Christmas Light Walk

January 3, 2016 - This afternoon we met with friends for some post-Christmas cheer by visiting the Anheuser-Busch Christmas Light Walk at the brewery.

That is quite the wreath!

He's bundled up and ready to hit the walk.

Th first beer sampling station is dead ahead!

lagers, ales, hot chocolate, cider, limearitas  and strawberitas

Gotham City in the Christmas time... if you've ever wondered what that'd look like.

"City sidewalks" lit by the glow of these decorated trees.

Christmas Under the Mistletoe

December 25, 2015 - 

The only picture with Ben's eyes open.

Poor guy, he was up late trying to clear a clogged pipe in the kitchen.

Stockings first.

A hands free tablet holder

Trussssst in me. 

Looking forward to doing some reading in 2016!

Sure, use your new axe to open the next present...

...and your work bag for a hat.

I did it!  

The Rubik's cube was already "solved" but I overcame my OCD and forced myself to mix it all up.  That may have been more difficult than solving it!

Lydia's been through this "Christmas morning drill" before...like 7 other times.

Though she's grown a lot since then:

Christmas Eve - 2008

Later that evening with family...

Noah and our cousin, Eli

Gift exchange

That dress. 

She's definitely a very loved little girl!

Look who I caught under the mistletoe this year...

Warm Friends, Hot Cider, and Cookie Decorating

December 18, 2015 - A few photos from what was officially a "Cookie Decorating Party."

Luminaries - southwestern decorations you rarely see in the Midwest

Up on the housetop...

Is that a star from the East?

Or Josiah holding a flashlight?

Oh, the weather outside is frightful

...but the fire is so delightful.

It was impossible to feel cold with hot cider, warm friends, a roaring fire, and heated card games of "Bluff" and "Nertz."

Isaiah 40:3

We all sang some carols around the piano.

Because the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing aloud for all to hear.

Decorated cookies

The extent of my decorating consisted of spreading the icing like butter on the cookie and immediately eating it. #minimalistdesign

Operator!

"10 circles in a picture" (behind)

"chestnuts roasting over an open fire"

"what light through yonder window breaks" 

- turned into 'something' and "about a thousand toothpicks"

As the fire was slowly dying

my dears were still goodbying...

...and planking...

...and sharing stories and 'random facts.'

Thanks for having us all over!

Christmas

December 25, 2014

2014

2013

Hmm…so we were much more color coordinated last year.

Checking out my new office chair

I’m sitting in it now as I write this post – ah…it’s so comfy with the armrests and lumbar support! :)

Knowing Noah is knowing Fox Racing

This is totally my kind of t-shirt

Welding gloves. 

This afternoon we headed to my Aunt & Uncle’s to get together with family and exchange gifts.

The next three photos are sorted by increasing size and friskiness:

Note: Her Christmas sweater, the scarf, and the bells in her hair.

My uncle and expectant aunt

We’ll be sharing photos of Keera at the next Christmas!

I love how my cousin briefly interrupted his romping to quickly photo bomb this picture!