After church, there was open house. But first a stop at the cousin Jeffery’s fundraising table – every 8th grader adopts a charity and raises money during the school year. Jeffery’s is the First Tee Program. Avery’s TK classroom.Sophia’s second grade classroom.Sophia’s 8th grade buddy is Desi, who is also a neighbor.

Morning games for Avery and Sophia.The coaches were about to tell Avery and the person he’s guarding that the ball and all the action were at the other end of the court.Lunch time break at home.Afternoon basketball game for Sophia at St Ignatius. Her dad and Uncle Jeff are the coaches.

Tuesday, Avery’s basketball practice.Practicing the bounce pass.Thursday. Usually Avery’s first words to me are, “Grandma, can I have your iPad?” But today, “Grandma, I have homework!” Sophia read the sheet music while she played a song with her teacher Ross.

1. Avery’s basketball game.“Grandma, look at my new shoes!” Apparently the bottoms are the cool part.A vocal and wiggly Carson loves to be snuggled.And crawl away.
2. Sophia’s basketball game.
3. Sophia’s indoor soccer.
4. Sophia’s second basketball game. Lenin and Uncle Jeff are the coaches.Cousin Lauren helped with Carson while Thais worked the snack bar.

I took Sophia for her ukulele lesson this afternoon. We were early so she wanted to go look for the friendly cat who followed us one afternoon several months ago. I thought this was a long shot, we don’t even know which house the cat belongs to. Up one side of the streetand down the other. I told her any smart cat would be inside where it was warm.And then …Success!!

The Christmas lights came down this morning, the roses were pruned midday … time to mow under the walnut trees.And if there were more daylight hours available, he would have found something else to do.

We had brunch at Justin’s house.A nativity scene to play with.Going for a ride in Grandma’s new Walnut Wagon.Another way to transport onesself.Sophia read to her brother, Bill O’Reilly’s book Give Please a Chance.While Mom and Uncle Justin discussed a landscape design plan,Sophia and Avery investigated a dirt pile.

At Leah (Lenin’s sister) and Jeff’s. Cousins! Avery has his hand on Leo’s head, Sophia is open-mouthed, Cameron is wearing a hat, and Lauren and Jeffery are to the right.Prime rib for dinner!Cousins Jeffery and Christian check to see who’s taller.

It’s ok to have a little ice cream for breakfast.And lick a gingerbread house.We went to a nearby Goodwill store to find a 100% wool sweater to make mittens and we ran into a commercial being filmed inside the store.Playing hide-and-seek with the neighbors!