Christmas Eve - The Lohmans

Every Christmas Eve, our friends Mark and Peggy Lohman have an open house at their home. We came to know them 7 years ago as the parents of our son-in-law Jeff. We try and stop by after church on Christmas Eve for their delicious homemade tamales, baked goodies and holiday cheer. Each year the gathering has grown as more of their kids have gotten married or had their first babies. This year their youngest daughter Aimee brought her new puppy. We had a great time.

Tamales!

Peggy & Me

Papa G

Jeff, Ewan and Katrina

The girls - theargentinegene.blogspot.com

The crowd

Ewan, Jef and great-grandma Marilyn "GG"

Marilyn and Mark

Jared, Liana and Aimee

Aimee's new puppy "Brody"

Corey and Becca

Katrina and Becca

Christmas Eve - Audra's Birthday

Audra Rose was 11 on Christmas Eve. When she was 12 hours old, the hospital sent us home with her in a big Christmas stocking. She was so cute with a red and green knit cap on and just her little cheeks peeking out. We still have the stocking, and every year we put her in it to take a photo. This year she stood in it for the picture as I told her that we will probably have her stand in it until she is 21 and can only fit 1 foot in. She loves her special stocking and is always happy to pose in it. Here she is 2007, 2008 and 2009.

So this leads to the question, "How do you celebrate a child's birthday on Christmas Eve?" We have always been careful to make it special for her so she doesn't feel forgotten. Typically, most of her friends are busy with the holidays, but our family is big enough for a party. We always have a birthday cake sometime on the 24th, and the last few years we have tried to do something special that was 'non-Christmasy'. Last year we all went to Build-a-Bear Workshop so she could make a stuffed animal, then we went to Limited Too to choose some new birthday outfits, then out to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. All 11 of us, at the mall, on Christmas Eve. It was great fun.

This year we went to see Disney on Ice at Staples Center, all 11 of us,  then a few days later we took her ice skating. Also great fun.

We love our Christmas Eve Baby, our youngest,
Audra Rose. Happy Birthday!

Holiday Lights

Every year we spend some time driving around looking at the holiday lighting displays our neighbors put up. This year Audra and I walked around our neighborhood and took some photos. Enjoy.

Santa Comes to Our Neighborhood

An annual tradition in our city is the "Santa Star Visits". There are large white stars painted on the street at intersections throughout the residential areas of our city. Santa a his helpers visit each star over several days in early December. The whole neighborhood gathers at the star to see the sleigh pull up and spend a little time with the Jolly Old Elf. Carolers sing, candy canes are passed and the kids love it! What a great city we live in.

Holiday Shows

December is always a busy month, especially with a big family. We started the Holiday Shows on Dec 8th, with Audra's 5th grade class singing at her school, then on Dec 9th and 10th, Jared performed with the men's choir from his middle school.

Last weekend we went to see the Disney on Ice Show to celebrate Audra's birthday. The whole family went, 11 in all. It was a great show!