Ohio Christmas

After a 6 hour "blizzardly" Christmas drive- where we couldn't always see the road - we made it to Ohio - to Mom and Dad's. And a wonderful Christmas dinner awaited! So nice to be together. 

Arianna waiting for her food. :) And giving Auntie Liz a silly face. 

This guy did really well on the trip - though I found his tummy need some stretching time afterwards.

Christmas day is also Mark's birthday, so we got to celebrate with them - and enjoy the ice-cream cake Jennelle made. 

 Then we went for a wintry walk - and this little girl - (whose coat I managed to FORGET!) got all bundled up like a tramp - but such a cute one - and we made it around the loop by their house. 

 Mom making something yummy for us all - Hot chocolate. 

And Mom and Jennelle fed us all with incredible food as always - during the next couple days. 

Mom had gotten gifts for us all - which was very generous. 

Leanne, thrilled about her new doll. 

Jennelle and Mark made stockings for us all this year - just like they did when we visited them last Christmas! That was such incredible blessings too - full of special snacks, toys, books, and neat things. :) 

Mark giving us his accordion recital. 

Looking at Erik's tractor book. 

Decorating cookies and a gingerbread house that Jennelle made. 

 I did a quick photo shoot for these guys. :) 

 Jennelle had pizzas for the kids to make - and while they ate those - James and I had a quick date to talk about goals for the new year. :) 

 They loved making them. 

 Mark had this pizza oven that they had given to them. Pretty neat. 

Then, later on that day, we packed up, and headed home - and was home by around 10 p.m. A good time with family and blessed their love. 

Our Christmas

Since we were going to be traveling to Ohio to visit Mom and Dad Heikoop, and Mark and Jennelle for a couple days, we celebrated Christmas as a family the day before.

After coming home from the morning service, I really wanted to get a nice picture of my kids... but it wasn't the top priority in their minds - haha - especially Leanne. :)

We ate a few snacks for lunch that afternoon. :) 

Laura being the wonderful big sister she is to Jason. 

This little girl got her own "second hand phone" for Christmas - and she was quite happy. 

Opening his remote car. 

A Lego Creating book for this Lego enthusiast. 

Excited to get her doll horse - a $5 find at a Garage Sale last summer. :) 

Claiming Katie's horse. 

James got me a kindle which I'm excited to use! 

Daddy chilling with the babe. 

Katelyn and I both got a baking sheet for Christmas - she is starting to enjoy doing baking, and we needed new cookie sheets, so this was a perfect gift for us all. :) 

I try to get all my gifts either from garage sales, thrift stores, or really on sale.... like Erik's remote car was $15 (and it's lasted longer than the $60 one we tried out and returned after it broke right away last year). I bought some doll clothes at "Once Upon a Child" along with some Lego, and Erik's Lego book. At this point, it doesn't have to be new to be enjoyed. :) 

Cookies Decorating

A dear lady - Maureen - from our church, asked if she do a craft with my kiddos? Uh...yes!!! So she comes over with all the supplies and table covering to make things super simple, and has a cookie decorating session with them. 

We've done a few Christmas times of decorating cookies (trying to keep up my family's tradition!), but this year, I just didn't have it in me - thankful for others who fill in the cracks! 

That meant so much that she'd do this for all of us. The kids loved it. When an older woman invests into your family you feel very encouraged. 

Katie and Leanne enjoying a ride from their "donkey". Those two have a very special bond at this time, which is so helpful and neat to see Katie looking after her little sister when needed.