Christmas for the cousins

The day after Christmas, we loaded everyone up in the car to spend a daycelebrating  Christmas with the cousins. 

Nana finally got some baby time. She was really not feeling well over thanksgiving and didn't hold Willow at all. Willow was happy to have her Nana time too. 

Bows and arrows seemed to be a popular gift this year. Wes and Easton spent the afternoon outside practicing their archery and giving each other tips. 

After a delicious grilled pork loin lunchtime feast, the kids all opened their gifts from each other. Easton was a very happy pirate. They spent the rest of the day playing with their gifts, building Legos together, and ended the evening with a movie and hot cocoa. 

Papa was a very busy elf in his workshop this year. He built Willow her own cradle. Obviously, we had too put her inside for a photo. 

Papa also made Gabriela a cradle in memory of Simone, since he has made cradles for all his granddaughters. 

The bottoms says, "Gabriela, may you honor the memory of Simone always. Her Papa will love her forever". Gabriela gets to keep and treasure her sister's cradle. It warms my heart that Papa included Simone in Christmas. Auntie Cynthia did too. She made a donation to the International Rescue Committee in Simone's honor. Thank you for remembering our daughter at the holidays especially. 

We had an impromptu slumber party. The ladies planned for Cynthia's baby shower and did some shopping, the kids played, and Lane got some football watching in. 

Papa also built Gabriela a giant bookcase, which he is delivering this week. That's one lucky little lady and one generous and talented Papa.