A few more from Christmas evening.  It was a wintry 72 degrees, so we took the Christmas cheer outside for a bit of “driving” and rock stacking.  Hannah and Caleb were pretty serious about speed, and Max contemplated the rock garden until others joined him.  Megan taught him the difference between smooth and rough rocks, but did not understand his method of holding the rock with his chin.  Then Max wandered off and there were just a bunch of adults sitting around stacking rocks.  A lovely summer Christmas evening.

We went for a very chilly walk after getting our groceries this morning.  Max carried that orange through the entire store, only surrendering it briefly to hand it to the cashier, and then to climb up on this wall.  I couldn’t bear cutting it up for his lunch after he had essentially adopted it as his pet.  That’s some pig… orange?

Both our parents and Heather and Megan were able to join us for dinner at my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant, Mia’s.  If I close my eyes I can almost taste the brisket tacos again…

Max was pretty worn out after all the climbing, but enjoyed snuggling Pops while we waited for a (large) table.  We were fortunate to be in Dallas out of the tornadoes’ paths that evening.  

I am bummed I didn’t get a picture of everyone together, but I’m so thankful we have families who love us and Max so much!

Megan and Dad let us tag along to their climbing gym and we had so much fun.  We will definitely be looking for a climbing gym in our area next time we move!  Megan looks like a rock climbing ballerina, Ben looks like he could climb the entire wall in three steps, and Dad looks like he’s wearing Spartan headgear.  Some pretty inspiring people to climb with.  Max also did some climbing and loved it.  Mom and Heather were our invaluable cheerleaders and Max-wranglers.  Next up, a trip to the Garden of the Gods???

SOOO many photos to post of our wonderful time in Texas, but this was our quiet New Year’s Day morning at home.  

Welcome, 2016!  May we use this season of new-ness and starting over to examine our priorities, habits, goals, direction, and influence, and lay it all at the foot of the cross.