...all before stockings!  The boys just played. 
 Finally, it was time!
 Stockings came first...

 You may remember Benjamin hope of 60052, a lego set.
When this gift was given to him to open, he never even had it completely opened before he was sitting down looking at the box.

 Emerson was loving his football book and his dad's calendar!

 I don't know if Eliza has ever had a stocking, but she had one with us!
Joshua and his Pop
Now Ron is adorned with his new shooting goggles and earphones...

 My littlest man opening a gift with his Daddy...
 Emily was happy with her new Keurig!
 This football isn't Gabe's...but he was just checking out Emerson's newest football...
 my baby girl!
 Emily was checking out Emerson's new headphones..
 This little man was sure loving hanging out in his new pajamas!
We also had a note left on the kitchen counter.... um?

It was definitely a Merry Christmas...