Christmas was a joyous celebration with family in Hilton Head. We had a wonderful time hanging with the family, playing with our nieces (Abbagail 3/ Ellie 1.5), visiting our brother's new coffee/dessert restaurant (being built), clamming, walking on the beach, and Dustin managed to rebuild my parent's back deck! It was a beautiful week near 75 each day, until it was time to go home and it dropped to the 40s!
Christmas began after Dustin and I traveled 7 long hours, arriving 2 hours late at my parent's house (terrible holiday traffic). We walked in the house...I was carrying a large present under one arm and a few smaller one in the other. We "flopped" the presents down on the bench and my mom summoned us to eat a late dinner. We said, "Well, first mom, you need to open THIS gift." She said, "No, wait for Christmas! Or at least eat first." We shot back, "No, really, you need to open this one NOW." As she opened it, she screamed and jumped back...
Out popped, baby kitten, Toby! Mom has wanted a kitty for her boy cat, Linus, to have as a buddy for a while now! Oh, what a fun surprise! She couldn't believe it and was thrilled. Only problem was...I've never been so attached to someone's Christmas present. It was hard not to be an Indian Giver!
Below are some pictures from our week!!
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| Mom and Toby snuggling! |
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| Dustin and I cuddling our precious nieces Christmas Eve |
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| Abbers and me goofing around! She's hilarious! |
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| My handsome Pa Bear...smiling for a Colgate commercial! Look at those pearly whites! |
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| Ellie's favorite Christmas present! |
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| Abbagail's favorite present...however the Pez was a close second! No Smart Phone for this girl when she learns to drive...dangerous!!!!! |
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| Ellie and Anabelle posing for the camera! |
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| Dustin resting after another day's hard work! |
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| The beautiful Cooke family. My sister, Kali and bro-in-law, Josh! Abbers was MIA?? |
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| Girls playing one morning! |
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| Abbers had fun wearing a Turban... |
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| The wonderful Christmas morning fun at the Cooke's! After this Dustin, my parents, and I went back home, played 9 holes of golf while waiting for the girls to wake up from their naps...and prepared for Christmas dinner and Christmas for the adults that evening! Nice long Christmas day! |
We are so thankful for family and the joy of sharing special times together. Soon we'll be traveling to Georgia to visit Dustin's family for a late Christmas (they'll finally get their gifts from us...shipping was just too much for these heavy presents..Dustin's been busy!!) We'll miss seeing Dustin's mom in Wyoming, but we're hoping to see her soon. Just thankful.
LOVE YOU ALL and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Out popped, baby kitten, Toby! Mom has wanted a kitty for her boy cat, Linus, to have as a buddy for a while now! Oh, what a fun surprise! She couldn't believe it and was thrilled. Only problem was...I've never been so attached to someone's Christmas present. It was hard not to be an Indian Giver! 
