Christmas Eve at the Benjamin-Bakers

We have had such a nice and relaxing fun day. Deven went into his folks room this am and asked "Is gramma still here?" When told I was, he came and crawled in with me---at 6am. Not bad except I am in the midst of a good book and read until 1 am. Brie had said as she was trying to get Josh to go to sleep, that last time she went into labor he had been up late! Of course, the book won out over the warning. Deven and I snuggled and then went groceries shopping, Starbucks and the park.

Josh's family---making the group 14 in total ----came over midafternoon and we had a fantastic meal (Josh had gotten up at 5am to start the ham!) and they brought lots to share----and sufficient sweets for a brigade!!!!

Present opening was next for all the kids. Deven is so excited about the whole holiday---Santa, baby Jesus---he plays with one of the Nativity sets ALL the time and, of course gifts. We are now taking turns getting him to go to sleep and getting all the gifts under the tree. He is going to go nuts tomorrow. From what I have seen so far, he is getting some cool stuff.

I don't think I have EVER been this relaxed for a holiday. I am feeling very blessed.

Love to all and we'll talk sometime during the day.

Val

Last one ....I promise

Promise only valid until Deven wakes up in 10 or so hours.
Brie

Check out these hot moves. Jealous Linds?
Brie

Ok, we know we screwed up on the first post and will probably catch hell from,,,,hmmm....I guess just Brock. All others enjoy. Next we'll try a video---which should throw Brock into a coma.

Brie

Deven and Zev

Hey all, I'm finally on. Here are some pics of Deven and Zev from last weekend. You can also see us decorating our tree today. We are having a Christmas party with Josh's family tomorrow so we figured it was about time.
Check out the belly. It won't be there for long.
Brie

Should we rename the blog?

I loved seeing Zev open the gift from Lori and Dave---he didn't like it much did he???? Maybe we should rename the blog, "Zev Opening Gifts"?????

I talked to Gail tonight and didn't think to mention that they hadn't gotten on. I am going down to Tucson tomorrow after church. Almost all of my "have tos" are done. Nice.

Business has been down from last year but still good. Lots of guys in the store with that "deer in the headlights" look.

I taught in Brie's science classes last Monday all about ocular melanoma and protonbeam radiation. We had them sew sequins on a black and white copy of the photo of my eye that shows the tumor. They enjoyed that and we got some great questions. I also loved the day with Brie and seeing her school. It was a culture shock though!!!!

We'll post photos of the BBs and me over the Christmas holiday. I am coming back up here Wednesday or Thursday morning. Diane and I have given each other the day off on Wednesday-----the first day of our annual "We don't want to count it" Sale. Then I am just "on call" for when labor starts!

Love to all!

Zev's Christmas present from Lori/Dave

Well Zev's Christmas present from Lori & Dave showed up last night. We'd been over at Theryn & Zoetta's house all night and so we opened it around 9:30 or 10 p.m. Zev went crazy. Luckily the three and older toy sets don't have that small of pieces (its ok, the age limits are set up weird). Today he's been running around trying to saw, hammer and screw everythign in sight.