Christmas Day

Christmas Morning

 

 

Preston got legos from Mom and Dad and Hungry, Hungry Hippos from Santa.

 

{His favorite Christmas song this year is I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.}

 

After several I don't know responses when asked what we wanted Santa to bring him, he finally said he wanted a hippopotamus. :)

 

Lill Jo got a baby that she can feed from Mom and Dad and Santa brought those stacking rings.

 

 

Christmas Night

 

Preston was pretty restless Christmas Day and kept asking when we were going to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Fortunately, Mom and Dad were just hanging out with Don and Shelly and Rolfie, Abby and my cousin Wayne were heading over that night as well. So the kids and I packed up and headed over there.

My mom and her brothers

Mom and her SIL Shelly

Don and Shelly with my kiddos

Preston and Lilli Jo LOVE them!!

I asked Lilli if I could take her picture and she automatically started posing.

Too cute!!

"Excuse me, this is my photo shoot."

Oh my.

The many faces of Preston.

Our tickle game - it was tickle Mama time.

Plotting who to tickle next

Lilli Jo and Grandma were ready for the picture.

Preston and Grandpa ... not so much.

Getting both of my kids to cooperate for a picture is pretty much impossible.

My uncle Rolfie and my cousin Abby.

 

My cousin, Wayne, with the kiddos. Wayne was home for Christmas, with his wife and MIL, for the first time in about 14 years. Wayne has been overseas since he enlisted in the Air Force (Japan, Turkey, Alaska, Japan again) and is now going to be state-side. We're hoping this means we'll get to see him a bit more!

 

{You may have noticed the increased number of pictures on my recent posts. Well ... I FINALLY got a decent camera, a DSLR, which means I have LOTS of pictures to choose from now! Enjoy!!}



Christmas Eve

My little girl

Goofy boys

Santa Allie

Reindeer Preston

Santa Turner

Reindeer Turner

Santa Preston

Reindeer Allie

Santa Turner and Reindeer Dustin

Presents!

All the kids loved their presents and Grandma was very excited about her present!

We set out cookies and milk for Santa

 

 

Preston made some food for Santa's reindeer, so we set that outside for them.

Reindeer food = oats and glitter  :)

 

A Hovey Christmas

The Hovey family got together to celebrate Grandma Elsie's 80th birthday on Sunday.

Grandma's birthday isn't until January, but our entire family (minus Morgan and Jacob and their Mom) was home for Christmas. This hasn't happened in quite some time. I believe the last time my cousin Wayne was home for Christmas was fourteen years ago.

 

So we all got together to celebrate Grandma and Christmas. And celebrate, we did!

 

My silly little girl

Meeting cousin Wayne

In true Lilli Jo fashion, she went right to him and was content to let him hold her.

Grandma and her children

Our whole family

The Bjerkes

Grandma Elsie

Happy (early) Birthday, Grandma!

Love this one!

I took a break from taking pictures to play for a bit.

Trouble in the choir loft

Allie with Gavin and Maddox (my cousin Reid's boys)

 

After the birthday party, we went to Mike and Louise's new home. It's not quite finished ... I can't wait to see it when it is ... but it was perfect for our gathering.

Lefse! It was SO good.

Wayne brought the sake.

Mom took a break from making divinity (which was amazing, best ever) for a photo op.

Mom and my cousin Jackie, busy bees in the kitchen

Me and Wayne

It's been far too long since he's been home - we went to basic training at the same time in 1998, he went Air Force, while I went Army Guard. He first went to Japan, then Turkey, then Alaska, then Japan. He was headed to Italy next, but a change of plans took him to Arizona. He'll be there until his retirement, in about six years. He's hoping to make it home for Honey Days this next year. Hopefully being state-side will allow for more visits home!

 

What a truly blessed Christmas it has been this year!