First White Christmas!

As many of you DFW-ites and Wichitans experienced, we had a white Christmas this year! Jameston does not yet realize just how lucky he is that his very first Christmas was snow-filled and how rare that is in Texas, but we'll be sure to tell him in the future. To celebrate, we drove an exhausting 9 hours to Brady, north of Austin, on the eve of Christmas.

We were planning to leave early Christmas morning, but with the horrendous blizzard-like weather that hit Wichita Falls, where my mom, sister and brother were planning on leaving from, we cancelled my side's Christmas festivities so that we could leave for the Austin area before it got too bad on the roads. Well, we were wrong in our estimation, because despite leaving only an hour after the really cold weather hit Dallas, the roads were already in bad shape. We drove anywhere from 10-40 mph during the 250 mile, white-knuckle drive. We saw plenty of over overturned trucks (semis included) and cars in ditches that we were so thankful we made the trip safely.

And Jameston was a traveling trooper! He "talked" and played, ate three bottles, and slept off and on during the trip...he's an experienced traveler these days with about 47 road-trip hours under his belt with visits to Austin (times two), Lubbock/Plainview, San Angelo and Wichita Falls! Here he is, all tuckered out, around midnight on Christmas Eve...ready for bed!

About 55 of us gathered at the Heart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady for Christmas festivities this year. It was a big turnout even though not everyone was able to make it. The two days were filled with fellowship, fun games, yummy food as always (with the annual Danish delicatessens), and great memories!!Christmas day started with Jameston playing with his second cousin, Ashlyn, whom he met back in October in Austin. She's an absolute doll! And JW was able to meet many of his relatives! Here he is with his Great Aunt Melanie, and another second cousin, Luke. Relaxin' on Great Uncle Larry, who is a towering 6'5" (give or take an inch or two)! Jameston enjoyed the view! And fast asleep in cousin Holly's arms... And sleepy-eyed with cousin Brent (who was one of the five guy cousins who grew a mustache for the gathering :) And asleep again on cousin Leah, who is expecting a boy in April :) As with all Turnbough gatherings, there was lots of dominoes and card-playing going on. And baby Jameston was right in the thick of it! Here he is wanting to get in on Daddy's hand of 42: Pondering their next move... Dad, let me help you! Letting mom hold him before Christmas night activities: meeting Santa for the first time, and taking pictures with his cousins! Sitting in Granny's lap, along with his cousin Layne, 4 1/2 months old A bunch of cousins on the floor! The Turnbough crew has welcomed five babies since May. Here is a shot of four of them (we just missed Brady, 6+ months old, who was with the family Christmas Eve before we arrived :(

Clockwise from top: Luke, 6 1/2 months; Jameston, 3 months; Ashlyn, 2 months; and Layne, 4 1/2 monthsLuke directing the babies! Santa (Uncle Lonnie) and the babies in their coordinating Christmas onesies! Posing with the big cousins (L to R): Kalyn, Lauren, Landon, Ethan, Autumn, and Nathan (in front) Gigi and her grandchildren posing with their children (and baby belly, in Leah's case :) Jameston got lots of practice unwrapping this year...We would hold the gift in front of him, let him grasp the paper, and then we would pull or turn the box so the paper would tear. His hand/eye coordination, although getting better, is not THAT good yet! Orajel...thanks, Aunt Melanie Reed! With all the drooling and slobbering he's doing lately, this may come in handy sooner than we think! Gigi opening her gifts...she is such a wonderful person and deserves being showered with gifts! Cousins checking in on each other...Layne and Jameston. They just stared at each other at first, and then they held hands...awww! And then Luke joined in on the fun!We packed up and headed out from Brady and went to Spicewood/Lake Travis to Brett's parents' house. Here is baby J in his "Baby's First Christmas" hooded onesie! "Sitting" in front of the tree at Granny and Papa's Opening an awesome gift from cousins Riley and Ruby Thank you, he loves it!Riley and Ruby opening a few gifts The whole crew (minus Aunt, Kayla): Brett, me and Jameston; Bryn, Jared and little Layne; Cade, Jessica, Riley and Ruby

We hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas! With a little one this year, it was more special than ever for us. And we know that it's going to keep getting better and better!