Our Many Christmas Blessings...

We had a great Christmas!! It went to fast. We soaked up so much good quality time with family over the past few days!

We did Christmas here with our children on Christmas eve. I spent many hours in the kitchen preparing food on Wednesday. The kids kept coming by to see what I was making...:) Jordan did his steel plates most of the morning. It was raining but the Little's still spent time outdoors. It wasn't real cold and they soaped the trampoline with soap and had a blast!!

After getting organized I went over the cleaning and took a kitchen break for an hour or so before we all gathered to do the last minute stuff and feast away...:) It was so much fun! As the kids get older this time gets more and more fun...:)

Jordan wrote the menu out on the chalk board...

The details were fun and everything was Jordan friendly except the mashed potatoes and I had some aside for him without milk and butter....:) We even made Joran friendly pina' colodoas!..

We all helped with the clean up and then we sang a bit, read a story and gave out small gifts...:) We played games with the big boys while the Little's played with there new toys and "Hammy"..:)

By the time the night was over I was so whooped!! It was worth all the effort and we made great memories on this Christmas eve!!...



This kids favorite food is ice cream!!

Opening gifts...:)

I gave out way to early!...:)

 

Christmas morning Dave and I walked the block with our sack of popcorn and cards for the neighbors. We knocked on about twenty doors and it was so much fun to wish the neighbors a Merry Christmas this year again. Last year we were in Belize but if we are around we like to make this an annual thing...:) We were invited in many places for coffee or breakfast..:) The smells that greet us when the doors come open are amazing at many of the homes...:) We were at this for about an hour and forty five minutes. The kids were making pancakes when we got back...:)

We spent Christmas day with my family... We always look forward to this fun time with my family! The cousins count down the days and they love to spend time together... We again played games and had a feast for lunch!! Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting this crowd!

Javon loves his cousins!!

Baby Alan is such a BLAST!!

Miss Lapp (her school teacher) taught her class how to make hats! I'm so happy about this because Jen loves to knit these hats!! I got her her very own set up to do this at home!..:) She was thrilled!

The photo book is to dads from the grandchildren. The pictures are mostly of the grandchildren and it was so much fun to present this special book to them this Christmas! I spent hours working on this book and I was happy with how it turned out!

Foot ball to work up an appetite for Dad's fried oysters and Fondue soup!

We were blessed with a beautiful day!!! The days have been sunny and we are so thankful to see the sun more!!

The day after Christmas was the Zook family day!! I did a five mile run in the morning. All was still quiet in the house when we got back, it was a really late nighter! Dave met up with me out on the roads and ran with me the rest of the way. (he had to load trucks at the shop early) We had some time to have breakfast and create a large salad to take along before heading off to Papa's for another late nighter!

We love the Zook family Christmas parties at Papa's!! We have a feast for lunch then again a wonderful spread in the evening hours as the games are being played all throughout the house!

Thanks Papa and Mom for hosting this big crowd!! We missed you Dave and Rose and Kiddos!!

After lunch I got Faith Michelle to help me round up all the kiddos... I think we have them all but baby Ava (Maryanna's) and then the Stoltzfus kiddo's of course. (they are in Africa) Matthew and Roxy are in Colorado or Angel and Sayily would be on here to. We were again blessed with a beautiful not so cold day!!...

Adorable Marissa!

Brother wants a lick to...:)

Always singing before opening the gifts...:)

The excitement is contagious...:)

Wild Dutch Blitz games!...:)

New baby... Abigail (Leahs)

Today it feels nice to be at home. I felt a bit overwhelmed this morning. It felt like every corner of this large house needed my attention! Things were just being thrown on piles in the laundry room! The laundry basket was flowing over. The house was so dirty. BUT... The day was so perfect!! The sun shone so warm and the day was fun once we all got started with the Christmas aftermath..:) Dave and I ran a few miles first while the kids slept long. We then organized and cleaned corners! We burned box after box! We cleaned up outside and Dave winterized all the small motors for the winter.

We are thankful for a wonderful fun Christmas season!! We are thankful for Jesus and what he has done for us! We are thankful that he came to this sinful earth as a baby only to die for all of our sins! What a GIFT!! We are thankful that we have the privilege and freedom to teach our children the true meaning of the Christmas season!


Tonight we are tired from all the late night parties but our hearts are happy and we are oh so blessed!!