Sunday, 12/13/2020...I had to work back with the kids at church, Vikki and kiddos came over and we baked and decorated cookies

 Peyton and Isaac cutting out cookies

Peyton, Nana and Isaac making Christmas cookies

 Peyton and Papa...papa put the frosting on and Peyton decorated them

Isaac was a designer cookie decorator

 Some snow stuck on the ground and deck

 I love this load of mugs that came out of Kimmy and Jared's Kiln.  Amazing and such a variety of shapes, designs and colors

I got to church early and prayed with a few from the prayer group, then went to help Sara with kids church.  Lisa J. helped today for the first time too.  Now they just have 3 kids at a table to keep everyone safe.  We wore face masks the whole time and everyone loved my Christmas face mask Lela made. Came home and made bacon, eggs, potatoes and toast and ate.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over and we baked and decorated 2 batches of my Grandma Daisy's Christmas Cookie recipe.  What great helpers and what beautiful and delicious cookies.  Her recipe is the best ever!  Vikki cleaned up everything and did the dishes.  We had fun and the kids did great putting frosting on themselves and decorating this year.  Vikki did a great job decorating too, but didn't want to be in my pictures.  Bill did a super job putting frosting on for us so we could just decorate.  We listened to Christmas music and had fun and got them done super fast.  Bill and I watched the Chosen Christmas Special. It focused on the true meaning of Christmas, and was so worshipful.  Loved it!

Sat., 12/12/2020...Fun time watching For King and Country's Christmas Concert, Played tonk

 

 We had a fun game of tonk this morning...Eli only played 3-13 last night, if we would play Tonk afterward.  We all forgot, so we played this morning

 Adam and Eli watching the Three Stooges and laughing lots

 Jacob, Adam, Eli and Peyton...Jacob wanted to get his shoes on so bad because Adam had his on.  Looks like Adam is on his toes and Jacob is trying to push him back down so he's flat footed.  The race for being the tallest continues...

 Jacob, Adam, Eli and Peyton

 Peyton and me playing with the train

I was the first one up.  I unloaded the dishwasher and read my Bible.  Adam was the first of the boys up.  Papa was the next one up, then Eli and then Adam woke Jacob up at 9:45.  I made pancakes for breakfast, and then we played Tonk.  We watched a For King and Country Christmas Special from 2 years ago, since we missed the 2020 one yesterday.  It was a great concert. We watched the 3 Stooges after that.  The boys wanted the left over pizza for lunch so that's what we all ate except Bill, since we didn't have any without cheese.  The boys wanted to watch the movie Courageous.  Kimmy and Jared got here shortly after we started watching it.  Vikki and Peyton came right after them.  We had another nice family day. We girls moved into the living room so we could visit while the guys watched the movie.  I got the train out for Peyton and she set the tracks all up herself.  I worked on the other parts.  I'm leaving it up for Isaac to play with it.  It started snowing kind of hard and the deck turned white quickly.  Everyone left so they could get home before dark and before roads got icy. The boys sure were fun to have spend the night. They are so easy to have around and such great helpers.  Melissa called and we talked a few times today.  I really miss having her come over, but I sure am glad she is being very careful with all the people we hear of that we know getting now.  Happy Kimmy, Vikki and their families are in our bubble.  

Friday, 12/11/2020, Kimmy and the boys came over, Vikki and the twins came over, Went to drop off gift for Christmas family to Shani, Jacob, Adam and Eli spent the night

 

 Jacob, Peyton with her kitty ears, and Isaac

 Papa, Eli and Adam

 Beautiful ring Kenzie made for me

 Jacob and Adam

Papa, Jacob, Nana and Peyton

Jacob, Nana and Peyton

 Eli, Adam, Jacob and Papa when we were playing 3-13.  We sure use a lot of Grandma and Grandpa Russell's sayings when we play

 Papa, Adam, Jacob and Eli watching Christmas for a Dollar

 Jacob and Eli

 Kimmy and Jared's beautiful sheep

I got a call from Kimmy and she and the boys wanted to come over.  Yay, I was so happy.  Then she said the boys all wanted to spend the night and I was even happier!  We had a fun day together.  We played hangman, the kids played games in the basement, Melissa called, and we just enjoyed being together.  Bill and I had to leave for a while to take a gift over to Shani's for a family we all adopted together for Christmas.  Only Shani was there.  We had a nice visit and her new home is absolutely beautiful.  We came back and had a few minutes to spend together before Kimmy, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac left.  It was going to be getting dark they both wanted to be home before it was dark out.  Jacob, Adam and Eli had fun playing air hockey.  We ate pizza for dinner and then the boys and Bill watched Mandalarin.  We all played 3-13.  Adam was the winner.  Jacob came in second.  I beat Bill by 1 point.  Poor Eli came in last.  We had popcorn and watched Christmas for a Dollar. The boys really liked it and said they would have to watch it at their house again.  Bill and the boys had ice cream (Eli had a shake) during the movie too.  It's their tradition!

Thurs. 12/10/2020, Worked on schoolwork with Peyton and Isaac, Ate dinner at Vikki's

 Ha Ha, Isaac reading with his blue blocker glasses on.  He sure read with expression today.  Must be the glasses

 Peyton and all of her friends listening to Isaac read

 This house by where my mom and dad used to live burned last night.  So sad!

