Merry Christmas!

Ava really enjoyed the holidays this year as she's beginning to understand that they bring fun, yummy food and visiting relatives...and a gift or two. Her favorite thing about Christmas so far has been the Christmas lights. The first time she saw them this year we were driving down the road and she screamed, "MOMMY...look!!!" I nearly swerved off of the road before I realized she was just excited about the lights.

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's house where Ava got to visit with her great-grandmother, Rose (Grandpa's Mom) as well as Adam's cousin, Jason and his Dad, Art. Of course, the regular 'Hofer clan was there as well...all her aunts and uncles and cousins!

Ava and cousin Caleb loved playing with the puppet theatre that Adam made for her for Christmas...it has stage lights, velvet curtains and everything! He also made a separate hinged box for puppet storage.

A laid-back, lazy Christmas morning was spent drinking hot cocoa and egg nog, listening to Christmas music and opening a few gifts, at our house.

Adam helps Ava with the buckle on her red, sparkly dress-up shoes...what a sweet Daddy!

Christmas afternoon was spent at Nana and Poppy's house where Ava got to meet my cousin, Tommy, for the first time. She also got to visit with my cousin, Christina and her son, Trenton (one of her favorite cousins!).

Uncle Josh and Aunt Kat showed Ava how to work their playdough gift...I think Uncle Josh may have had more fun than Ava!

At Grandma and Grandpa's house Ava and her cousins, Caleb and Trevor had lots of fun decorating Christmas cookies.

We continued our annual tradition of decorating a gingerbread house...Ava still enjoys eating the "decorations" most during this project!

We hope this holiday season finds you and yours surrounded by those you love, delicious food and plenty of memories to last for many Christmas times to come!