Henry Meraz's First Christmas
2008 at Granddad and Grandmommy's Place
Dripping Springs, Texas

All my aunts and uncles want to play with me



Aunt Sara shows me the fire.  My stocking for Santa is shaped like a cowboy boot.

 
Aunt Caroline and Uncle Elliott are watching the fire, too.


We had a Christmas party and I got to reach out to a new friend, Brian.
His mommy and my mommy were friends in school, and his granddad and my granddad are old pals.  Really old.

 


Don't worry, Brian,  I come in peace.  But I want to know what you taste like.

 
Mr. Cox wants to be the first to swim in Granddad and Grandmommy's new pool.  It's not quite ready yet, but Mr. Cox is.

 
My job is to keep my aunts entertained.

 
Aunt Sara taught me how to play a fun game called "Where's Henry?"

 
She hides me under the blanket, and then I throw it off.

 
Let's do it again.  Where's Henry?

 
There he is.

 
Aunt Caroline knows the game, too.



 
Where's Henry?

 
There he is.

 
I am showing Aunt Caroline how to play a new game.

 
Uncle Elliott's got me now.

 
Uncle Philip and Aunt Sara went to Austin to see the big Christmas tree in Zilker Park.

 
I didn't get to go, but Granddad and Grandmommy did.

 
Santa Claus is brushing his teeth.

 
Nice fresh taste.



Time for bed.  Tomorrow will be Christmas Day.


Aunt Caroline is still busy wrapping packages.


The tree is waiting for Santa (the big Santa).


My ancestors got to have a special Christmas Eve supper after I went to bed.

 

On Christmas morning, Mom is the first one up, followed by Aunt Sara and Uncle Philip.

 

Uncle Elliott and Aunt Caroline are not far behind.


And Dad and I are next.

 

Uncle Elliott took this group picture.

 

And  Santa took this one.




I got Sam Houston and Steve Austin action figures.

 

Sam Houston sort of tastes like cotton.



 



I got some nice presents.


On Christmas Night, we went to see the lights in Johnson City.
I got to wear a snowman suit, until I got too hot.










Aunt Sara tries to keep Uncle Philip from jumping over the trees.

 

Aunt Caroline and Uncle Elliott jump, too.



 

Granddad and Grandmommy don't jump much anymore.


Mom and I are gingerbread men.


Granddad is trying to be artistic again.









 

Jesus and I are watched closely by our mothers.
We both have on white baby clothes and red socks.




Grandmommy likes the Johnson City lights.


And so do I.


On December 26, everyone but Aunt Sara went to the ranch.


The Pedernales river must be just about the prettiest river in the whole world.


Granddad tries to keep it that way.


Uncle Elliott and Grandmommy like to look at the water.


Uncle Elliott decided to take a swim on this cold winter day.


But he did not stay in very long.


Aunt Caroline is smart.  She stayed out of the water.








And she said she knew something.



She told me a secret.


She said Grandmommy was going to give me a piggy back ride.


Grandmommy let me feel the water of the Pedernales.





Here are my Hendrix grandparents.


And here are my Mom and Grandmommy.


Being on the Pedernales is fun.  But I am getting hungry.


Time for a little picnic on the Pedernales.


And then, another ride with Mom and Dad.


That was fun.







What can I do next?  Maybe I can go do all this Christmas stuff again tomorrow with my dad's relatives.


But first, time for something completely different -- a shot of Uncle Philip and Aunt Sara in Grandmommy's front yard on December 29, 2008.






Happy New Year!