 Cute picture of Hailey visiting with her pets

 Peyton at her house when I went for dinner

 Isaac

Isaac was up when I finished getting ready and came into the living room.  I had to wake Peyton up a little later.  We ate our breakfast and today we had homemade cinnamon crunch toast from Frankenmuth with it.  The kids loved it.  I surprised Isaac and made his bed.  Peyton was still sleeping, so I couldn't surprise her.  She surprised me and made it though and did a very good job.  We did our spelling which didn't take long.  Isaac got them all right and Peyton only needed to practice writing 5.  She wanted to do it on the white board so we had to erase Vikki's beautiful picture. Peyton loved writing them on that and she learned them really fast.  We read the Picture Bible and our books.  We did take a little break to go look at the house that burned last night by my parents old house.  Bill had gone by it and called me to tell me to go by it.  Praying for the family.  We got home and finished our reading.  Vikki got hear and added some fun to my reading of Little House.  She had us laughing with her additions to the story. I went to Hobby Lobby and Big Lots.  Came home and a little later went to Vikki's for sloppy joes, French fries, and macaroni salad....everything was delicious!  Thanks Vikki.  Made my Christmas list out for Bill.  Talked to Kenzie today on messenger and she sent me pictures of a beautiful ring she is making me for Christmas.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  She's is always so sweet.  We have been messaging and talking lots lately which is nice.  Adam and Eli texted me.  They are so sad about Peter their cat.  Me too.  This nana sure is praying! 

Wed. 12/9/2020, Happy Birthday to Carol, Did some shopping, checked out Kimmy and Jared's stuff in the cute shop, Vikki brought the kiddos over

 Vikki's artwork tonight after we played hangman

 Isaac and Peyton ready for movie night with their bowl of grapes which is what they love for a snack

I texted Carol to tell her happy birthday.  After breakfast, I went to Midland to shop and also to check out the nice shop Kimmy and Jared have their pottery in.  Very nice shop and their pottery looks amazing the way they have it displayed so nice.   I talked to Kimmy while I was out.  Used the rest of the burger, cabbage and onion and made more buns for the freezer.  Bill and I called Carol and sang Happy Birthday to her.  She was so sweet on the phone and we enjoyed talking to her.  She's 71 today.  
Vikki brought Peyton and Isaac over after dinner and we played hangman.  It was so much fun.  We had to erase Eli's gigantic maze though boo hoo.  After Vikki left we watched Silver Bells.  It was such a good movie.

Mon. 12/8/2020, Did spelling and reading with the kiddos, More Christmas stuff came, Made burger buns

 Love Kimmy and Jared's Pottery and shelving which is in Great Gifts Shop in Midland

                                                                                

 Beautiful wreath Vikki and the kids made

             I got ready, then went up and checked to see if Isaac was awake.  He was so he got up.  Peyton got up about 15 minutes later.  She always sleeps a little longer.  We ate breakfast and then started studying spelling.  Isaac learned them quickly.  Peyton had a hard time with a couple, but then got them down.  They read the Action Bible to me, and a couple of chapters of another book too, and then I read Little House on the Prairie to them.   Vikki got here while I was reading to them.  Bill picked up a Tim Horton's coffees and took one to Charlie and visited.  I am very excited about Kimmy and Jared's pottery being in Great Gifts Shop.  It sure looks beautiful the way they set it up.  Their pottery is amazing and Jared did such a great job on building the shelves.  I can't wait to go see it in person.  I made more burger with cabbage buns and took some to Bev and Dave.  Bev fell and hurt her back.  She's in her 90's so were thankful she didn't break anything.  She's in our prayer group at church and is such a sweet friend.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac made a beautiful wreath.  They did an amazing job!  Bill and I watched a movie called the "Faith Box".  It was good but very suspenseful.                                                                        

Monday, 12/7/2020, Drove to Sanford and Edenville to see how things were coming after the flooding

 Bill driving in Sanford....the bridge over expressway in the distance

 Sanford beach on the far side..always loved going there

Curtis Rd. in Edenville....still working on the bridge

 Isaac was just the first one to guess the puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.....American Girl Doll

 Peyton

Walked 2 miles on the treadmill while listening to Christmas music.  Made oatmeal and read our Bibles afterward.  More Christmas stuff arrived so sanitized it and took it upstairs. Made chicken salad sandwiches for lunch. We decided to take a ride to Sanford and Edenville to see how things are since the flood.  We dropped off some cabbage buns to Don...he just got home after knee replacement surgery.  Things are better in Sanford and Edenville, but there is still lots to fix and it's still sad what people have gone and are going through.  On our way home, we stopped and walked through Good Gifts where Kimmy and Jared are going to be putting their pottery to be sold.  It was a cute shop with lots of nice stuff.  I almost bought something for Bill's sister, Debbie, for Christmas, but Bill didn't think she would want it, and he talked me out of it.  Afterwards, I wish I would have bought it.  I will be going back when I hear there is pottery in that store.  Can't wait!  Vikki brought the kids over after dinner. We watched a full house and had grapes as a snack.  They both love grapes.  Isaac brought his Action Bible, so that's what he wanted to read before bed.  It's the same as the picture Bible except bigger, more colorful pictures.  We all prayed and I tucked my sweeties in bed. Bill and I finished our movie we had started earlier called I want to be Home for Christmas. It was a good movie!