And the children were nestled all snug in their beds

Or something like that!

The sweetest little giraffe

For the sweetest little baby girl (that would be Eliza Jane)

Granted, he wasn’t technically a Christmas present (more like a first week of the New Year present)

And technically, he’s not knitting (it’s crochet)

But I think he’s so cute, you’ll forgive me

Another pair, I should say, since their dogs ate the first pair I made him last year

And these are some big armwarmers. They’d be elbowwarmers if there were such things.

Despite the length, these are a fast and fun knit, if you like simple cables (and lets be honest, who doesn’t love a nice simple cable?)

I have to say that I love knitting for my step dad. Out of all the people I knit for (next to Josh), I know he’s actually going to really use his knits. Greatest compliment you can give a knitter, use what they give you!

And yes, I’m still stuck back on Christmas. What can I say? January is just a really slow, boring, unbloggable month around here.

First up, my very first adult sized sweater! I’m not really sure what I was thinking deciding to knit an adult sweater and have a newborn, but I got it done and my mom got her gift before Christmas and without me paying overnight shipping on it!

And I’m assuming that she likes it

But since I haven’t actually seen her (or a picture of her) in it, it’s just an assumption

It’s the February Lady Sweater – Ravelry page here

Also for my mom, the calorimetry headband

The neat thing about this project (at least to me it’s neat) is that I dyed the wool using coffee grounds

It turned out a really gorgeous shade of tan I think

I liked it so much I almost kept it for myself

Minus the fact I have absolutely no use for wool headbands here in Houston

Hello farm!

Someone had some really big ambitions when they picked up a five gallon bucket

Andrew kept it more reasonable with the grocery store bag

The horses kept trying to steal our hard work!

Who am I kidding

As if I would do any hard work

With horses around

This is what I did the whole time!

Good thing there were people around willing to actually work. Or at least, willing to climb in the trees, shake the branches, and call it work.

Also things my brother is willing to do?

Shoot a pecan with a BB gun

Since we forgot to bring a nutcracker with us

Al demonstrates getting shot in the back with a BB gun. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG! We have more sense than to shoot each other with guns (at least, in front of the kids.)

And look who isn’t scared of horses anymore!

YAY!

Josh knows he’s in a whole lot of trouble

No way will he be able to resist us and our request for a horsie!

Yes, lets give the toddlers a nerf gun

And a cane!

You can tell rules are relaxed around the holiday time

Andrew has some sweet balancing skills

Christmas morning, Papaw gets some snuggle from his girls

Even from the littlest of them all

Our sweet grandmas

And this, folks, this is 18 seconds of pure family holiday goodness

Dad dedicated Marion at our home church, but since her birth, he’s resigned/somewhat retired. We weren’t exactly sure how Eliza’s christening was going to go, but one of the benefits to being a preacher is not needing a physical church for some things. We decided since all the family was going to be over Christmas day, to just have her dedication before our family lunch.

So we did! A bit unconventional perhaps, but I thought it was a beautiful ceremony and what better than to be christened on Christmas!

I’ll also go out on a limb and say this is probably the only dedication my dad has done in a fly fishing t-shirt!

Eliza wore the same christening gown Marion wore.

It’s an antique gown from their Bebe and priceless to us

Just realized neither of my girls was wearing shoes. And I thought I was doing so well!

Anyway. We went to Mississippi for a good old fashioned hap-hap-happiest Christmas ever. It was insane, as any family gathering is, but a great deal of fun and frivolity.

Much fun and frivolity had at the children’s expense, I might add

We took them back to see Santa

Even Santa was scared of the idea

That’s as good as it’s going to get

Seriously Santa, where’s your smile. I guess this is what happens when Santa is ho-ho-ho’d out of the Christmas spirit.

What you don’t see is behind the cameras Bregitte and I are laughing our faces off. We had a good time at least!

From our family to yours, may this be the best Christmas ever

(Video embedded in this post)