New Year's Eve!

We laid pretty low this New Year's Eve.  We made a trip to the firework's stand and had the Gurka's over for supper.  We rang in the New Year a little early this year, but we wouldn't have had it any other way.  I hope we are all blessed with a new year of many blessing, much love, good health and happiness. 

Christmas 2011!

 Christmas Eve was spent with Nana and Papa Rau and the Hardy family.  Our tradition has become one of attending church together Christmas Eve night, back to Nana and Papa's for dinner and opening gifts.  I hope this a tradition that continues for many many years to come.

When we get home Christmas Eve night from Nana and Papa's house, we make sure to get everything ready for Santa to make his big arrival.  The boys put out homemade, decorated sugar cookies that we have made  and milk out for Santa.  We never leave the reindeer out; we put carrots or reindeer food out as well.  The boys were up at 5:30 AM ready to open presents.  Dane and I convinced them to go back to bed until at least 6:30 AM.  The look on their faces when we went into the living room to check out what Santa had left was priceless.  It was a great Christmas. 

Christmas afternoon, we had Popo Loewe, The Gurka family, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Marie, Joanie, and the Odom family over for supper.  The kids all exchanged gifts, and we had a great time hanging out with family.

Zionsville Christmas Program 2011!

 Kade and Brady were both in the Christmas program at church this past Christmas.  What better way to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas than by watching kids act out the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Kade was one of the three wise men, and Brady was Joseph.  Now it took some major convincing to get Brady to be Joseph.  His terms were that he would do it but he was not going to sing and he was not going to smile.  Whatever!!! As long as he went up, I really didn't care what he did.  You can tell by the pictures below just how thrilled he was to play the part of Joseph. 

Brady as "Joseph"

Kade as a Wise Man

The Three Wise Men

Mary and Joseph

Joseph is so happy to be there!

Waiting to deliver their gifts to the new born baby!

Just think of all the other things I could be doing right now!

How much longer?  What was I thinking agreeing to this?

Brady's Christmas Program!

 The Ocean Treasure classes were in the St. Paul's Christmas program this past December 2011.  For those of you who know Brady, you never really know what to expect when it comes to performing in front of a large crowd.  He as a little anxious at first, but he went out on that stage and sang his heart out.  He was dressed as a red present, and he was very proud of that.  We are all very proud of him!

Downtown Christmas Parade 2011!

Kade and Brady were both in the Downtown Christmas parade this past December.  Brady rode on one of the St. Paul's floats.  The theme this year was "Christmas Movies" for St. Paul's.  I was on the decorating team for Brady's float.  We decided to do "Home Alone."  We decorated the float to look like the center of Time Square in New York.  It turned out great.  Kade rode on our church float.  They did a "Country Christmas" theme.  It turned out to be a great evening for a parade.  What a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Kade getting ready to ride on the church float!

Kade and Leah riding together on the float!

Brady with buddies Brody, Gene, & Blaine!

Getting ready for take off!

Brady next to the Christmas tree in Time Square!

Our New York Time Square float.

Famiy Christmas Pictures!

The Boys with Nana & Papa Rau

Nana & Papa Rau with all the grandkids!

Nate's First Haircut!

Way back in November around Thanksgiving, Nate got his first haircut with Sherry over at Cuts Unlimited.  He was excited about it until we put him up in the chair by himself.  A few tears were shed until Mommy sat him on her lap and gave him a sucker to occupy him.  Then all was well.  He did great the rest of the time.  There is something about getting that first haircut; they start out looking like your little baby, and by the time they are finished, they look like a little boy all grown up.  Now he loves getting his hair cut.  He fights with his two older brothers about who gets to go first.