Christmas in Virginia Beach 2014

Christmas morning in our home in Virginia Beach with Natalie and her children Maile (16), Maxwell (7), Margaret (5), and Mason (3 1/2), and Omoni, Nat's boyfriend and Father to the three little ones...

Above, Mason & Maile, who appears to have just awakened, or was up late watching for Santa. :-)

Margie with a curious look on her face and Max trying to figure out what it is.  Below, Miss Nancy watching the excitement of the little ones.

Daddy reading a new adventure for Margie and Maile excitingly ready to explore yet another gift from Santa.

Daddy was busy cutting and untying little metal & plastic ties from around the many items attached to cardboard & plastic.  And below a pic that just about gets everyone in the frame.

I won't attempt to provide too many more captions to the pics, so I'll just post the pics, and add just a small commentary at a few places.

Looks like Maile has finally awakened fully...and, Grandma:  Does it smell good?

Well, maybe I spoke too soon about Maile being awake...Ah!  She awakes, below!

And Natalie bagging all the recyclable paper...

Margie, with a cute expression of joy, and Mason contemplating what to do, with what, and where...

Maxwell appears to be just pooped out and Margie is showing her newly opened gift from Santa.

Maile, above and her cache of smellies...and her street sign for her room...

Above, Natalie and her "quiver"; what a happy-go-lucky looking bunch.  And you know what?  They are.  Natalie is the energy that binds them together.  She is on the run from 6 to 11 every day.  We don't see how she does it.  Her and Jennifer both are very hard-working Mothers with seemingly endless energy.  

Well, that's Christmas 2015 with our families.  And that will do it for this blog.  Till the next blog, RVing Beach Bums signing off.  This blog published from Bushnell, FL, Jan 15, 2015.

Christmas in Great Falls 2014

Above, Daisy, Jennifer's Bernise Mountain Hound, appears to be guarding Santa's deliveries under the 11' tree.  Ali is at right.  With Jen living in Great Falls, and Natalie in Virginia Beach, we celebrate Christmas twice.  We enjoy the Grands anytime, but especially this time of year, which is for the young at heart.  Our next blog will be Christmas in Va Beach.

Ali above and Austin below...

Ali above discovering Elsa from "Frozen", even though she told Mommy that she was finished with doll babies.  She played for hours with this little baby, and in her "Frozen" full dress that played "Let it Go" continuously.  I heard that song in my sleep for several nights, and could not get it out of my head for days.  :-)

Ali, above, opening our gift of gloves.  Gloves???  Yep, gloves.  Her & Austin both fight over old gloves in the garage when yard work chores with Mommy & Daddy around the house.

As a routine, we go up to Northern VA the weekend before Christmas to celebrate the holiday with Pete & Jen and Ali & Austin, exchange gifts and have a nice meal.  We do a little shopping at Wegman's Supermarket, maybe the Outlets at Leesburg, take in a movie, and watch a football game, and head back down I-95 Monday morning, after a Starbuck's visit with Jen.

Anyone with grandchildren knows what a joy it is watching their curious little toothless faces as they smile with anticipation.  It's a memory for us G'parents as well.  And as always, being our daughters is truly a blessing as well, anytime!

"Pop Pop, quit guessing and just open it".  I'll help you."

"What is it?"  "I don't know Pop Pop."

Jen opening up a few gifts...with a little assistance of course...

Pete, admiring his "six-pack" carrier of craft beers...

Pete and Austin was interrupted by Ali while in the middle of their Battleship Game.

Mommy reading part of Ali's new book...

...and apparently, she likes what she hears so far...

Dad and Austin studying their next salvos on the other's targets...

Time for some making & baking some Christmas goodies...

And for Daisy, it was just a little overwhelming, her first Christmas.  She is one pooped pup.

Well, that about wraps up our visit to Great Falls and Christmas with Pete, Jen, Austin, Ali, and Daisy.  So, till the next blog, RVing Beach Bums signing off.  This blog published from from our winter home at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell, FL on Jan 15, 2015.