The Holiday's

We had an interesting Christmas this year.  Needless to say we were very sick and passed it to Megan's Family.  Charlie caught the flu about a week before winter break and Cooper got in Friday before break and had to miss all his festivities at school.  Nate and I both got it the exact same night on Saturday and Coop was still sick.  Let me tell you that should never happen to anyone!  Thank goodness Megan's mom was here to take care of us and Nate's mom was here to get Charlie to his last show he was in at the Theatre.  Megan's dad got hit with it Saturday, mom Christmas Eve and brother on Christmas Day.  We tried to enjoy the holidays as much as we could, but this will sure be one we won't forget.

Every year we try to make it down to locomotive park.  It was absolutely freezing, but beautiful!

 As some of you know Nate try's his best to put up Christmas lights, but usually a good snow storm or wind storm knocks these lights off our metal roofing or gutters.  Nate decorated while we were at one of Charlie's shows.  Bless his heart.  And even before Christmas they were half way hanging.  :)

 Nate was at a meeting and Charlie was at the theatre getting ready for his show.  While we waiting 1.5 hrs until show time, we decided to go pick out a tree.  Very challenging without help, but by golly we got it loaded in the van.  Literally in the van.

 Coop's Kids of Christ group went Christmas shopping for an adoptive family.  When they returned they wrapped the gifts. 

Now when it came to decorating we ran into issues.  First, we couldn't find the tree stand.  Second, some of our lights must have gone bad last year and we got rid of them. And the rest ended up being used to decorate the outside.  So we got halfway done and let the kids decorate the bottom half of the tree. 

 Being silly.

 Church had a candy cane hunt.  Emma wasn't feeling it and did not want to participate.  She did get one and was done.  As we were leaving the boys hid a candy cane in the snow and said, "Look Emma!"  And she ran over to get it.  The boys collected over 100 together.  We had fun setting them out at the Theatre on the nights of Charlie's shows.

 We were thankful to feel well enough to go to the Christmas Eve Service.

 Making cookies!

 On Christmas Eve, it is tradition to open one gift.  The boys got a Mario wii game from Uncle Greg.  Thanks Uncle Greg!

 Emma wanted a blue watch.  Blue is her favorite color right now.

 All ready for morning.  The boys set a record by getting up at 3:20 I think it was.  We heard them open their door, but they went back to bed without coming to wake us. :)

 Emma did some wood working at preschool for us. 

 We hung her class picture up on it and it is in her room.

 Nate was excited to get a leaf blower and the kids kept the secret for weeks.

 My mom was still under the weather. :(  And didn't feel well enough to get out of bed.

 This boy earned his knife card in cub scouts, so he got a knife from dad for Christmas.

 Christmas out at the farm.

 Emma was so tired she fell asleep in my arms.  I don't remember the last time she did this.  

 

Nate and I got to go to "The Game's Afoot" at the Quality Inn put on by the Civic Theatre.  It was a great show and the food was really good too.  Thanks Nanni and Boppi Owen for babysitting while they were here.

 The menu!