Waggoner Family Christmas

Here are some photos from our Waggoner family Christmas (in no particular order). I notice they are a bit lopsided towards the kids (I think have more pics on another memory card somewhere so maybe we'll get the adults in on another post)...


Ellie poses with one of her favorite Christmas gifts. I think we played with it for over an hour alone today!

Micah's pleased with his new athletic wear

Here's the marble maze all set up (above)

One of Ellie's other favorite gifts. She asks to play by saying, "Hunnry Hunnry Hippo?" in a voice that you can't refuse. And if you ask if she's hungry, she takes it to mean that you want to play this game.

Caleb displays one of his gifts.

Leah shows off her personalized stocking

Josh waits his turn to open a present

Nonna with her granddaughters

Ellie got this 'fuzzy' (that's what we call 'em) in her stocking. She promptly named him "Bob." Funny, she's never named a doll baby, teddy bear, or any other toy for that matter.

Ellie sneaking in some sensory stimulation by flipping the pages of Aunt Rachel's book. She knows she's been caught. Some days I wonder if this habbit will ever break or if she'll do this forever. No paperback within her grasp is safe!

Monday's Visit to the Children's Discovery Museum

We arrived back in Kentucky this afternoon and I'm pretty wiped out from the travel but I wanted to share some more Illinois pics before crashing this evening... On Monday we went to the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal and had a fun time taking Ellie from exhibit to exhibit. She seemed to really enjoy herself! I know we did!

Smiling at the end of the worm tunnel

This photo is kind of dark, but we thought this was fun. You put your hands on these brass plates with sensors that made the drum beat in rhythm with your pulse.


Ellie enjoyed the water table, playing with the vacuum tubes, riding in the tractor with Gjyshe, determining her weight in gallons of milk, and wearing her "doctor" coat in Medical World.



I know Ellie is out of focus, but her face is priceless.

Saying goodbye to Gigi this morning.

Introducing Elisha Carl Waggoner

Christmas Day in Green Valley

Els putting out cookies for Santa

A 21st Century Christmas... Skyping with the Shaws in VT

Ellie checks out her new cousin, Pippa

The Shaws

Els enjoying Gigi and a new Berenstain Bears book, one of her favorite Christmas gifts

"The" kid toy with the ominous text on the box which read, "Adult Assembly Required"

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma Ford

Merry Christmas!

Shaw Announcement

Here's a link to Pippa's first photo... and the formal announcement of her full name.

Winter Sunrise on the Prairie

This was taken through a window, hence the spots (sorry -- I still liked the image enough to include it)

The ice has been hanging on everything for days, but with temps in the single digits, it's not going anywhere soon! It's treacherous walking anywhere, or driving for that matter. We witnessed a one-car accident this afternoon where a lady took out a stop-sign. It was less than a half mile from Isaac and Rachel's and after a quick phone call, Isaac was on the spot with his big Dodge pick-up truck and a chain. In no time, the lady was on her way again!