Mo-Deb

Being the first grand-child, Grace had the honor of giving my mom her Grandma name.  Nope, it's not something loving or sweet like Nana or Gammy or Gran or Mema.  She got Mo.  My mom is Mo-Deb (somehow it sounded something like Grandma Debbie to Grace.)  "Mo-Deb" caught on like wildfire.  All my sisters call her that now too as well as the rest of the grandkids who have followed Grace.  Funny thing is though, Grace stopped calling her that recently and just calls her Grandma, but poor Mo, the rest of us can't bust the habit.  Sorry Mom!

Well, Mo-Deb came to visit this past week.  We love her tradition of coming to our house the week after Thanksgiving.  It's just starting to be Christmas time, there are lots of fresh activities to do, and it's way before the Christmas rush.  We can go shopping and go on outings without any crowds and we aren't sick of any of it yet.  Plus, it's like one of the lightest travel weeks of the year - no one is in the airports and she can usually get a decent price on a flight.

We think we just might get the best end of the deal.  Of course, we really miss being able to see our missing family members on Christmas day, etc.  But, this little pre-Christmas excursion just might be better.  We get Grandma all to ourselves - don't have to share her with a single other soul.  She's not busy doing anything - cooking, or cleaning, or entertaining.  She's not tired or stressed.  We just get to play with her for 4 straight days doing all the Christmas stuff we like to do and none of it we don't.

We finish decorating and enjoy our hand-me-down Christmas decorations from Great Grandma Primmer.

This ice skating rink is at least as old as I am.  Hattie loves it.

We make gingerbread houses.

is there sugar in it?  then YES!

cheating a little - we did this just before Grandma came, but it goes with the gingerbread house theme

inside the life-size gingerbread house at the Galloping Grace Christmas Corral

We go on outings (this year we went to the Albuquerque BioPark River of Lights.  Last year it was the Nutcracker.  The year before it was the tree-lighting in Concord Square...)

I don't know - I think Temple Square has some serious competition.  Sure, they twist lights onto every single twig of every tree and bush, but I bet you won't find a giraffe or a zebra or an elephant or a flying horse.
ABQ BioPark is the best!

We go shopping.  This year it was Old Town Albuquerque instead of Historic Concord Square.  Both are hundreds of years old, but the history is just a little different.  So is the weather!  I love this old church against the clear blue sky.

We even open a couple presents, because it's always more fun to open presents with the person who gave it to you.

Ok, we usually have to take Grandma to the ward party too.  I don't know how she always comes when we have our ward party, but she's been to more than her share.

Grace telling Santa one thing that was NOT on her list...Hattie trying to decide if she'll really sit on his lap.

She did it!  4 years old, and her first time sitting on Santa's lap!

A great start to the Christmas season.  We love you Mo-Deb!