Thursday, January 12, 2012
December 2011
Our December was full of one family gathering after another! It was busy but lots of fun, and I love that Harper has so many wonderful family members to love on her. Brent's folks organized a family photo shoot with a photographer and Mimi's grandkids Wesley and Caroline were in town from Tennessee. We took some candid shots as well, and here are some from that day...
Caroline, Harper and Wesley
Addy and Harper
The professional group shot with Addy and Harper holding hands
Playing with some rocks (of course)
Blowing a dandelion
Holton hanging out on Brian's shoulders
And our favorite was this professional one of Harper...such a sweetie!
We also took a little family trip to the Arboretum on a nice day in December...
We brought along a little picnic lunch.
A girl's gotta have coordinating sunglasses!
Studying the fish up close
Sitting in a covered wagon with Daddy
This was Brent's family's year for Christmas, but we did Christmas a week early with my family. Ricky arrived on December 12th from Korea with his girlfriend Kim, who has never been to Texas. They get to stay for over two months, so we will have lots of time to be with them and show Kim some of the South!
Harper helped hang ornaments at Nana's house
Opening her Dora guitar from Ricky and Kim
She was really excited about a little blue flashlight she got for Christmas and was checking out the light's effect on a sucker.
Granddad and Harper spent a LOT of quality time together in the backyard. They were doing some nature studies and forming letters out of sticks.
And now onto Christmas with Brent's family. Brent's sister Amy, her husband Clay and their four kids (ages 8 to 15) drove in on the 20th from Tennessee. We got to spend a week with them and now, two weeks later, Harper is still talking about all of her cousins. I cannot emphasize enough how much she loves her cousins! Right now Harper is into having us make up songs at night when we sing to her, and every night she asks for us to sing a song about her cousins. So we oblige...again and again. :)
Harper and Addy laughing and being silly
An example of how sweet our Tennessee nieces and nephews are...Harper would lead the cousins in follow-the-leader activities. They would race behind her and imitate her every move. What a sense of power our two-year-old must have felt! :) She couldn't get enough of it!
More Harper-led moves!
"Everybody, arms up!"
Harper especially connected with her 15-year-old cousin Faith. Faith spent the night at our house one night and played with Harper for hours. When Faith said goodbye to Harper, she gave her her own red headband, and Harper cherishes it. When we make up our "cousin" songs at night, Harper asks that the red headband be included in the song lyrics.
On the 23rd, we had an extended family gathering with Brent's dad's side of the family. We were also celebrating Brent's grandma's 96th birthday!
Grandma Grace with all of her great-grandkids!
And the whole group--not bad for a timer shot!
Singing Happy Birthday
T-Pa reading to Harper
And on Christmas Eve, we had a barbecue lunch with some of Brent's mom's side of the family.
Brent and his Grandma Crickett
Crickett with some of her great-grandkids
Making some silly faces for the camera
"Cheese!"
Merry Christmas, sleepyhead!
After having Christmas morning at our individual houses, we all met for brunch at Mimi and T-Pa's house. It was a relaxing day of hanging out and eating good food!
Harper listening to a little book she got for Christmas
Mimi and T-Pa gave the girls a very fun bubble gun. This picture might look a little like Brent is assaulting Harper with bubbles, but she loved it.
Harper in her Christmas dress this year
I hope everyone else had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
