Older Kids Annual Christmas Outing

On January 30, Kristen & Derek, Carrie & Evan, Tonya & Dakota, Scott and I loaded into the van (with a wheelchair in the back for Dakota - he was recovering from his pcl repair) and headed off to the Pabst Mansion. What a beautiful place decorated for the Christmas season! The woodwork, grand staircase, huge pocket doors, original furninshings, and knowlegable tourguides made the visit well worth our time. Then off to Mayfair Mall for Maggiano's Italian Restaurant.

The ladies (minus their mother:)

The men

The whole group.
The menu?

assorted beverages

bread/oil,

Cesar Salad & Italian Salad

Mozzarella sticks & Onion Rings

Chicken Parmesan, Tilapia, Rigatoni D (noodle dish with mushrooms), Four Cheese Ravioli

Triple Chocolate Cake and Apple Dumpling Ala mode
We had enough left over to feed 14 people for Sunday lunch:)

Just a bit of trivia - we ate upstairs so Dakota put his arm around Derek's neck and hopped on one leg up the staircase (ouch) - what a trooper!

This picture was taken when we arrived home.

The soon to be birthday girl is missing from this "sisters" photo.

In April we will update:)

Angie and Dylan, you were missed!

Christmas

Mya and Toby joined us this year on Christmas morning, helping us with our advent wreath.

Elise and Mya waiting patiently for the events to begin.

Lydia and Tonya snuggled in listening to the Christmas account.

Nathan listening and ready to shoot pictures.

The Stock family:)

Christmas continued

Tonya and Lucy - Tonya surprised some of us (Dad, Kristen, Lydia, and Dakota KNEW!) on December 17th with a visit from China - what fun we had!!

Sweet Baby Belle who turned one on hers and Grandma's birthday:)

Carrie and Evan playing Scattergories.

Jenna, Lydia, Tonya, and Dakota playing Scattergories.

Evan and his two sweeties:)

Two repair jobs needed

Dad attempting to fix the "F" key in octave above middle "C".

Unfortunately he was not successful. Good try, honey.
Lydia spun on some ice on the way to school in December, hitting a mailbox and the hood experienced a rip. I'm glad Lydia did not experience any physical injuries, although I believe it was an event she'd like to never repeat.

For Kristen

While visiting with Kristen in November, we came up with this little thank you for the AWANA leaders. Her cricut cut all the turkeys and wrote THANKS! on them for us - very fun. She supplied the cool paper, too! I added the m&m's and a verse of thanks at the top:)

Christmas Costume

Carrie and I dressed up Elise - she was supposed to dress like something you see at Christmas - can you tell what she is???? Thank you, Carrie!

Thanksgiving

Elise and I got the rolls baked early this year and put them in the freezer - unfortunately I forgot to take them out of the freezer. Jenna came to me during the meal and asked where they were. She ran down to the basement freezer, thawed out a bag in the microwave and served them - better late than never?

Unfortunately the above table never quite got everyone sitting down for a picture. Carrie made cut out leaf and pumpkin cookies on which she wrote a number with frosting. Before the meal we all picked a number out of a bowl and sat down to the plate with the corresponding cookie number. Lydia, Carrie, and Lina

On Friday evening, the Paul McClain family, the Dorns, the Buglers, the Bensons and the Blaubachs ate a dinner of Aunt Marilee's spaghetti - mmmmmmm! Then we had a time of singing Christmas Carols per Grandpa McClain's request. Don't let Uncle Peter fool you - he's looking at the computer on his lap.

On Friday evening, Aunt Sandy & Uncle Clarence, Uncle Steve, Aunt Debbie & Uncle Bob, Uncle Mark & Aunt Amy with XW and SQ, and Grandma and Grandpa Blaubach came over to welcome Shen Quin (pronounced Shen Cheen). Great memories!