Christmas in NY

We spent Christmas in upstate NY with James' family this year.  It was so good to see his brother and sisters again and their families, Mom and Dad Fowler, as well as Grandpa Fowler.

Aunt Chris' hot tub felt so nice in the snow!

Sledding at Uncle Bills

 

 With beautiful cousin Katelyn

Erika met us at Grandpa Fowler's place in Lyons.  It was so good to see her and her kids, Cid and Elle.  They've gotten so big!

 Notice Grandpa Fowler's cute little horse collection on the bookshelf...

 Elle gave Alice one of her own favorite childhood toys, which was so thoughtful!

 

 

 

 

 

 I think it's funny in the picture above.  I didn't notice it when I took the shot, but I'm sure that is my monkey Johnny in the background walking on the chair.

 James also got to play in the Annual Sandy Creek alumni game.  That is him (blurry in the center) guarding his brother Bill.  There was a bit of brotherly feuding going on there.

 The Bach kids were so sweet with our children.  Alexis constantly wanted to hold Alice and the boys were enamored with cousin Chad, following him everywhere.
Cousin Chad will be a pro football player someday. 


Christmas Eve, we went to a beautiful service at their Presbyterian church, where we lit candles and sung hymns. It was really cool.  Christmas morning was very fun- they have the tradition of setting out cookies and notes for Santa the night before.

 In the morning they wake up to the plate of cookies all in a disarray, and a note back from Santa. 

Uncle Ted also puts on skis and poles Christmas eve and leaves "sleigh tracks and reindeer footprints" all around the snow outside (he even does it for the neighbors yards too!).  

 

Christmas morning all the kids sat on the stairway and waited until the adults were ready to go downstairs and see the tree and stockings.

 

 

 

 Johnny's favorite gift was a Mcdonald's "cwedit cawd" from Aunt Chris.

 Cousins totally showered my kids with gifts!


It was snowy the whole time we were up there.  It was nice and cozy and Chris cooked such good food while we were there.  She was so wonderful to put up with such a big group of guests (our family and James' parents were staying with them at their house).  We had a great time teaching them and playing Carcassone.  Cousin Zach was so kind to give up his room and bed for us.

Something kind of fun- on Christmas afternoon, we ventured out as our little family to a Chinese Restaurant in a neighboring town.


We were the only ones there.  It was really fun and a great Christmas day memory.

The boys enjoyed flying in an airplane, and Alice was such a good baby.  On the flight home, she nursed pretty much the entire flight!  I was completely emptied out by the time we landed.  Johnny on the other hand, was totally wired and wouldn't even nap.  He kept on making his classic "monkey face" to the people behind us who were cracking up (just like the face in the picture below):