the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas at our house this year! It was a lot of fun and food. 

Pomegranate

Not exactly candid.

Laura with her new best friend.

Christmas tree pecan pie.

Natalie the Dog found her spot.

Christmas morning; most of what's under the tree is hers.

Funny hats! 

This is about right.

Kahlil trying on his gift.

Trying out Scott's new juicer.

There were a lot of juices.

Isla and her Uncle Pancake.

Laura posing Mowgli while he tries his best to nap. Good dog. 

Train set time.

This is to document the full Christmas experience, which included a trip to Urgent Care at 10 PM for Laura's cough/asthma. She got better!

Christmas aftermath.

This is the weird picture Scott made us take with only the "original Stades," and somehow Mowgli the Dog, the newest family member, was also included. Laura correctly protested the entire idea.

The real family Christmas photo. I think we should have mushed together more. But we were TOGETHER and that's what matters.

cold!

Winter weather arrived before official winter. Ice, snow, polar vortex. As long as the power and water stay on, I love it. 

These tree branches drooped from the weight of ice and froze onto my car.

Winter wonderland one morning on my way into work.

This view is a perk of my job.

Ice on the inside of our windows during the polar vortex.