Christmas with the Zumwalts

Christmas morning is always spent eating breakfast with Nana and Papa. We head over there after the kids open their stockings. It is tradition for Nana to make omelettas for everyone. They are like crepes which they roll up with fruit toppings and syrup. Soooooo good! But Nana is usually standing at the stove making them for over an hour! And she can't make them fast enough for her boys to eat :) So, this year she decided we would all learn how to make them. And give her a little break :) To be honest, I was very nervous. Jeff is obsessed with a few recipes of his mom's. And this is one of them! But I think I did ok :)

They are eating them!

Nana had a cute ornament craft for the kids to do.

Emma, Nana and Gabe

We all sang Christmas carols while Nana played the piano.

Emma and Papa

It was a special Christmas!

Christmas Bread!

This is the second year to bake Christmas bread with Linda, Amy and Brandy. We had so much fun last year we decided to try it again! Hopefully, this will become a Christmas tradition! Amy gets the fire going in the fireplace and brings out the record player :) The kids all remember listening to the same Christmas record since they were kids when Linda would bake for Christmas. Linda looks so cute singing and dancing to "Come on ring those bells" by Evie :) One day I will get it on video. I wasn't fast enough this year! But it is a fun day of baking visiting!

Brandy
Linda and Brandy

Amy and Linda

Emma and Luke

The bread rises in front of the fire.

Gabe and Jackson

That is going to be one big loaf of bread!

Emma and Jackson

Luke and Gabe having hot chocolate...

A day at Nana and Papa's!

We recently spent the day over at Nana and Papa's. All of the cousins had a blast playing together! Drewbie
Emma, Luke and Jackson

Papa

Saying Bye to Aunt Margaret

We had a wonderful visit with Aunt Margaret! It was nice to have her come to Texas! Margaret, Ray, Linda, Danny and Brandy all came over to our house for one last visit before she headed back to Seattle. Brandy brought a great peach cobbler and we made some more homemade strawberry ice cream. We had a great time visiting and playing dominoes! We look forward to seeing Margaret again soon! Maybe I can talk Jeff into a trip to Seattle soon ;)

Happy Birthday, Danny!

We celebrated Danny's birthday with the Zumwalt's at Nagoya's. It was so much fun! Emma and Gabe have mastered using chopsticks! They do a better job at it than I can :) Danny and Brandy love sushi. But I have never wanted to try it before. It just hasn't sounded like something I would like. But Danny wanted Jeff to try it. So, we ordered some for the first time. And I must say that I am hooked! It was really good!

The cook had to try about 5 times before Jeff could catch a piece of shrimp in his mouth :) But he finally got it!


Danny asked for a fondant cake for his birthday. So, Brandy looked up how to make one online and she did a great job! Isn't it the cutest cake! Jeff was so impressed. He is a little bit of a Mac fanatic. Another thing besides sushi that his little brother introduced him to :) Danny and Brandy had waited in line eight hours that day to get two new Iphones. So, this cake was very appropriate! By the way, isn't this the cutest picture of Brandy? Very photogenic!

Aunt Margaret came from Seattle to visit Nana and her family! And she brought all of the kids adorable shirts from Pike Place Fish Market. It is such a fun place! We will have to take the kids one day!



Emma, Luke, Gabe, Jackson, Peter and Drew

The Zumwalt Family