Christmas

WAKE UP DAD!

Emma, Nolan and Alex ready to open the gifts.

Nolan got a pillow pet!

I went outside to clean off the drive-way.  The snow wasn't good enough to pack for a snowman, so I went out to the backyard and kept myself otherwise occupied.

Braggin' Rights Game

There's not much better way to spend a day off than with great friends and an Illini game.  I had the week off work and was invited to go to the Illinois/Missouri Braggin' Rights game in St. Louis.  We had 2/3 of the G6 and allowed two subs since Scott and Klop couldn't make it.  Ken and Jarod joined us as temporary, honorary G6 members.  Unfortuately, Illinois lost the game but it was one of the most fun road trips I've had.

Three Rinks: Bart, Ken and Jarod

Doug, Hode, Bart, Ken, Jarod, Phil

Go ILLINI!

Tip off!

Heather had to work this week so I took the kids and we spent the night at our friends house in Maroa.  The Hodel's have three kids in similar age to our kids and the same order (boy, girl, boy).  The kids had a great time together while the dads were road trippin'.

Back row: Alex, Ethan
Front row: Emma, Kara, Ty, Nolan

More Advent Nights

We finished up with the last two of our advent nights.  I enjoy the review of Scripture and going over the Christmas story with the family.  The third night's craft didn't work out so well.  We ended up not completing any of the three of them.  They were supposed to be ornaments.  We have enough of those anyway.  :)

The last night's activity went better.  It was a Christmas bracelet that Emma really enjoyed!  It was lot easier and more fun to put together than the ornament.  

Alex is 12

Alex turns 12 years old today.  We celebrated with his Steffen grandparents last weekend.  We'll celebrate w/ his Conrad grandparents this coming Saturday!

He got an AirSoft gun!!  Yikes!

The Spirit of Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

Advent

Last year we began a tradition of celebrating the Advent Sundays as we anticipate the celebration of the coming of Christ's birth.  We go through the Scripture and read over the prophecy and the Christmas story and do a craft together. 

Our first craft was a window hanging that we put together.  It turned out really neat.

Our second craft, on the second Advent Sunday was a gift box.  Those turned out well too!

The most recent craft, this past Sunday, didn't go as well.  No one actually finished it.  It was supposed to be an ornament ball.  Just what we need is another crafted ornament.  They didn't turn out which was just as well I guess.  It has been good for our family to reflect on the true meaning of the season each week.  This time of year gets so busy.