December "non-Disney" happenings

Realizing January is almost behind us, it is time to catch up the blog on holiday pictures & December happenings...just to note, keeping up my blog was NOT a New Year's resolution of mine :)

puzzle time with Grandma...this may have been taken in November...Carol appreciates her son's help and yet also despises her son's help :)

 setting up our Christmas tree...we went with a Douglas Fir this year to save $$ but that will be the last one we buy...back to a Frasier fir next year as they don't lose near the amount of needles! 

Haven loves looking at the ornaments from year to year and it's neat to show her which ones we purchased when...it's a neat timeline of our lives.

 

 This is when we told her about Keziah :)

 Our potluck group went out to eat in Bloomington/Normal in early Dec...while I didn't get a pic of the whole gang, Arlan did snap a picture of our dear friend Holly and I, both pregnant...she was about 37 weeks and I was 25 weeks.

 ...and we both can get animated from time to time :)

 Christmas morning in Iowa...a fresh coat of snow covered the ground!

 Grandma Iowa & Haven ready for church

 Ms Aisley was the first kiddo to show up for our Christmas gathering

 Grandma Iowa's attempt at a Christmas card...

 ...it went down hill quickly :)

 little Burkelle opening up her gifts

 Haven FINALLY got Emma's horse trailer from Lego Friends...she was very excited!

 Grandma Iowa opening her photo book from Haven

 the gang enjoying goodies

 we also got to spend some time with my Doorneweerd family on Christmas Eve

 Haven showing off some moves for Cody :)

 opening Santa's presents on Christmas morning

 Haven enjoying putting together her horse trailer/Lego Friends set from Grandma...Arlan wasn't too sad to help either :)

 Miller/Schlipf New Year's get-together

 Disney Scrabble was played...

 Dutch Blitz...

 ...the Rose Bowl parade was enjoyed...

 ...the kid's also did their gift exchange on New Year's

 we are kind of a crew when all together :)

 Blokus was also played...

...along with Catch Phrase while eating MANY goodies!

 nap time...eh-hem, I'll let you guess how well this went for these 3?!

 playing in the basement

tub time!