Alex and Chase petting sheep
Chase and Daddy with the little horse
Daddy feeding Chase his cookie that he decorated
Hunter, Alex, Daddy and Chase
Miss Ni-Ni helped Chase put his stickers on his picture
At Gran and Peg-P's - Every year Katie makes Christmas goodies with her Dad. This year Chase, Hank and Alex joined them. Chase and Alex weren't much help but they did have a lot of fun!
Alex wanted Peg-P and Hank to play too
Other outings...
Zoolight Safari
Chase and Hank
Chase and Alex at lunch with Peg-P and Gran
Our house with Christmas decorations and our blue bow on the mailbox
Chase, Hank and Alex posing for Christmas card pictures
The official Santa picture - This was after the Christmas party when Chase was a little traumatized by Santa (see below). The real Santa took time to read Chase a book about the North Pole until Chase was comfortable enough to sit in his lap. Chase got some good one-on-one time with Santa (about 20 minutes), and we were lucky we went in the middle of the day and that no one else was in line.
Christmas Party - Every year our friends get together for a Christmas celebration, always highlighted by a game of Dirty Santa. Santa usually stops by and takes pictures with any children (large or small) who are present.
"Santa" who looks like U-dub with Chase. Chase would not stop crying until Santa pulled down his beard to reveal his real identity.
Clay, George and Chase - Chase is getting ready when George gets big enough to run and play
Happy Birthday Mama Zo - Mama Zo's birthday falls during the Christmas season. We had fun celebrating her with many of our family members.
Chase helping Mama Zo blow out the candles
Hank and Nana
George, Chase and Hank
Uncle Bill & Hank
Chase playing with Mama Zo
Christmas at Nana's - We had fun celebrating Christmas with the Zbinden's at Nana's house. We missed Rand and his family as well as Sage, Jessica and their new baby, Willow Sage. We had a great time, as always.
The second-cousins have started performing a rendition of the Christmas story. Tyler is Mary and Hank is currently Baby Jesus.
Chase stole the show as the "Little Drummer Boy"
In the second act, Hank played the role of an angel (he was such a natural)
The entire cast: Karsyn, Kalton, Hank, Koley, Tyler, George, Chase (and Mama Zo in the background)
Nana (dressed as Mrs. Claus) played some Christmas carols on the piano. Chase decided to join her. This was definitely his favorite part of the entire day.
After Nana's all the Cochrans and Stanleys met at Dawson for the Candlelight Service. It is fun to all be in church together. Afterward, everyone came to our house, and Chase and Hank love having Gran, Peg-P, Pops and Mama Zo at home all at the same time.
Peg-P and Hank
Wes with his nephews (George, Chase and Hank)
Daddy and Chase made a Ginger-bread house this year. It was actually a kit that Mama won in our dirty Santa game at the Christmas party
Chase feeding Hank a bottle
Chase and Daddy working
The finished product
Chase was not very happy when Mama told him that he could not eat it yet
Hank gets some tummy time - and a spotlight in the camera
Ruby joined Hank for some tummy time too
Christmas Eve - This year we celebrated Christmas with Granny, Grandaddy, Aunt Debra, Uncle Terry, David, Kimberly, and Aaron at Mama Zo and Pops' house. Wes, Clay, Julie and George were there too. We enjoyed our time together and heard some special, funny stories about Granny and Grandaddy and previous Christmases.
Uncle Terry and Hank
Pops with Hank
Wes and Hank
Chase playing with Mama Zo
A little later the Aunt Gina, Uncle Bill, Morgan and Taylor came by. Morgan got to feed Hank a bottle.
Christmas Eve at the Stanley's - After leaving the Cochran's we met the Stanley's at church for Christmas Eve communion. It is an entire family service, so Chase loved getting to sit with Alex in church. After the service we went to the Stanley's to eat dinner and open a few gifts. Chase, Hank and Alex got in their pj's at Peg-P and Gran's, making it a little easier once we got home. It was a lot of fun
Peg-P and Hank
Anna and Hank
Chase sharing his new barn with Alex
Hank
Chase & Alex
Christmas Eve back at home
Daddy, Hank and Chase all looking for Santa flying in the sky
Daddy reading Chase and Hank the Christmas story from the Bible and "T'was the night before Christmas"
Knowing Christmas day would be very busy, Katie and I opened our gifts on Christmas eve after Chase and Hank had gone to bed. I have always wanted to open our gifts on Christmas day, so was a little hesitant about changing things. It was nice, though, to take our time and relax a little while we opened gifts.
Christmas Morning - Santa Claus Came!!
Daddy with Chase and Hank getting ready to see what Santa brought
Chase and his new car
Chase checking out his new "laptop"
Hank - he got gifts too and he was very excited (in case you couldn't tell)
Chase (in his new Duke t-shirt) checking out the book that Daddy gave him this year. One of our traditions is books. Every year Mama and Daddy give Chase and Hank each a new book for Christmas.
Chase trying on his new jacket and hat
Gran and Peg-P came to see what Santa brought before we all went to church. We thought the service was going to be about 30 minutes and informal because there was no child care. The service was good, but not quite as short or informal as we had anticipated. Chase got restless a couple of times but we made it through, and really thought it was neat to celebrate Jesus' birthday in church on Christmas Sunday.
Christmas Day at the Cochran's - After Santa and Church, we went to the Cochran's house in Springville to open gifts and eat Christmas dinner. We had a great time giving and receiving gifts. Chase took a nap during lunch; he didn't miss out because he still got to eat some cake.The kids and grandchildren lining up on the stairs
Mama Zo with Hank
Hank and George with one of Wes's new boots
Wes with Hank and George
Christmas Day at the Stanley's - After spending lunch at the Cochran's, we went to the Stanley's to eat Christmas dinner and to finish opening gifts.
Chase testing out his new "headlight"
Alex and Chase with their headlights
Chase and Alex playing with Chase's new easel
We got together with the Duke family at Hunter and Anna's house on Jan. 2 to celebrate Christmas. Aunt Kay, Uncle Billy, Lauren, Jen, Karl, Jack, Annie Elizabeth, William and his girlfriend Susannah all came from their vacation in North Carolina. Gran and Peg-P, and of course Hunter, Anna and Alex were all there. We had a traditional New Year's meal and a great time together.
Chase thanking Aunt Kay for his gift.
Lauren with all the kids (Chase, Alex, Hank, Jack & Annie Elizabeth)
Chase and Daddy waiting to open gifts
The boys playing the piano
Anna and Chase taking over Alex's bed.
During all the chaos, Katie caught Alex, lying alone at the bottom of the steps, in a soliloquy on the meaning of Christmas and life in general. Chase sure does have fun with Alex, and we all love him very much.
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