November...and December...

The beginning of November marked a special occasion for Nephew #2--his 1st communion!

All the 5th graders

Isn't he handsome?

That weekend was also sweet Savannah's 6th birthday party.  Just like Lucy, she wanted a stack of RR donuts in lieu of a cake!

The next weekend we traveled to San Antonio to attend the statewide NFB conference.

NFB president Mark Riccobono

We also spent some time walking around the city and showing Lucy the culture and the grave sites of several of our family members.

sweet picture of Lucy reading the back of Uncle Vern's gravestone

Now, on to Thanksgiving!  We had several celebrations this year--one at my parents house the weekend before T-day, one ON T-day at Aunt Carol/Uncle Tom's house, and then a quick trip to Galveston afterwards with the Houston crew.  I'll post separately for Galveston!

Sadly, this is the only picture I took from the celebration at Nena's!  It was delicious.

A. holding Michael at Aunt Carol's

kid soup! Lucy, J and Kaden

And a Happy Thanksgiving sign that she drew by herself

Also, because she likes being "famis", here is her colored turkey hanging on the library wall (the brown, red, orange and yellow one at the top)

Now, on to December...

We went to the annual family night in downtown RR and arrived early enough to watch the mayor call Santa Claus and flip the Christmas lights on.

Me and Lucy, waiting patiently

The mayor turning the lights on

library puppet show

the over-crowded card-making table

The next day, we hung the lights and decorated the house.  DH helped this year!

The lights look even better at night!

This year, Lucy wanted to participate in the Santa Lucia court at the family night at church.  She also sang in the children's choir!

Santa Lucia court

Lucy as a maiden and J as a star boy :)

lined up, ready to start

My sweet li'l Lucia, looking up at me

The court was supposed to go left/right but sort of fell apart at the end (you might hear laughing in the video).  Ha!

Lauren played Santa Lucia this year, which Lucy really wants to do next year!

Jack, Charlotte, Lauren and Lucy--we do it for the cookies!

The next weekend was the annual DARS family holiday celebration.  We had a good time as always!

Lucy and her buddy Minnie

marble painting

Lucy and Santa

After the party, I wanted to get Lucy's picture next to her great-grandfather's headstone as the cemetery was very near the party in Austin. 

Both sides of our families use family names in naming our kids

The next day was the Christmas program at church.  Lucy opted to be a sheep again this year!  They also had pre-service music played by 5 kids on the piano, and Lucy was one of them.

My happy sheep

whole group

Wolff salute?

And that same week, Lucy had her 1/2 birthday!

Two days later marked the last day of school before winter break, and was able to arrange my work schedule so that I could go to her class party!

playing marshmallow pick-up with chopsticks

silly girls

more silly girls!

Mr. O playing the games with the kids

class picture

me and silly

Paikea, Melanie, Londyn, Ale, Mia, Elizabeth, Halle and Lucy

And lastly, our elves have returned this year.  Unfortunately, Templeton the rat got ahold of one of the elves and attempted to use their legs for bedding. 

"Dear Holly, I'm sorry that our rat bit your legs off.  Here is a candy cane"

Oh no!

"Dear Elves, Should I make a hospital just in case you get hurt again? Love, Lucy"

The magic continues...