Happy Birthday, Grandma Jean!

 Debbie set the tables so beautifully

 Grandma greeting her friends, both long-time and new

Grandma praying before our meal

Grandma Jean and Doug (with Schaeffer on the flute) signing old-time show tunes

Stacy (holding Jane) and Sara (holding Hattie)

 Grandma blowing our her candles

 Grandma and her BSF buddies: Bertha, Gert and Frankie

 Adam, Stacy, Hattie and Grandma

 Grandma and her life-long friend Nadine

 Sara, Scott, Eli, Jane and Grandma

 Grandma and her great-grandkids

 stair-steps

 The whole family

 Grandma's kids: Gayle, Doug & Deb

Myself, Griffin, Schaeffer Jo & Grandma

Great Wolf Lodge 2012

 Pajama story time with at the tree house

the 'buffalo view' from our balcony in the morning

Griffin and his sweet girl playing in the water

Schaeffer, MeMa Laurie and Me coming down the large tube slide

 cousin Tobi in the cover-up MeMa Laurie made for him

Aunt Nikki, Uncle Josh & Schaeffer Jo shooting out of the large tube slide

Every winter the Schaberg family heads to Great Wolf Lodge for a weekend of waterpark fun. As the kids get older, it gets better and better and this year was no exception. 

Christmas Day

 She's in her stocking up to her armpit

 Santa's rolling in the paint supplies

 She got a 'whore-monica!'

 and wants some lessons to 'play it like Alvin'

 gold coins in her stocking at MeMa Debbie's

 and a Cinderella costume (!)

and a Barbie car!

Christmas Eve!

 i 'think' she likes it.

 opening our present from England--Santa in London!

 opening gifts with my my niece and nephew, Jane & Eli

 i 'think' he likes it

 the traditional Christmas pictures with Great Grandma Jean

 Sara, Grandma & Janey Bean

 all the girls

 the Winklers

 Scott having a sweet moment with Jane

(the moment before she smacked his face with that toy)

 opening toys & Christmas cookies make kids crazy!

 Eli & Schaeffer Jo both got 'snowman kits'

Eli 'snowmanned' himself

 faster, Uncle Scott! faster!

 setting out chocolate milk & cookies for Santa

carrots for the reindeer

 bursting with excitement

Santa's been here---and to everyone a good night!

Cut-out Cookies with Great Grandma Jean

One of my most favorite days of the year is the day we gather ingredients, put on the Christmas music, tie on an old apron and make cut-out cookies with Grandma Jean. As Schaeffer Jo gets bigger, she has become as fond of the tradition as I am, and it is great fun to watch her interact with Grandma as they roll and cut they dough, ice the cookies and sprinkle out the perfect decorations.

They lick their fingers, sample the cookies, and giggle together--all of which adds to the ambiance of the afternoon. How blessed I am to have so many generations of love gather in my kitchen!