12/10/17...Went to church, Went to lunch with Beemer's, Eisenlord's and some of Beemers friends,Went to Sam's and did some Christmas Shopping, Watched Hallmark Movies

Early Christmas present from Bill.  Now to figure it out!

We went to church.  Max was really excited to tell me about his new lego set that he put together.  He wanted to sit by Bill and I.  Another great message today and awesome worship.  We came home from church and changed and then met Vicki and Keven Beemer at Cozy's for lunch.  Marti and Mark were there and some other friends that go to Beemer's church too.  The food was great and we had such a nice time.  We went to Sam's Club afterward.  Bill got me the Ninja Coffee Bar for Christmas.  Can't wait to use it.  I had to wash everything and then run two cleaning cycles so won't try it till tomorrow.  It gets great reviews!  We watched some Hallmark Movies in the evening.

12/9/17...The kids ate Lucky Charms for breakfast, I made them hot chocolate, The girls and their families (all but Max, Bruce and Kenzie) came over

Evan, Jack and Isaac

Jack, Evan and Isaac

Isaac and Jack having fun in the basement

Evan wanted to play with legos

Isaac came upstairs while Hailey and I were playing tonk.  He looked at all the ornaments on my tree very carefully and told me which ones he liked the best.  So cute.

Hailey beat me at tonk

What a blessing to have all of these cookie decorators

Eli was making bunny ears for Peyton so we took another picture below.  Thought this one was really cute though

Isaac decorating cookies after working outside on the wood

Isaac, Hailey and Jacob

Isaac, Hailey and Jacob by the fire

Brass Lamp we got from Christine Holden who is moving

New triple light I got Bill for Christmas and gave him early.  It is so nice.  Has light diffusers in them.

I got up first and got ready, then the boys got up.  Shortly after, Hailey came down from upstairs.  They all wanted Lucky Charms for breakfast.  I asked them if they wanted hot chocolate and they did.  They wanted big marshmallows in it too.  Of course we had to put ice cubes in it to cool it down so they could drink it quicker.  Hailey watched When Calls the Heart and the boys went down to the basement and played air hockey.  I played Isaac a couple games of fuzeball.  He's pretty good at it.  They all played with the legos for a long time. Melissa, Jacob and Adam came too.  Bill came home with yummy donuts.  Kimmy, Jared and Eli came and brought yummy donuts too.  We enjoyed them so much.  Jacob, Hailey and Isaac went outside to do a big job for their Papa.  They moved all the brush from the two trees we took down and stacked the wood.  They were such great workers and did an amazing job with wonderful attitudes.  Very proud of them.  Kimmy went out and helped them and got the wheel barrow for them.  I made up frosting and the girls and kids inside decorated Christmas cookies.  What a wonderful job they did.  Kimmy and Vikki went outside to help the kids with the wood afterward   The guys moved furniture from Christine's.  What great guys our daughters married.  Very hard workers and always willing to help.  Kimmy got a very nice dresser for their room and a curio cabinet.  Vikki got a coffee table and matching end tables and a recliner, plus a nice bed for Peyton.  We got a nice brass lamp and some decorative vases.  I ordered pizza's from Hungry Howie's and Melissa, Adam and I took Vikki's car and went to get them.  Everybody was hungry and it all disappeared.  It tasted great.  Everybody left and Charlie came over to bring us some turkey noodle soup he made.  It is delicious with potatoes, carrots, Amish noodles and turkey in it.  He sat and visited and we had cookies and coffee.  I packed up some cookies for him to take home since he and Sue love them so much.  I ended up giving Bill his Christmas gift early because I wanted to put the brass lamp out and since it was the only one, I needed the light so I could get rid of the two glass lamps I had on the end tables.  I lamps are so nice and look wonderful.  We watched When Calls the Heart afterward.

12/8/17..Went to Veteran's Christmas Luncheon, Went to Max's Birthday Party, Eli had to get 5 stitches in his face (OUCH), Jack, Evan, Isaac and Hailey spent the night with Papa and I.

