Vandewater Christmas

We were supposed to go to Ames on Christmas Eve day to celebrate with the Vandewater's. The weather got cruddy AND I was having vehicle issues, so we didn't make it up until the week after Christmas. Thank you, Vandewater family for getting together a second time for us.

Grandpa Brian reading the Christmas story.

Brynna decided Ed should help with the paper...she handed him each little piece she pulled off.

CHEESEBALLS!!!
This has become a tradition from Grandpa Brian.
I'm sure glad we don't have FOUR kids, like Jon and Heather :)

The box may have been more fun then the gift :)

This is the best "in front of the tree" picture I could get.

Dessert...cookies AND ice cream!

Christmas Day

I'm back!!!

Here are some more pictures from Christmas Day.
Papa, Uncle Wade, Aunt Stephanie, Whitney, Uncle Matt, Aunt Tiffany, and Owen were all here for the afternoon/evening.
We somehow forgot to get a group picture, even though we do it EVERY year!?!?!?!

This was the extent of our front porch decorating. We usually have garland up too, but it didn't make it out of the tote this year. I did hang the wreaths over the lights on the house/garage.

Getting ready to cook Christmas Dinner...
barefoot and in the kitchen, at least I'm NOT pregnant!!!

Hanging out in Grant's room. Uncle Wade helped him set up his train set...then helped him keep the little ones from knocking it all down!

The finished product!
Thanks Uncle Wade.

The mirror.



My new Nativity set from my grandma...I LOVE it!!!

The tree with the yellow ribbon tied around it.
We REALLY missed you, Lee.

Christmas Morning

I know I'm WAY behind...and our life (therefore blog) is no where near as exciting as Lee's right now, but here is another post on my way to trying to get caught up.

Christmas Morning!

The obligatory "in front of tree and presents before touching anything" picture :)

Santa hats

Santa hat.

Showing B his new train set.

TRYING to Skype with Lee, it never did work and we had to settle for a phone call :(


One of his FAVORITE gifts, a blue motorcycle.

Her new Afghan jewelry and princess book.


His very own digital camera!
(He is STILL playing with this, a month later, SUCCESS!)


Doll house.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent at church. We decided to go to Crossroads in Earlham because Matt and Tiff have been going there AND we have a ton of friends that attend. Plus, it was an hour earlier then our church's service, so it worked better for us.

After church, we went up to Matt and Tiff's house for dinner. The kids loved Owen's new tent!

I didn't get a great picture of Brynna's skirt, but I purchased it from Baby Gap while I was pregnant with her...planning that she would wear it this year for Christmas :)

When we got home, we did our annual tradition of opening one gift, a new Christmas book, and read it before bed! We do not do Santa at our house, so I don't get to use that excuse to get them in bed early :)
It's not that we hate Santa, we just decided not to do it at our house. We, instead, will focus more on Jesus as the reason for the season (not that you can't do both!!!!) Also, I remember how SAD I was when I found out about Santa...not because of the loss of that...but because my parents had LIED (as I saw it) to me for so long :)

Putting up the Christmas Tree

Another big thank you to Matt and Tiffany for helping put up the Christmas tree and getting all the decorations down from the top of the garage!!!

Owen trying to "fit" under the tree...it was SO funny!

Grant making sure it was JUST right.

Brynna didn't like it when her hair got stuck :)

First snow

I'm SO thankful that, so far, winter hasn't been too bad!!! I'm equally as thankful for good neighbors. Kevin and Liz have been SO great since Lee has been gone.

Without my dad and Kevin, we'd be in trouble around here.
Those two are going to need a vacation by the time Lee gets back :)

I didn't even have to call and ask him to come move my snow, he just did it!!!!

Catch up...

I know, I know I'm WAY behind on blogging, AGAIN!!! I'll try to get slowly caught up.

The week before Christmas the kids and I were going stir crazy. So, we took a "trip" up to Ames. We spent the night at Uncle Wade, Aunt Steph, and "Baby" Whitney's house. I always HATE spending the night away from home, but it went okay. Grant slept on the couch and Brynn and I slept in their spare bed. They/we didn't got to bed until 10:00pm so I didn't get much complaining when I said it was bed time. B did okay sleeping with me, but she is EVERYWHERE when she sleeps, I was afraid she was going to roll right out of bed...multiple times!
The next day the kids spent the day with Grandpa Brian and Grandma Paula so I could finish up my Christmas shopping.