Christmas Day

We did Christmas a little different on my side this year. My sister Lacey is a hospice nurse out of O'Neill.  She had to see patients Christmas Day morning & was on call the rest of the day.  Since my house is within her call area & my parents house would not be we decided to have Chrismtas in Chambers this year! At one point we did not know if she was going to be able to join us at all, but as it turned out she made to my house right before we ate & was able to spend the whole afternoon with us!  We felt so blessed that we all to spend the day together.  I think the last time my whole family was together was my Grandma's funeral last January.  We had several time through out the year that we got together, but it seemed like there was someone sick or had something come up that we could not all be together. 

It was a cold day but I was so thankful no new snow fell & the road were fine for everyone traveling.  I made my first ever prime rib.  I was so nervous!!  I had dreams the nights before that I had totally messed it up!  Thanks to my good ol' Treager Grill it turned out just perfect! 

 In addition to being nervous to cook the prime rib, I was also nervous about fitting everyone in my house without feeling like we were on top of each other.  It has been almost 2 years since everyone has been to my house & our family has obviously grown in the 2 years!  As it turned out, we were able to spread out & I do not think anyone felt cramped. The kids played in the bedrooms a lot & Kyle took the oldest 6 kid out to play on the frozen creek for awhile in the afternoon, it helped them burn off some energy.

By about 6:00 everyone had headed for home.  I am so thankful for being able to spend both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with our loved ones. 

My parents with all 12 Grand kids!  It has been almost a year since everyone was together!

Aubree, Allyx, Riley, Cooper & Brooke eating their dinner.

Jenae, Tyson & Kellen eating, well Tyson & Kellen eating their dinner.  Jenae ate really fast.  I think she thought the faster she ate the sooner she could open presents! 

Kyle, me & the girls on Christmas Day.

Aubree was getting dressed for the day & she put on her new  boots & she said to Kyle "Do you know what would match my new boots?"  Kyle said " your chaps???" Aubree replied with a smirk on her face "yep!"  As so we had Cowgirl Aubree with us on Christmas Day!!  We just never know with her what her choice of clothing will be for the day :-)  She keeps our life very entertaining!!

Whitney Faith thinking she wanted to show me what she could reach!

Kyle took the oldest 6 kids to the creek for a bonfire in the afternoon. 

They enjoyed the fresh air & playing on the frozen creek!

12 kids opening gifts all at the same time = mass chaos!

Brooke & Whitney playing together.  Whitney seems to enjoy having a house full of kids to play with :-)

We got Mom  a horse racing game for Christmas. It was a lot of fun to play!  Jenae & Tyson really enjoyed it too!

Christmas Eve

I am waiting for a couple pictures from Christmas Eve that Hope got on her camera of Chip & Marilyn with the Grand kids that I did not get on mine camera. I want to add to them to this post, but am going to go ahead & post this for now & add more pictures to it later. 

Christmas Eve we went over to Chip & Marilyn's in the afternoon.  We opened a few presents then ate some yummy snack foods then went to church.  I look forward to ChristmasEve services.  There is something so special about all gathering in God's house to start the Christmas Holiday off!

After Church we all sat down to a really good supper.  Marilyn goes all out with her Christmas Eve meal.  Everyone was so full after supper we did not even get the dessert out! 

We opened the rest of the gifts after supper.  We all got so many nice things.  I was super excited to open up a Brooklyn Lantern.  It is something I saw on TV & I mentioned to Kyle that I would like one.  Aubree Joy must have been paying attention because one day she saw a couple of them sitting on Chip's dining room table & she said "Grandpa, is that a Brooklyn Lantern?......My mom wants one of those for Christmas."  It made my day :-)  She kept the secret good too, I had no idea! 

We finished up the night playing games & visiting.  It was about 11:30 when we got home & I had 3 tired kiddos!!  We were all having so much fun, just hated to see the evening come to an end!

Hope & Ben got Aubree & Whitney stick horses for Christmas.  They have the girls names branded on the stick.  They are super cute! 

Part of Jenae's gift from Aunt Hope is a year subscription to a Barrel Horse Magazine.  She will look forward to getting that in the mail every month!

Trey helping Chase open a gift. 

Whitney trying to share her chocolate covered pretzel with Ben :-) 

Whitney & Chase looking out on to the deck at Chip & Marilyn's.  They love looking outside at all the animals.



Chase & Whitney have lots of fun with Grammy's musical toys.  They can keep themselves entertainment for a long time listening & playing with the toys. 




Aubree, Trey & Jenae are getting old enough to have their own "kids" table at meal time.  They did so good for their fist time at their own table.  We could hear nice polite conversations coming from over there.



Jenae did good at keeping Chase & Whitney entertained while we finished eating.  I really appreciated her help with the kids!  She can be such good help when she wants to be!

Whitney taking the jump horse for a ride!

The kids opening their gifts at Chip & Marilyn's

Trey was so excited about all his gifts!  It was cute to watch him open each one.  He got a pair of chaps to wear when he helps Papa Chip do chores. 

Gammy playing Play Doh with the kids.



