Christmas Season

 I know it's crazy - here I am blogging within a week/month of an event! Here's to a start of a more current blog in 2015. (Go ahead and laugh.)

I will let all the pictures do most of the talking, but I do want to write things for my own sake of remembering.

The end of November brought about our season of OCC.  This year was different since I was working fulltime, but thanks to many volunteers, it got done.

This year the girls were even more excited to help and serve. Analise even begged me to let her take off Monday from school so she could help. I didn't let her, but she joined me at 3:30.  All three girls take ownership and love this ministry. They pack their own cartons, and I don't even need to help.

Here is what the room looks like, full of shoeboxes.  Our boxes were going to Mexico this year.

 These boxes have legs! 

 Oh, it's just Sadie helping. :)

And here are cartons full of those shoeboxes, ready for Denver. I never got a picture of the maxed to the brim semi, but we did collect 11,000 shoeboxes!

 

 

 

Sadie made this cute little keeper in school.

 

Maisie naturally loved this huge monkey at Hyvee.

Since we were going to Indiana this year, we decided to have our own little Christmas early. The girls were not bothered by this at all. :)

So Friday night after dinner, we opened our gifts.

The girls just love buying, giving and receiving gifts from one another. Truly - it's so touching as a parent to see this. Here they are showing off their gifts, with one nice photo bomb in the background.

 I think Caramel was waiting for her rawhide.

 I love how he wraps a gift.  LOL

 Sadie made this more for me at school.  She was really hoping I would forget that Maisie had made me one last year.

 

Maisie's gift from "Santa" was an I-pod. She was SO excited! She had wanted one so badly, and she's love having control of what music she listens to. She was so happy it came with "ear plugs."

Analise really, really wanted an I-touch this, since all her friends had one. Brandon and I  had many discussions about this - the launch into another season of life. We decided an I-pad mini would be better for a few reasons. She was thrilled!!! She loves listening to music on it, including my favorite Ft. Wayne radio station, playing games when allowed, and her favorite thing is texting other apple users - Grandmom, Aunt Peg, her cousins and a few friends.

 

With gifts of an I-pod, I-pad, for awhile Sadie was getting an I-don't know.  Seriously, she didn't even have her own list of what she wanted. She's always the hardest to buy for. I knew there was one thing she wanted, and it went against the practicality in me, but I decided it was worth it. She wanted a horse for her My Generation doll.  I was able to get the last one at Target.  She was SO excited and has loved it! Good job, Santa. :)

 

 

Sunday morning we left at 7:30 (a new record) and made the long drive to IN. Even with a couple of traffic delays in Chicagoland, we got there in decent time. And once again despite the cold and dark night, dad was sitting in the driveway waiting for us to pull in. What a guy.

Monday dad went down to get Peg and Danny from Indy, so Brandon, Analise and I went shopping for awhile. It was fun having just her, and the other two were thrilled to play instead of shop.

Monday night my parents had a surprise for all of us. I was excited; I can't remember when someone had a surprise for me like that.  All we knew was to dress warm. Peg and Danny didn't have much, so Analise shared with Peg. In fact the boots were too small for Analise yet fit her aunt.



Surprise - a carriage ride through downtown Ft. Wayne! How fun!

 

Mom and dad rode with the girls, while the rest of us had our own carriage.

The night was a little damp and dreary, but we bundled under warm blankets and enjoyed a Ft. Wayne tradition of their lights downtown. Thanks mom and dad! 

 

This was a light down the street, and it makes me smile. You know you're in Indiana when...

 

Tuesday mom and Analise made a two batches of cookies. I love seeing the tradition of baking getting passed to another generation.

 

They made sugar cookies! Again, I can't remember the last time the girls and I made sugar cookies where we actually used cookie cutters to make shapes and then frost them. (I've gotten lazy and just slice the dough.)

 

Tuesday afternoon between cookie baking, the girls, Mom and I went to see Annie.  It was a lot of fun! The girls didn't know much of the original Annie, so they loved this one. I actually did, too. We thought the music was lots of fun.

We then went back and decorated the cookies. 

 

In addition to playing with my old Barbie's, the girls enjoy creating/crafting at Grandmom's. I found this cute girl tucked under the tree. 

Since Peg and Danny were in Mishawaka on Tuesday, mom and dad took us to Texas Roadhouse. The girls met Santa there, and while we waited for our food, we had a magician perform for us at our table. It was impressive.



From there we went to the Fantasy of Lights tour. It was worth the long wait to see all the pretty lights.

Weds. afternoon brought more fun, thanks to Peg and Danny.  They treated the girls to an hour at Sky Zone. (I'm not sure who was more excited - the kids or adults...)

Analise had fun until she had back issues. I knew this was likely; a visit to the chiro after we got back solved the problem.

I love this one because is shows Maisie pulling up her pants; something she had to do often.

Impressive Danny

Peg still has it

Maisie can do it, too.

Weds evening we had a yummy ham dinner, and then we went to the Christmas Eve service at Wallen Baptist. It was refreshing, exciting, and a good reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. We enjoyed the time of worship.

Christmas morning the girls were up around 7:30, and they patiently waited until after 8 to open stockings. This is what the tree looked like - so pretty.

The traditional coffeecake along with egg casserole - my favorite breakfast all year. 

Opening gifts was a sweet time of feeling loved and blessed. My gymnast was excited to get a new, long sleeve leotard. 

 

Analise loves her Under Armour volleyball shirt. Perfect!

We each had our own wrapping paper. My mom knew me well and gave me the chevron print.

Brandon has always loved the little chap sticks for his pockets; they are just hard to find. So it was pretty funny when he opened a box with 50 of them.

Sadie loves her "8 inch" dolphin.

And the best gift  - my mom made Peg and I our own photo books full of pictures from our growing up years. LOVE LOVE it!

Maisie was excited to get this book from Grandmom. 

The house was decorated to the max with Christmas things. Here's the pretty dining room where we enjoyed our prime rib dinner. 

 

Christmas was a nice, relaxing day. The girls watched Dolphin Tale 2 with mom, so I was able to read during the middle of the day. Unheard of and thoroughly enjoyed.

Friday morning I was able to meet Karla at Starbucks. Always a blessing  to connect with a long time friend - one who challenges me in my spiritual growth.

Friday night was pizza night with family friends - the Vannatta family. It, too, was a such a sweet time. Brandon and I were so glad to connect with Gave and Lisa again. Here's my "older sister."

We had to leave Saturday morning for our trip home. Time never goes faster than when we are in Indiana. The girls were heartbroken to leave. For a mother it's heart wrenching. We decided to drive to Des Moines to make the day less stressful. The girls were thrilled to swim and watch NE play in the bowl game. 

 

Random memories from the week:

1.  Playing UNO with just the adults. Brandon winning the most.

2. Japanese, Chinese, America knees. (Oh mom, you had us laughing until we cried.)

3. The Cutco lady replacing several of my pieces. So nice.

4. Shopping with Peg - a rare treat.

5. Brandon let the girls go on a wild goose chase. Literally.

6. Mom gave me a new "bed buddy" and cover.

7. Unfortunately, mom did something to her back causing her to have major muscle spasms on Friday. She was in severe pain, yet she still opened her house for company. You're a trooper, mom!