Cheryl's parents and sister Gail came out to visit us for a week around Christmas. (Judy had just started a new job and hadn't accrued enough vacation time yet.) Here Grandpa reads Lura "The Little Fire Engine," one of the books from Mark's childhood that her other Grandpa had sent her.
On December 22nd everybody but Mark went to the outlet mall up the coast in Camarillo. Here Lura and her Auntie enjoy a ride with Elmo and Zoe.
On Christmas Eve we went to visit Cheryl's Uncle Kean and Auntie Jean, whose children and grandchildren were visiting as well. There were a lot of gifts exchanged; here Cheryl's cousin Terry gives Lura a new friend whom we named Snow Monkey.
Here's our tree on Christmas morning. To guard it from getting pulled over by Lura or small visitors (or chewed on by the cats!), we thought it prudent to put up a fence around it.
Lura had no difficulty grasping the idea of opening presents!
Grandma and Grandpa gave her Ernie and Elmo dolls; she is obviously happy to greet Elmo here! Now when "Elmo's World" or "Journey to Ernie" comes on while she's watching "Sesame Street," she sometimes goes to get them to watch with her.
Lura took her first few tentative "free-standing" steps for Grandma and Grandpa; we got them on videotape, but not on the still camera. But she has gotten ever more confident (and speedy!) walking behind her little car; here she takes Snow Monkey for a ride.
When Lura herself is the passenger, whether in a stroller or her car seat, she often uses it as an opportunity for a nap.
The day after Christmas we all went to the Big Wok Mongolian barbecue restaurant. Lura loved the noodles, even though they were a bit spicy! She has begun picking up words faster and faster, and though not all of them make a repeat appearance in her vocabulary, "noodle" definitely has.
And here is our now-traditional photo of Lura with her Mommy and Grandma. Looking back at the previous photos in this set, we are always amazed how much she has grown and blossomed in just over a year!
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