Somehow, the only picture we got taken Christmas Eve of the kids. Evan's not even in it!! I guess that drive home from mass in Columbus at 35 mph had us all a little frazzled! Plus, my camera is on the wrong setting so it's all fuzzy!!

Loren reading the new Christmas Eve book we got - Rodney the Reindeer. I couldn't resist! (Still on the wrong setting!)

Finally in our comfy pj's!

Celebrating Christmas with the Hoelschers after papa came to get us in the 4-wheel drive. We'd been stranded at home by this point for 4 days!! The matching jammies are from Grandma!

With the Barbie House!!

Our little farmer and (some of) his new equipment.

My "baby" turned 9 and wanted a Lego cake. Let's just say I'm not that good at straight edges!



I guess Brooke got this idea from Loren's Christmas program!



Somehow the only picture I took at my parents when we celebrated Christmas there on New Year's Day.

This is for my friends who live in warm states - this was storm #2 (we've had another since) that left us trapped in our house for days and burned 30+ hours of my vacation!

'Tis the Season!!

Happy Advent season!! I'm sure I'm not exactly unique, but I absolutely love the Advent season and anticipation of Christmas. In our house, it starts Thanksgiving night when the kids get their new Christmas jammies and we put up the tree. It gets easier to control that process evey year! We also get out our Santa mugs for cocoa, read the Christmas books from years past, and snuggle on the couch watching a Christmas video. The kids did a great job with the tree - though we have migrated the ornaments upward as Evan would notice one he thought would be fun to play with!

My husband went way above and beyond this year in helping me decorate the outside of the house to match the excitement we all feel while we await the celebration of the birth of our Savior. The picture doesn't do it justice! We even have one of those machines where the lights "dance" to Christmas carols! The girls are on the porch dancing to the music. On the list for next year, when we have room in the budget, my dream Nativity scene!!

OK, this is just plain a brag picture because my little girls are getting so big and, though I'm prejudiced, even more beautiful!! Rod wouldn't take the picture unless I got in it so bear with me and my "these boots are made for walking" boots! An aside, as we walked into church I noticed that the dress Loren is wearing is at least an inch shorter on her than it was when she wore it a few weeks ago! She's going to be taller than both of her parents by 12!!

Boys will be boys!

Last night I was in the bedroom with the girls when I heard Rod say, "Evan, are you OK?" Then silence for, like, 15 seconds. I was getting pretty nervous when I finally heard a big cry out. By the time I got to the living room Evan looked like this. I post the other picture so you have a "before" nose. He was playing with Rod and ran into the dining room table full speed! I guess we won't be taking Christmas card pictures next Friday after all!!

October Fun

The girls & Evan had fun painting gourds from our garden - thanks for the idea, Natalie! I didn't even realize until yesterday that we never did carve jack-o-lanterns this year. The kids didn't even miss it, I guess!

I think Evan had more paint on than the gourd!

One princess, two drama queens and a frog!



With Great Grandma - Great Grandpa managed to dodge this photo op!

OK, OK, finally I am posting some pictures of the house now that it is basically finished. Notice the snow - crazy for Oct. 10th, huh? We ended up with about 5 inches here. Anyway, here it is! It is very lived in already so please ignore the dust and "stuff!"

Half of "Rod's garage" - the door into the house.

The mudroom! It came in handy today getting ready to go out and play in the snow.

My very used laundry room. Notice the missing cabinet doors - the final piece we're waiting on!!

My pantry! Love this thing! You would think I cook, huh?

The view from the back, from a distance. It's best that way. :)

Half of the half bathroom.

Rod's "locker"

The kids' lockers. My favorite part of the whole thing!!

The bench - notice the 2 doors that open up for storage!!

Just because they're cute.

We decided the girls would get more use out of their Christmas presents if they got them this fall. Loren is still getting used to a bike that is actually her size.

Loren at her soccer game.