MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOUR HOME

We had a wonderful Christmas starting off with Christmas Eve. The Rudels' and Strongs' enjoyed a Christmas dinner followed by a white elephant gift exchange. We had a talent show which ended up with the two youngest girls singing and dancing around the Christmas tree. We then opened up our traditional PJ's from Nana and Papa. The Curtis family showed up after their big party with the Curtis family. Someone handed Dresden his gift thinking it was the PJ box. Darn! The surprise was over! It was his gift for Christmas day. Collin was devastated thinking that Dresden got the DS game he wanted. I bought them the same thing but Collin didn't know that. But soon Dresden and Collin put two and two together finding out that I was giving them both the same thing. So Christmas day Papa John and I decided to play a trick on Collin......see Natalie's blog, Jay videoed our little trick. Christmas day Grandpa Bill and Grandma Ellen went with us to visit all the kids and to see what Santa had dropped off for them. Saturday night our Cali family came into town. Savannah, Cole and Creed opened up their presents from us. They had the same PJ's as their cousins. We really enjoyed visiting with them. Sunday we had family pictures at the church (courtesy of our great son-in-law Larry), then we had another family dinner in our home then the cousin's exchanged their gifts. It was so good to have all of our family together, yes, it was crazy but a wonderful night.

Tayler, Logan, Sydney, Dresden and Collin

Christmas Eve- Sydney Hugging Grandpa Bill

Carlee reading the "Night Before Christmas"

Collin & Dresden playing chess, Logan watching

Family Picture - we were all mixed up but it worked

1 Natalie, Shannon, she's holding Creed (Mike & Nikki's), Soupie

2 Grandma Ellen, Savannah(Mike & Nikki's), Logan(Shannon & Larry's), Grandpa Bill

3 Carlee & Tayler(both Brandt's & Soupie's)

4 Sydney, Collin (both Natalie & Jays), Dresden (Shannon & Larry's), Cole (Mike & Nikki's)

5 Jay, Donna, Brandt, Mike Nikki, John and Larry

Grandkids goofing off

Sunday Night - Celebrating December & January Birthdays

Monday Night - Our Christmas Present to the Adults- a night out without the little ones

Donna, John, Natalie, Jay Shannon, Larry, Michael, Nicole, Brandt, Carlee and Soupie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLE

Happy Birthday to our little Cole. You turned 3 years old on the 16th. You are getting to be such a grown up.

Hope you had a great birthday.

Mr. Sunshine

We love to visit you when we are in California. You always make us happy with your fun smile and warm personality. We are excited that you like your Nemo fish tank. When you watch it at night we hope it will remind you of your Nana and Papa. We love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLEE

Carlee turned 13 on December 6th

Where does the time go? why do they have to grow so fast! It seems like yesterday when we met our darling Carlee, It was love at first sight. Her cute little smile and her beautiful brown eyes melted our hearts and won our love forever. We are blessed to have Carlee in our family. We love you and are proud to call you our granddaughter.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

GIVE THANKS

Thanksgiving day was wonderful, and I just wanted to give thanks for all my many blessings. John and I have such a wonderful family. We have respect and love for each other. We love to get together even if it is just a simple spaghetti dinner. We are grateful for John's parents and the sacrifice they had to make to come up to Sandy for the winter. We are grateful that his dad is doing well. We are thankful that our family is healthy, happy and as crazy as ever.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

COLLIN & SYNDEY

CARLEE & TAYLER
DRESDEN & LOGAN
SAVANNAH, CREED & COLE