It's the most busiest time of the year

We are officially on CHRISTMAS VACATION!

(and so glad to be on a 2 week break from normal craziness)

School is out - here's what we did from Thanksgiving until now.

Thanksgiving visit at my mom and dad's - we did normal stuff like eat and shop and play games, but we also went to a lights drive through place.

Glad there is lots of open carpet there! (David brought his girlfriend, so he slept with the grandkids.)

Jacob likes to come up with these crazy ideas for family fun. For this trip it was everyone in the house had to put on this old jacket my brother Jared got when he was about 12 (and fit him like a dress according to Jacob's memory). The collage was made with Pixlr, so don't look closely - the imperfect grid may drive you nuts. When we let Jacob have his crazy way, we do all end up laughing and having fun in his weird little world.

Petting zoo at the lights thing

Seth and Carolyn are being the reindeer in this photo.

Rob tries out the wrap.

Aww, Gideon fell asleep.

The week after Thanksgiving (Wednesday), I finally got the new stove! Yea!
(Pressure cooker, crock pot, electric skillet and griddle, microwave, and toaster oven are great...but there's nothing like a real stove/oven to work with!)

December 1st (Thursday) we finally had time to decorate the tree. We had something going on every other night before that, so I promised homemade cookies and homemade hot chocolate since they had to wait a week past Thanksgiving to put up the tree. Photographer: Natalie

Why can't they all just pose nicely when I ask for a quick picture of everyone!?!?!

We had to move the computer desk upstairs to the playroom to fit the tree. We may leave it up there.

Dressed for "A Night in Bethlehem" (Rob is a wise man)

Gideon investigates the tree texture

Seth guitar concert.

Rob has stretches to do each night, so we put Gideon down to stretch with him.

They think he's a doll.

Alee's first Wednesday night at Activity Days - Yea! She's been waiting "forever"!

Christmas Edwards celebration at my brother's in NC last weekend. We attempted family photos.

(I'm only showing our family, my brothers, and the grandkids because Mom made these cute little scarves to number them all. We took many more and had much less cooperation from children and adults alike than these photos show!)

age order - which looks good with our adult heights - no more "door steps"

My other brother did all the (quick) edits; it was cold and rainy so we had to take them inside. (Except for one of grandchildren - which was enough!)

Gingerbread house "contest".

One last week of school and car rider line is finally done.

So cute and chubby and smiley!
(He sat here while I vacuumed for the first time in forever.)

For those interested, we are going to do our Christmas Recital/Concert on Sunday about 5 pm. We will broadcast on YouTube (link below).
2017 Christmas Recital