The Cox Family Circus

*Christmas 2007*

Our Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

The five kids on Christmas Eve after opening their traditional gift of pajamas. For Christmas Eve, Kyle made his famous potato, bacon, cheese soup. We had over our neighbors, The Sanduskys (a retired couple with no family close...we all love them and Kyle has found a new best friend in Gene Sandusky. Who knew he would have so much in common with a 70-something retired electrician?) Our friends and neighbors, Paul and Kathy Wheeler also came for dinner. Their kids were all visiting their in-laws on Christmas Eve so they were able to come have dinner with us. It was a very nice evening. After our guests left, the kids opened their pajamas and we watched the Church produced DVD of "The Nativity", just like we do every year. It is nice that we now have some of our own traditions.

Santa brought Claire a little bike and as you can see...she LOVED it!

Ansley claimed that she wanted only one thing this Christmas...a pair of shoes called Etnies. For those of you "in the know", you have probably heard of these shoes. I had not, but I found the ones she wanted online and she was ecstatic! That look on her face is shock...not disgust.

Josh asked Santa for a San Diego Chargers helmet and Santa brought the whole uniform! Lucky kid. He wore that uniform all day, even while opening presents.

Nate opening his gift from Grandma and Grandpa Cox...a binder and plastic sheets to hold all his football cards. He was very excited and organized all his cards that day. He also got a new bike that Kyle picked out (it reminded of him of his BMX racing days). We don't have any pictures because we were busy getting his reaction on video. It was priceless.

Claire still loving her bike!

Ansley showing her one and only Christmas wish...come true. Etnies. Aren't they great? I guess. She says they are, anyway. Ansley also scored some Hannah Montana concert tickets for Christmas. I was one of the lucky ones that got them for face value before they sold out. The same tickets I got are now selling for about $800 on ebay. Anyone want to make me an offer?

Nate showing Eli how to work the truck that he and Ansley picked out for him.

Eli looking at the backpack that Grandma and Grandpa Cox gave him. I included this picture because it appears to be snowing in our family room. Not sure what happened with the camera, but that is as close as we are going to get to a "White Christmas" here in the Mojave Desert.

Kyle opening his new compound miter saw. What a treat! Right?

Eli was in heaven (and still is) with his new Mater. "Cars" is his favorite movie and he loves Mater. This Mater even tows other cars...Eli's dream come true.

Josh trying out his new bike ramp. We always manage to buy one gift each Christmas that is bound to cause a visit to the emergency room. How can we not...with 3 boys?

The biggest surprise of all was a ping pong table for the whole family. Kyle set it up in the new garage before Christmas so that they could play on Christmas. It is a hit. The kids are already getting better than me. The have played every day since. Kyle and his friend, Tuna have also been out there playing...though a bit more competitively.

*** We had a very nice Christmas. It would be nice to share it with our extended family, but we make the best of it with just our little family. We enjoyed good food, opening presents, ping-pong, Guitar Hero (I rock that game!), new movies, and being together as a family. We are so grateful for all the blessing we received over the last year...especially the blessing of our new little girl, Claire. We enjoyed another year of health, safety, and happiness. We hope everyone else had a nice Christmas. All our love.