Chrismas Baking/ Night in Bethlehem

We kept busy again this weekend.  The NFR started on Thursday which means our house hold is staying up much later than normal. 

Saturday we got together with Marilyn & Hope to work on making Christmas goodies.  It was a successful day & we got lots of yummy treats made up.  It works nice to get together to crank out a bunch of stuff all at once. 

Saturday night Marilyn fixed supper for all of us then Kyle, the girls & I went up to Atkinson to take in the Night in Bethlehem.  I had heard good things about the event & thought the girls would enjoy it.  As much as I would have like to stay home Saturday night, I know it is these kind of things that make great memories for kids.  My girls were at the perfect age to go through it with.  The Church goes to a lot of time & expense to put on for the area, I was glad we took the time to support it. 

Sunday we went to Church then to a fund raiser brunch at the community center.  I of course was thrilled to not have to make dinner!  We had Al & Brenda Walnofer over for supper that night & they stayed to watch the NFR with us.  By the time Sunday night rolled around I was exhausted! 

I was really dreading work Monday morning & I ended up with a daycare dilemma for yesterday & decided to take the day off.  It was the perfect day to not leave home.  The weather turned really cold & it was -2 degrees yesterday & -10 windchill.  I got all our laundry caught up, organized some drawers & baked some Christmas cookies the girls hopefully decorate on Saturday.  I needed a nice quiet day to make up for the busy weekend!

Hope getting Jenae & Aubree set up to make chocolate dipped pretzels.

Jenae & Aubree making some treats!

Chip & Kyle were on Whitney duty for the day.  Whitney loves her Wa Wa & goes with him any chance she gets.  She loves getting to go hay the cattle.

The first stop at the Night in Bethlehem was at the basket shop.  Each kid that goes through gets to pick out a basket.  Jenae so kindly asked "how much to the baskets cost?"  The lady working at the basket shop replied "Nothing!"  The girls had a great time picking out there baskets!

Once they picked out there basket the basket shop lady would cut it down for them.



The next stop was the quilt shop.  They kids colored on blocks that would be used on a quilt that will be displayed next year at the Night in Bethlehem.  They could draw anything they wanted.  Of course Jenae would draw a horse!



Aubree drew crosses & trees! 

Aubree writing her name on the scroll. 

Jenae writing John 3:16 on a scroll.  It was the only verse she could think of at the moment!

Aubree wanted to grind corn by sitting on the ground & smashing it with a rock.

Jenae used the wooded stomper to smash some corn.  I think the girls realized how much work it was to make corn meal.

Aubree crushing corn. 

Whitney did not enjoy much of the night.  She was scared of the live animals which is strange for this ranch girl who normally loves any & all animals!

One thing Whitney did enjoy the cookies!

Aubree reading her baby.  She put her baby in the basket that she got at the night in Bethlehem & sat down with some battery operated candles & "read" to her baby.  It was so sweet!  Of course Aubree can not yet read which is why I put read in quotation marks.  She can however tell a good story while looking at pictures!