Christmas Time Hornucopia - Part 5 - Boxing Day

The morning after Christmas began in grand style with Mimi's Famous Creamed Chip Beef for breakfast.

After that, it was all about SNOW. Checking snow in front.

Snow photos.

Touching snow.

Steely-eyed cowboy types watching out for dangerous snow.

Snow sliding (using Uncle Mark's brilliant plastic bag toboggan idea!)

Snow sliding with style.

Team snow sliding.

Snow sliding NOT with style.

When everyone was thouroughly cold and sated with sliding, action moved indoors to Gingerbread House construction. John was the champion builder.

Too soon, the Penna clan had to head for home.

And it was back to play time! Peek-a-boo!

Christmas Time Hornucopia - Part 4b - Christmas Day

It continued to snow, most of the day.

Back inside, the Christmas Day cooking commenced. Tony's Famous Kahuah Sweet Potatoes was a featured menu item.

Everyone pitched in.

Especially on pies.

Great Grandad came over to spend the day with us. He worked pretty hard.

While dinner was being prepared, there was time for playing with presents.

Games...

Hot Potato (don't be the one holding it when the bell rings!)...

The table was set...

The turkey was done.

It was a truly festive celebration of Christmas.

After dinner, the play continued. The kick-board was very popular.

Thanks for being the stalwart holder, Uncle Tony!

Especially in the face of mega-kicks! (That must have been scary!)

There were mega-blocks to be built - and torn down...

John focused in on building some Lego kits.

Ada kept on the go, keeping up with all the activities.

Reading is fun - except when the book won't do what an iPad is supposed to do.

Some of us sat and enjoyed the show, while the snow continued to fall.

Eventually, things started getting a little wild! Thanks for sharing your walker, Great-Grandad!

Finally, everyone gathered together for a solemn group photo.

And the day ended with a nice blanket of snow on the ground.

Christmas Time Hornucopia - Part 4a - Christmas Morning

Remember those stockings, hung by the chimney with care?

Well, Santa came through!

All three little ones had nice surprises.

After a night of thunder and rain, we noticed the raindrops were turning into slushy snowflakes. "Ah, that'll stop soon. This is Texas, after all.", we thought.

Meantime, the Secret Santa gift exchange had begun. Thanks again for the Secret Help, Miss Kerri!

John was happy to have gotten a Lego kit.

Danielle loves dolls of any type!

Christopher hit the jackpot - a push bike!

John's extra bonus was a kick board for practicing kuk sool won (martial arts) kicks and hits.

That had to be tried right away!

Naomi is interested in science, so her Big Book of Experiments was a hit.

Ada was excited (and maybe a little puzzled) by her neat Giant Dump Truck.

Ada helped Mimi with her surprise.

Coffee is always good!

Um, not sure about this one...

Secret Santa sure knows what everyone likes!

Meanwhile, the snow continued falling.