Christmas

We quietly celebrated Christmas this year in the company of some family and friends over the three day weekend.  Rye has given me a new perspective on the holidays that I'm not sure I've felt since waking up Christmas morning on a comfy floor pallet amidst my cousins in the garage apartment behind my grandma's house. It's been awhile since Christmas felt mysterious and filled with anticipation. It's nice.

Rye had me decorating a tree, building a rocking horse in the "wee hours (around 9pm)," stuffing stockings, you know, doing all the things my parents did to make Christmas Christmas. I'm not really sure I can fully commit to Christmas music at this point, or that I can look forward to mall santas and office Christmas parties...but I look forward to at least a decade of seeing it all through the Little Girl's eyes.

Blogging from the Road

It's hard enough to keep my focus when traveling to remote courtrooms to slap people on the wrist for stealing motorcycles without in-my-face reminders like this.

Tappity tap

Tap dancing is popular with the kids, right?

Texas vs. Rye

Rye got her first taste of Texas last weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The trip was pretty much fantastic.  We stayed at a cottage-style bed and breakfast outside the city limits of Fredericksburg and spent plenty of time with family.

Rye got to catch up with Aunt Amy and GG and met more Texas relatives than I can name.  It was a great way to spend our second Thanksgiving as a family.

Thanks Pilmers/Klassens/Arnolds/Eschbergers and friends...

Here's a brief photo-diary of some of the high points: