~Twelve Christmas Celebrations~ (minus one)

I really wanted to get as much school done before Christmas as possible.  Once school was out, I really got itchy for doing something fun.  The kids would have spent hours on the computer if I let them, but that was not gonna happen!

I started a list that I had them give me input on.  Here is what we accomplished in three days...

Christmas celebration ONE... Let one weary mom sleep in.  I was awake earlier, but I came out of my room at 11 am!

Christmas Celebration TWO... Visit two widows.  We also took them some note cards.

Christmas Celebration THREE... Deliver three bags of groceries.

Christmas Celebration FOUR... Put quarters on four vending machines (I did put more money on this one after noticing the price of a can of soda!

Christmas Celebration FIVE... Five new dog toys

Christmas Celebration SIX... Silly string six kids.  We "surprised" a family for a play date.  These are the kids my kids love to play with after church.

Christmas Celebration SEVEN... enjoy seven cups of coffee (the kids and I each enjoyed one)

 Christmas Celebration EIGHT... Purchase eight gifts to exchange on Christmas

Christmas Celebration NINE... send nine Christmas cards (separate from our normal letter). I had the kids choose different families and write their own card.

Christmas Celebration TEN... give ten dollars to others in need.

Christmas Celebration ELEVEN... do eleven EXTRA chores happily today.  My, how quickly we got behind on the housework when we were out "Christmasing"

Christmas Celebration TWELVE... Shoot twelve rounds of ammo.  This one didn't happen yet.  Eric came down with Pneumonia Christmas Eve Day and we were not able to get out.

This was a lot of fun... but I wouldn't cram 12 things into three days next time!!!

~Christmas Fun~

At my Grandparents for Christmas celebrations!

He is just too cute to leave out!

We decided to do Christmas a little different this year.  We were not going to do any gifts and just save the money to go toward our vacation.  The week before Christmas I decided we should at least exchanged names! We all went shopping together at Target one night and each of us had $20 to spend.  We broke up into pairs and spread out.  It was a lot of fun!

  

Kiersten got a necklace from her dad ♥ She also wanted juice and nail polish.

She was pretty happy!

I had Aaron.  Since he had just gotten his braces off, I got him everything chewy, gooey and sticky!

Jordan had Nathan.  The kids love playing soccer after church with their friends.  Jordan picked out a new soccer ball for Nathan... along with some sweet treats.

Jared had Gregg... he got a new bike computer for our trail rides.

Aaron had Jared... he got snack foods and soda

Kiersten had Eric... this was the tricky one.  Eric really, REALLY wanted an Under Armour sweatshirt.  There is an outlet just down the road.  Kiersten and Gregg left to make their purchase and came back.  Eric never knew they were gone. Boy, was he surprised!

Eric had Jordan... he got snack foods too!

Hess had their normal trucks available this year... Gregg's Dad usually purchases those.  This year, they also had a special 50th Anniversary truck.  Gregg got those for all the kids.  They were very excited about them.

~Birthday Puppy~

 Grizz turned One on Christmas Eve!

 Here are a few before and now photos...

March and December

March and December

February and January

He is laying on the same chair cushion

~Some December Highlights~

 Wow, I got really behind again in my blogging... that is ok though... Life has been busy!

The odds and ends of December...

Barlet, a good friend of mine turned 40!

Grizz found a stack of newspapers under the desk... boy, did he make a mess!

Jared missed his banquet for being the World Formula Champion... but they still gave him his trophy!

Most of my kids ate a whole stick of cotton candy... our first time at Golden Corral 

I am now grinding my own coffee beans! Not only does it look cool, it is functional!

I took Aaron out for his birthday dinner... he chose Red Robin.

We are still working with our church's single mom group.  We had several kids for our Christmas party.  The kids made these cookie jars... what a mess!!! The moms made the soup jars.

Everyone enjoyed making the sock snowmen.  We also fit in some Jenga.

~Arlington~

My grandmother passed away a few months ago.  We had a memorial service at the time, but had to wait to get into Arlington National Cemetery for her interment. 

Fifty some family and friends boarded a bus to Washington on December 6, 2014.  It was an overcast, drizzly day, but we had a nice service and a good time with family.

I did not take this photo... I stole it from a relative on facebook.  It is my favorite photo from the day!

While we were waiting for our service, our family went for a walk around Arlington.  This is the grave site of John Kennedy and his family.

Looking out over Washington from JFK grave site.  

Many thanks to the stranger that added the very photogenic umbrella!

Sobering & Reflective

We did not make it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier... maybe next time. 

This carving, right outside the building, was beautiful!

At some point, my grandmother's name will be added... but they are not here.  Their eternal resting place isn't this little, cold, dark cement box in the midst of thousands of others.  It is in a place of light, beauty, color, health, peace... a place made for the children of God!

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Most importantly, they are with Him!

~Jordan's Truck~

Jordan has been looking for a truck.  Diesel, Cummins, manual, dually... he and Gregg took a trip to Texas to buy one. Long story short, it wasn't the right truck for him.

He later found the "perfect" truck in Kansas...

Gregg and Jordan flew out on a Wednesday and bought the truck that day.  They spent Thursday at a racing trade show in Indianapolis!  They drove to Ohio after the show and spent the night.  They arrived home Friday evening.

The timing of the truck was perfect as they had already signed up for the trade show!

Jordan has already done many repairs. Not a problem driving stick either!  

~Picture Day~

Just check out this line of pure cuteness and handsome young men!

Grizz ~ 11 months

Grizz is hard to photograph, being all black.  I love this photo!

Kiersten ~ age 5

Jordan ~ age 16

Jared ~ age 14

Nathan ~ age 7

Eric ~ age 9

Aaron ~ age 12

~Thanksgiving~

My only photo from Thanksgiving...

We had our usual breakfast with my parents and our usual dinner with Gregg's family.  We had homemade ice cream on the best ever apple pie!