Merry Christmas

As Christmas has come and gone we are enjoying a wonderful weekend together with many new toys and gadgets that Santa was so generous to bring.

We celebrated with Bree on the 23rd so that she could be with her fiance and family on Christmas day. We then celebrated Christmas day with Opa, Xenia, Liz, Mikaela, mom and dad. It was a quiet one this year and for the first time in a few years we chose to stay in Casper for the holiday. The girls had many gifts to open as well as the adults. However, we decided to change the routine slightly (besides staying home and not traveling). The girls usually get up in the morning and open gifts immediatly, this year we signed up to serve breakfast at our local recue mission for the homeless. This was to show the girls they should give before they receive (small reminder of what the season truly is about). So off to the CWRM we went at 8am home by 11am to open gifts and off to everyones personal corner to play with their new toys.

As we stayed home Theresa's mom, dad and sisters family played in the sun in the Dominic Republic and Dennis and Debby (plus family) stayed in Colorado to enjoy this time together as well as Brett and his family. Even though we were all apart we know we are together in the heart! I love all of you and missed you this season.......Remember the season is not about what we got it is about what we were given!!! Merry Christmas.

Oh yah.....gifts: Ipods, Pj's, games (from Germany), lots of candy, Wii games and much much more.

Rescue Mission (Ken and Spencer):

Liz, Mikaela, and Dad prepping food (or playing?:)
Christmas Eve service (Xenia, Ted(opa/dad), Mikaela, Liz, Ken, and Theresa)
Gift time:

Fellowship with Lempka family

On Sat. afternoon we got together with a few other families from church for fellowship and making gingerbread houses. We had pizza, good conversation, and some of us got a good sugar high. Okay no one told me the candy is to go on the gingerbread house and not in your mouth!

Xenia's gingerbread house

Xenia's cooking class for school made gingerbread houses. She did a fabulous job....after a few days however the house started to lean. We explained to her that it is now a true"wyoming" gingerbread house because it leans from the wind:)

Holiday Parties

Ken and I spent the weekend attending Christmas parties....On Friday night we attended our church community group party. This consisted of food and Kareokee (sp). On Saturday we went to Kens work dinner at the Goose Eggs Inn. This is a traditional event and was a very enjoyable evening. With it blizzarding outdoors it was not a long night.


Ken's idea of a good picture

Theresa's idea of the right picture
Kareokee (sp) Good times!

Holiday Baking

We did our annual holiday baking. This was 4 hours in the kitchen with lots of laughter and humor! Thanks to all three girls I did not have to it by myself this year.

Hope all of you are enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Keep in mind what the season is about!

Christmas Wreaths

Ken makes Santa Clause with a sugar cookie

Mikaela and Xenia decorating sugar cookies

Liz put to work doing the fudge

In Loving Memory

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to MeMe (the sugarglider). As we came home last Thursday and she was not doing well I knew she would not make it through the night. This is not the easiest thing to explain to your daughter who has nurture this creature since birth. As expected the critter only survived another hour into the evening.

Fun Memories:
Sleepless nights so that child can hand feed the runt of the litter.
Sleepless nights because critter is nocternal and wants to play when parents want to sleep.
Holes made in the wall because critter escapes and finds a way into the wall.
House guests that want to see it "fly" and instead it pees on them.

Let me remind everyone to remind me of these fun memories when my children want another "critter" type animal!

Again, with great sadness we say goodbye but we say hello to a full nights rest!

(Liz is sad so please keep her in mind but is doing well!)

Done Done Done

I have successfully completed all of my fieldwork (work study). It is now time to join the real world! I have turned in two resumes this past week and hope to hear from them this week. Keep me in your prayers! I will keep you posted.

Love to all!

Holiday Church Play

On the set....

After the production and greeting the audience

Liz was Emma in this years Church Christmas Production. It was a little different this year then the years in the past but she enjoyed it and is already planning her next depute.

Decorating for the Holidays

Getting the tree out

Getting out all the house decorations

xenia gets a personalized ornament to go on the tree.

All the girls helped put the "special" angel on top.
The outside lights are still underconstruction and I dont think you cared to see pictures of the decorated kitchen and bathroom:)

What a weekend...here we are getting the house ready for the holidays. What a major undertaking. Xenia was helping too!

Holiday Parade

Drumming circle Director

Ken...getting everything set up

Mikaela and Best Friend Londynn

My girls:)

The back of the float

Setting up!

Every year the weekend after Thanksgiving our town hosts a holiday parade to kick off the season. This year our PTO did Cat in the Hat and it turned out great. It was very cold! I let Ken walk in the parade with the girls and Xenia went and watched so that we could admire the other floats.

Thanksgiving

Today we give Thanks for all that we have....I am Thankful for my family (all of them) and for the gift of life. I am thankful for everyone who has supported me through the years and seen me through it all.

Thanks to everyone!

This is our dinner....it was fun, we also celebrated a few weeks earlier while in Denver with Deb and Dennis, Melissa, and Neal.

Thanksgiving Day:

I look at my table this year and compare it to five years ago...WOW I really can cook a good meal (thanks Deb! I owe most of it to you:)