2 sleeping 1 year olds :-)



Christmas Eve Morning

Santa found his way to our house a day early!  Our little tradition is to open gift Christmas Eve morning with the girls.  It is such a special time for our little family.  I love the excitement in the little faces as they are opening the gifts. 

I had such a wonderful Christmas.  I feel so blessed we were able to spend Christmas Eve & Christmas Day with our families.  There is so much sadness & uncertainty in this world we are living in that I need to remind myself how lucky I am to have these days.  They are busy, exhausting & crazy but along with all of that come special memories that are made.  I would not have it any other way!
I will be posting about Christmas Eve & Christmas Day in more post to come!  It was such a busy 2 days that I thought I would break it in to 3 blog posting :-)

Jenae & Aubree opening their gifts Christmas Eve Morning. 

Whitney enjoying a candy cane :-)

Whitney looking to see what Aubree was getting.

Whitney so happy to find another candy cane!  

Jenae & Whitney with Whitney's new car!

Aubree got some new boots & they matched her new under armor!  It did not take her long that morning to get dressed in this outfit! 

Jenan's Christmas Program

Last Friday night Jenae had her school Christmas program.  She was part of the Husker team in the program.  I have to admit, as much as I like the Chambers Christmas Programs, it does bother me that they do not get to get dressed up in there pretty Christmas dresses for the program. 
This year they had the "Winter Olympics" with 4 different teams.  The Huskers, Santa's Elves, Scrooge's team & the Fab 5.  They competed in a number of activities while singing Christmas songs.  It was the 40th year for Mr. Devries doing the Christmas program at Chambers.  It ended up being a really long night, I do not think we got home until after 10 & we did not even stay for the cookies after the program. 

Saturday we got up early & started our annual project of decorating Christmas cookies.  I did get smart this year & only baked 1/2 of a batch.  I want the girls to have the memories of decorating them, but they each did 5 & called it quits!  I finished up the rest of them then cleaned up our huge mess!

Saturday night we had the Ehlers Family over to watch the final round of the NFR.  Heidi was not feeling well & she kept the youngest 3 kiddos home with her, but Matt came over with Brooke & Wyatt.  The kids had a great time playing together.

Sunday we had church & Sunday school.  Kyle left right after we ate dinner to head to Wakefield's to haze some steers.  The girls & I went to Heather's for hair cuts.  It is nice to be all groomed before the holidays!  Whitney's hair had grown a lot & she was getting quiet the mullet! 

This week I work Monday-Wednesday then I am off until the 26th :-)  I am looking forward to some nice quiet time at home getting all ready for Christmas.  My to do list is getting smaller & smaller which is good since Christmas is getting closer & closer :-)
 I am super excited for the Holidays----My most favorite time of year. 

Jenae & Marilyn before the Christmas program.  We went in early to save seats for everyone. 

Chip, Aubree, Marilyn, Whitney & Kyle waiting for the program to start.

Jenae's cheering section     :-)

Trey & Chase sat so good through the program.

Jenae in the program.

Jenae had to run the poles on Rudolph at the program

Jenae cheering on the rest of her relay team.  

Whitney thinks she is as big as the other girls!  She is really into doing things with them & just like them.  She & Aubree were having a doll party here. 

Jeane & Aubree frosting cookies. 

The girls with our finished product.





Aubree's Christmas Program

Aubree's preschool Christmas Program was on Tuesday night.  It started right at 5:30 so Marilyn helped Kyle get the girls ready & I got there right before the program started.  I was thankful that Marilyn was able to help Kyle out.  Chip has been in Vegas this week & Kyle has had a lot more on his plate than normal.  It would have been hard for Kyle to get the chores done & get the girls ready & in to the church by 5:30.

I can not say enough good things about Aubree's preschool. She loves every moment of it & she is learning so much! I highly recommend sending your kids there! I feel like it is so important in a small town to support programs like this so hopefully they will be available for the young ones coming up. Thank you Miss Michelle for everything you do for these little girls. 

Aubree & Clair did great!  It had to have been hard to get up there in front of everyone & sing, but they did so good!!  They sang several songs & had actions to go along with most of the songs.  I was so proud of how well they did!

Aubree & her little classmate before the Christmas Program at Preschool.

Whitney during the program.

Marilyn, Hope, Trey & Chase were all there to support Aubree Joy!

The girls singing little drummer boy while beating on their drums!

Ringing their bells!

Pastor reading a story to all the kids!

The girls next to baby Jesus.

The girls with their sweet teacher, Miss Michelle.

The following pictures are of Chase & Whitney.  They are starting to be buddies already!

Whitney giving Chase a hug.

Not sure what Whitney things she is telling Chase here! 

Giving hugs :-)

I wish I would have been on the other side of them for a really cute picture :-)

And they ended up on the ground!  Chase is so much bigger than Whitney their hugs usually end this way!

Miss Michelle fixed supper for all who attended! 

Aubree & Trey having some fun!

The girls & Miss Michelle with cards that Jane Dexter made for them. They are a 3D Card with a flickering candle inside.