Christmas Part II ~ starring Nia Madelynn ...

Christmas continued on today at our house
hardly missing a beat ...

Nick, Rachel, Nathan and Nia came over at about noon
to share presents and to introduce Nia
to family members who had not yet met her ...

Karis was very pleased to meet her baby cousin ...

I have a ton of pictures to show you,
but I woke up in the wee hours of the morning with a
full-blown cold and sore throat ...
I took some cold medicine a few hours ago
and it has rendered me almost unconscious
and definitely inarticulate ...
so I am not going to give much narrative to these photos! Since we have a resident family beautician in the person
of our Emily, we decided to turn our playroom into a
beauty parlor and put her to work today!
Olivia has decided she would like her hair straightened,
so Emily was hired to do the job ...
Look at the very beautiful result!
Our Olivia has beautiful hair whether it is straight or curly,
but she was really pleased with how the straightening turned out.
Then it was Rachel's turn ...
Here is the consult ...
"short" was desired, and a completely "new and different look" ...
I'll show you the outcome in just a bit!The star of the day was definitely Nia Madelynn ...
after all, she is the littlest grandchild
and at four months is in love with everyone
and anyone who talks to her or holds her!
We think she is very photogenic
and a natural beauty!
Nick and Nathan having a pizza break ...
We waited to open presents until Rachel's hairdo was accomplished.
Adam is on vacation and it didn't bother him a bit
to have his wife working SO hard downstairs!
Nick and Nathan ...
Karis woke up from her nap
and was checking cousin Nathan out ...
Sabrina suggested that maybe Karis give Nathan
a hug, or perhaps a little kiss ...
Who taught this little girl to kiss!?
Goodness! She looks like a pro with her eyes closed ...
Nathan looks like quite a natural as well ...
Kissin' cousins (no, they are not from Arkansas)Another beautiful shot of Queen Nia ...
And here is Rachel with her new do!
We like it very much ... good job Emily!
I like this one of Rachel and Nia ...
It was finally time to open presents.
Nathan wasn't really that interested, so Nick
helped him rip open the packages ...
Baby Nia got some beautiful clothes ... Nathan got a lot of art supplies ...
Nia got a tummy time mat and blocks ...
Nick and Rachel got some framed Scripture pictures ...Nathan got some sticker books and coloring books ...
Dad and Mom Jones got tiny birdhouses that
represented each family's household --
Rachel made these
to hang on our mini-family Christmas tree ...
The cousins shared toys and books
and did really well together ...
Nathan and Boo bear (who is nearly as big as Nathan)
tucking in baby Nia ... All too soon, it was time for Nick's family
to leave to attend a McNeil Christmas function --
but we were able to snap Nia Madelynn's
beautiful smile one more time ...
And here is our fiberoptic lighthouse
shining brightly -- I so love it!
We had a really good day today and are so thankful
for this time together ...

"The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us."
PSALM 118:27