December 2014~by Beth

After a couple weeks home from the hospital, things settled down to our school schedule for two weeks.  However, with the holidays just around the corner we were pretty busy.  All the children had at least one basketball game.  We did manage to get all the decorations up, the cookies made (at least most of the kinds we like), the shopping finished and the gifts wrapped.  While Nathan and his family were here they put up the tree for us.  Here is Lydia putting the angel on the top of the tree.  It is the first time we had a grandchild and not a child do that.

At church the children also lit the advent candles each week.  The fourth week Abigail and Stephen did it.

On Christmas Eve we opened gifts.  Here a two from that night.

Jon opens a gag gift, thinking he was getting tickets to the basketball championship game.

Note attached says "You made the toilet bowl." Caleb bought him a toilet seat.

Because they were sick, Joel and Kelsey came over on the Sunday after Christmas.  We had lots of fun with them.  During the evening we played games.

Caleb missed this get together because he was in North Carolina with his girlfriend and her family skiing.  That was his first time skiing, tubing, and seeing snow.  Here are a couple photos he sent us.  He had a blast and I am so glad he got to go.