Papa and Jackson spending some time together after Christmas. Jackson sure loves all of his grandparents and flying to go see them. He asks frequently about when we're going.

Mom and Dad did a great job of grandparenting all of the little ones. They stayed three weeks, long enough for everyone but Mom to get sick and recover/begin recovery. Dad did his usual "we're not opening a present on Christmas Eve" routine, so it really felt like the holiday. Mom taught Jackson and Delaney how to make Frosty out of a tube sock, rice, and some do-dads. What fun! 

And here's the photo of us immediately before the day of combat ensued. Notice the conspicuous lack of paint and bruises. :)

The mighty warriors prepare to depart

This is one of 3 "before" pictures on the occasion of the paintball day I organized while my nephw Trey was in town.

This is one of about a zillion pictures Kysa took at Red Rock - apparently a great place for a model photo-shoot. I guess Kysa's got gook instincts because I really like this picture of Kyla and me. She's my only niece. 

Red Rock in Dec.

Our nephew, Trey, hanging out at Red Rock Canyon. It's one of the places we love to take visitors. It's maybe 30 minutes from our house and you can see these amazing striations in the rock and scramble all the way to the top. 

Hiking at Red Rock Canyon

Could Dad be a model, or what? 

"Frosty the snowman, was a jolly happy soul, he was filled with rice and glued real nice, and he was made of a tube sock..." It kind-of works with the tune. Kyla and Kysa making a Frosty. 

Here we all are - Christmas morning in the desert. Did you know that the Joshua tree (in the background) really is a tree and not a cactus at all?! We call them Dr. Seuss trees.

The Missouri Georges on Christmas Eve at our house. 

On the first hill up of the "mini" roller coaster - Jackson's first. After the ride was over he stated with big, silent tears rolling down his face, "That was a little fast for me. It was a little too scary." 

Jackson and Kyla were master Disney Celebrity Hunters. Grandma Jackie supplied them autograph books to fill. 

Apparently the Haunted Mansion Ride IS scary.

SC and Missouri Georges and CA Cooks gathered for Christmas in sunny Southern California this year. Here are some of the crew at the "happiest place on earth" - can't you feel the love? Was Disneyland ready for this crowd? 

The never-ending line to go into "Small World", followed by the never ending song "It's a Small World."