On the twenty-sixth of December...

attending a wedding rehearsal for a friend!  Ted had the privilege to stand up for a friend.  It was fun reconnecting with many people from years gone by.

On the twenty-fifth of December...

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!  We got to see Grandma-great again...

 and share with her our special treat of the kiddos playing their instruments.  She hummed along with the Christmas carols.  What a sweet blessing to watch her enjoy that!

 Once again...it was pointed out how big the kiddos have gotten!  Oh my!  They have...and it was driven home to me again as I looked at pictures around Papa and Grandma's home of these three loves that God has blessed our home with!

 Sharing time with additions to our family...

 Gathered around the Christmas tree...

 Gathered around the table...talking to Aunt Sara...

 playing a game...and eating...again!

 Boys against girls...and who won again, guys?!

 "Hey...Mom...you were holding out on me!"

Can you say too many treats to share?!  MMMMM!  Thanks, Aunt Kay and Grandma!

On the twenty-fourth of December...

 a five hour trip to Illinois for Christmas and a wedding!  There was no traffic and very contented riders (sleeping).  Our only stop...Chikfila in Rockford for lunch!

 Teddy roused from a NyQuil and Dramine induced deep-sleep.  Oi!  He took both meds before I knew what he was doing.

 My special request was granted with pleasure!  Mmmm...finger licking good!

 Passed out again...as he fought the high fever!

 Poor guy...didn't want to miss anything!

Thankful for a safe trip!

On the twenty-third of December...

 it was a long, long day!

 I'm thankful for a husband who can do so many things to take care of us!  First item of business, coffee to start the day!  He also had his helpers!

 It is much easier to do this in a basement...NOT A CLOSET!

 Thank you, Uncle Brad and Aunt Mari, for letting us take showers!

 Easy pizza supper...

 Special Christmas music...

 Family Christmas time and presents...Mom's special gift in puzzle form!  Wow!  A Kitchen Aid Mixer to make my life easier will be delivered on the 29th.

 A slingshot...oh dear!

 Girly presents...

 A blast from Mom's past...a Caboodle!

Sweet time of remembrance and reflection as a family...thankful for the best gift ever given...Jesus Christ...the Savior of all men!

On the twenty-second of December...

 we shampooed our carpets...to get them all fresh and bright and clean!

 

While that was going on...other cleaning was happening...which revealed a puddle on the floor.  Upon further inspection...I found dripping and sizzling in the water heater closet.  "Umm, Ted...you need to see this...I think we have a problem!"

A leaking water heater is not something you want to find right before you are to leave town for a few days!  Ted and Teddy went to Home Depot...Merry Christmas to us!  Oi!  We filled drinking water pitchers and flushing buckets then turned off the water.

On the twenty-first day of December...

sharing Sunday dinner with our family!  Truly a special treat!

On the twentieth day of December...

wrapping Christmas presents, finishing Christmas shopping, catching up on laundry, and crashing in our comfy home!  It is Christmas break!!!!

On the nineteenth of December...

 Cocoa, Cookies, and Christmas with Parents 2014!  We had fun activities and yummy treats for parents and students from 8am to 9am.

 We had a chance to visit with parents.  The kiddos had a fun start to their day.

 Our official partying was done right away...and the rest of the day was filled with play.

 The aftermath made me laugh!  The kiddos beat me to the tables...I was coming with Clorox wipes...they used their bare hands!

 I was given such thoughtful and SWEET gifts!  One of our mothers is a cookie/cake baker...beautiful as well as tasty!

 I love our little class...I really do...but I am so thankful for a break from all the germs they have been sharing with me!!!  I am still coughing and not feeling just right!  I'm praying for health to return during these two weeks off!!!

On the eighteenth of December...

 ready for the Christmas program!  We waited patiently for our time to recite our poem and sing our song.  They did great!

 We gave treats of marshmallows and candies for a job well done.  We also got to enjoy our new tv and apple device!

Ted had to go back in to work after the program to deal with some not-so-nice-stuff...so I got caught up on all sorts of things while I prayed for him!  Dishes done after a day of no water.

 Projects done and wrapped and packed up for party day.

 A double-batch of mini cinnamon rolls for our special parent/student party.

Mmmmm!

On the seventeenth of December...

 the big Christmas program practice...

homemade playdough making for our gifts to our little K3 friends...6 batches during nap time!

 boil order for our neighborhood following water line repairs....yuck!  look at all the junk left behind!

all church Christmas caroling goodies...