Went to Vikki's to spend time with her and Kimmy so took this picture of these two cuties who got out of school early today

Poor Eli fell into the wall at Max's when they were playing.  It was Max's party!  He had his friends from school over and Jacob, Adam and Eli.  Glad Kimmy was close by at Vikki's so she could get there fast when Melissa called to say she thought he needed stitches.  He sure looks sad in this picture.

Looks much better after being so brave and getting 5 stitches

                               Max's 12th Birthday Party!  

Melissa, Max and Bruce

Hailey photo bombing

Papa, Max and Nana

Evan, Adam and Jacob watching Max open his presents

Hailey was in charge of taking pictures with my phone and she took a selfie

Love Max's expression when he opened the lego set we got him

Jack posing for Hailey

Max, Adam and Jacob

Max was sure excited when he opened the Acu-strike
Nerf Gun from Jacob, Adam and Eli

Jack and Evan getting ready to have popcorn and watch a movie.  

Isaac camping out while he watches the movie

Hailey watching a Hallmark Movie with Papa and I

Evan fell asleep right after Isaac fell asleep.  

At 11 I met Bill, Charlie and Sue at the VA Center for a Christmas Luncheon for veterans.  It was really nice.  We had meatballs, white chicken chili, pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and dessert.
Bill had lots of errands to do so I came home and got some Christmas gifts wrapped.  Got some boxes
out of the attic for Melissa for Max's birthday party for the silly string game.  Went to Vikki's since the kids only had a half day and Vikki didn't have to work.  Kimmy came there after dropping the boys off at Melissa's.  We got a call from Melissa saying Eli had ran into the wall and she thought he needed stitches.  Kimmy went there right away and met Jared in Midland at Urgent Care.  Eli wanted to go to the ER so Kimmy had to tell him it was UCER.  He needed 5 stitches.  Poor Eli.  He was much happier after the stitches were in but still couldn't come to the party.  He wanted me to take a piece of birthday cake for him to have at my house for the next day when he came.  Went to Melissa and Bruce's for Max's birthday party.  We had yummy pizza and breadsticks from Hungry Howie's.  It was delicious.  Then we had cake and ice cream which was delicious.  Max had his cousins Adam and Jacob, friends from school -Luke, Carter, Amari, at his party.  He was so happy.  We took Jack, Evan and Hailey to our house with us and then the rest of the kids played the birthday games. Melissa and Bruce sure had some fun games for them.  Vikki was at our house with Isaac when we got home. Isaac spent the night with Jack, Evan and Hailey.  The boys wanted to watch the movie "The Twelve Dogs of Christmas".  Hailey, Bill and I watched a Hallmark Movie.  We all had popcorn.  Isaac said he was tired, so I got sleeping bags out.  He fell asleep shortly after he laid down.  Soon after Evan was asleep.  Jack watched the whole movie and wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Hailey wanted a turkey (from Jack's) sandwich.  We all went to bed after that.  What a fun night!

12/7/17...Baked cookies, went to Melissa, Went to Aldi's, went to the bank

Cute ugly Christmas sweaters Vikki found for the kiddos for school.

I got up and started making Christmas cookies.  I made two batches.  Waiting for Kimmy to find out if we are all going to be able to decorate together like usual.  Went to Melissa's for a while, then went to Aldi's, the bank and then home.  A couple of lights weren't working in the outside nativity so I replaced them.  It snowed but just a dusting on the deck.  Still kind of windy, but not near as bad as the last two days.  Sure am praying for those affected by the wildfires in California.  Their winds are supposed to get up to 80 mph.  Can't imagine losing everything in a fire.  

Made a lemon pie, people came to take down 2 trees, Went to lunch with Fred on his birthday, Charlie stopped over, taught class

Homemade cookies and a lemon pie for Fred for his birthday.

