A Christmas Blessing

Our first Christmas gathering was with Greg's dad & stepmom in Louisville, KY.  We had a nice time with Grandpa Gerry and Nonna (means Grandma in Italian- even though no one is Italian.)  We also got to see Nonna's (Linda's) two kids Tracy & Lindsey while we were there which is always sweet they make the time for us.  It was cute because Brayden got to play guitar with Greg & his dad on his new little guitar that he likes polishing as much as playing. The 3 boys were having a jam-fest while the 3 girls hung out. That was our first fun Christmas Celebration weekend for 2013.  Then we headed home & soon after they headed to Florida for the winter. Unfortunately we need to do a better job of taking pictures with them at their new condo.

Several weeks later we had Christmas at our house since its the last one in the Dunlap, IL house. The kids woke up to Santa Clause Presents  & we had a leisurely morning opening presents. It was very fun!

The next morning we headed to the Milwaukee airport to pick up Greg's mom, Grandma Rosi, and then headed to my parents in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.  We are so blessed that she gets along so well with my family that she enjoys coming & we enjoy having her come.  It makes it a lot easier on us not having to be in Cincinnati, OH & Sheboygan Falls, WI on the same day. 

(Seriously the dog cooperates in pictures better than some of my family members.)

When we arrived my sister, Suzanne, was there with her husband John & two kids Alexandra & Joel, ages 5 & 2.  My Aunt Pamela & Uncle Paul were also there with their daughter Elizabeth who just started with the FDA at her first job after a lot of schooling.  So there was a full house at my parents but it was a lot of fun. It's nice to catch up with everyone. 

Later that night my brother Rob arrived with his wife, Missy/Michele and their two sons Andrew & Ben, ages 11 & 7.  All the cousins enjoy playing together inside and outside.  They have cousin camp out where they all sleep on air mattresses in Grandma & Grandpa's bedroom.  And my mom is such a great host that she enjoyed feeding all 18 of us her delicious meals and didn't seem phased by it like most people would.  

Getting all 6 cousins to look in one place is hard to accomplish. Then there is my son being the ham/ comedian when it finally happens. 

                      Fun times!

                         The Fort!

Every year my dad pushes all the snow together at the end of the driveway so there is a huge snow pile to make a fort out of for the kids. There are a lot of different age kids out there (adult kids too) playing together in the snow by digging tunnels, making slides in the fort, being King or Queen of the fort (which even Purdy took part in) sledding in several locations usually through the fort & on the barn hill & of course riding the ATV's/4-wheelers. Here is Purdy guarding the fort.  

We all love Christmas at the Farmhouse.  Maybe next year it will be cold enough to go ice skating on the river across the street. (That's a fun memory from the past. ) That is where Greg learned how to ice skate when Shaelyn was just a toddler so that's been awhile.  Then we go out & take walks in the snow & it's so peaceful at night & pretty too!  Here's a light reflecting.

We are so blessed by all of our family members & friends and wish everyone a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! Stay warm- it's a cold one as you can see by the icicles on my sons lashes.)