Christmas and the New Year

We returned to El Paso in time to prepare Christopher and DeAnna for Santa's visit Christmas Eve. Each got to open one present Christmas Eve. Christopher couldn't wait!

Christopher picked out his present.

It was a 'Big Spiderman!'

DeAnna chose her present.

DeAnna opened a Cinderella tea set.
Mom, Dad and the kids looked over the presents.

Grandpa had a good time at the tea party.

After playing for a while, it was off to bed for Christopher and DeAnna. The elves had much work to do before they could rest.Christmas morning was as exciting as we expected. Christopher and DeAnna didn't know what to do first.

After playing with Santa's gifts, there were more presents to open.

DeAnna enjoyed fixing dinner for everyone. Would you like a burger with those fries?

After Christmas we enjoyed playing with DeAnna and Christopher and visiting with Bobby and Cathy. Bob and I explored Ft. Bliss, trying to find landmarks that were here when we lived here 30 years ago.

Everything has changed. The area where we lived has been bulldozed, including the streets, and a new housing area is there with streets that run in different directions. Bobby's office is in the same building where Bob's was. Colonels' Row and the Pershing House still remain, but remodeling is taking place in the houses that are unoccupied.

We stayed in El Paso to ring in the New Year with Bobby and Cathy.

Our next stop is Pancho Villa State Park, New Mexico which is about an hour from El Paso. Hopefully Bobby, Cathy and the kids will visit us next weekend. The weather should be warmer!

The days have not been too bad, but the temperatures at night have consistently dipped into the upper 20s. The dew point is around 5 degrees, so there hasn't been any frost.

I think Bob and I are acclimated to the temperature and the altitude, but dry skin due to low humidity is a problem we haven't experienced in a long time. The other problem is static electricity. We can't touch anything or anybody without a big shock.