Fun time and great visit at Kathleen's Restaurant at Apple Mountain for Fred's Birthday Lunch

Fred and Bill back in the day

Had 2 trees taken down.  One was right up by the wires

They did an amazing job

Bill looking it over

Logs to split for firewood

Got up and started making pie crust for a lemon pie right away.  Made the lemon pudding filling and put the pie together.  It is Fred's favorite kind so I made it for his birthday.  The tree people came to take down the two dead ash trees.  We left to go meet Fred for lunch.  I walked in the door and Maddie, Kenzie's cousin, was at the door.  Gave her a hug and we were blessed that she was our waitress.  She did a good job.  Fred and I had potato soup and Bill had chicken noodle.  I had a chicken sandwich, Bill had a BLT, and Fred had quesadillas.  The food was really good.  We had a very nice visit.  Fred is always so kind and encouraging and a joy to be around.  The tree people called and said they were done.  We finished our lunch and then left so we could check it out and pay them.  Fred was happy to get the pie and Christmas cookies.  We got home and they did an amazing job on taking down the trees.  It only took them a couple of hours too.  We paid them and they left.  Charlie stopped over to see how they had done.  He had coffee and Christmas cookies with us.  My class went great and the kids were really good.  Joan got me a bag of chocolate bon bons.  YUM!

Went to breakfast, went to Melissa's, went shopping, had small group

Love our outdoor nativityVikki started for us when Kenzie was little.  She just found the three kings and the shepherd and two sheep at Bethesda and let me know so I could get it.  So happy.  Bill made the stable and did such a great job.  

Kenzie and I at breakfast the other morning.  She was so much fun.

Love sitting and looking at the Christmas tree at night

It was very windy so I went and organized the recycling so the papers were on the bottom and bottles and cans on top to keep everything from blowing all over.  On the way to breakfast we had to dodge garbage cans, lids and trash that was blowing into the road.  We had 15 of us at breakfast this morning.  After breakfast, I went to Melissa's and took an envelope Sue sent to them there and took her a few cookies to eat.  I went and got gift cards for Christmas at Kroger's after that.  Went to Jacks and got meat and an Amish Ham for the Schaard Christmas party.  Dropped off more toys for Youth Haven kids at A&M Christian Store, and then went to Staples to get Flair Pens for class we are collecting things for for Christmas.  Went to Aldi's and returned a silicone rolling pin and got more ingredients for cookies.  Came home and made a turkey sandwich and watched the news.  

Mark Eisenlord stopped in to bring something to Bill and visited for a while while he ate cookies and drank coffee.  He sure liked Grandma Daisy's cookies.  I got some things done to get ready for small group and then went over the lesson again.  Made sirloin steak and baked potatoes for dinner.

We had a great small group with good discussion.  The winds were terrible, our outdoor nativity didn't blow away. I came home yesterday and Bill had the poles behind them and thick silver wire around their necks to hold them in place.  Vikki and I had both thought we could just put the figures over the poles.  I asked him if I could change it, because I didn't want the paint coming off of them and he said to go ahead.  With them over the poles, they stay right in place.  Wish I would have known this years ago.  If they can stay put in this wind, they shouldn't ever blow away.

12/4/17...Met Vikki at Tim Hortons while she had her headlight changed. Went shopping! Baked one batch of Christmas Cookies

Baked and waiting to be decorated

Vikki called me while I was getting ready in the morning and wanted me to meet her at Tim Horton's.  She was having her headlight changed at Belle Tire.  I hurried and went to meet her.  She treated me to a French Vanilla Cap. and a bagel with cream cheese.  Sure tasted good.  Thank you Vikki!  We went to get her car afterwards and then went to Meijer's.  I checked for the small DVD's for my movie camera, but they don't have them any more.  She suggested Target.  I went to Target next, but they didn't have them either.  I did find them at Walmart. They only had five 3 pks. so I bought them all.  I picked some stuff up for kids at Youth Haven for the collection, for our church Army family collection and for our school class collection for Christmas at the stores.  Had fun looking for stuff and getting it.  Got a Christmas gift for Bill and Papa.  My friend, Vikki called me and we had a nice talk.  She is busy helping take care of her mom and dad right now.  I was happy to hear from her.  Got home and made my Grandma Daisy's Christmas cut out cookies.  Love her cookies.  Will be making 2 more batches on Thursday.  Hopefully the kids and I can get together to decorate like we have in the past.  Always fun doing it together.