Christmas Prep

We've been going crazy with different activities for the kids. We finally got the tree up about two weeks before Christmas. The kids did the decorating, and did great. 

 Leo has enjoyed playing in the snow. 

 He looks like Leo the abominable snow dog.

 DeA wore a pretty dress to our Christmas party. She's a sexy Mrs. Claus.

 She bought two, and decided on the red one.  

Ryker wanted to go to the gym with me. We walked on the treadmill, we did some box jumps, and we rode the bikes. It was a fun time.  

 The mudding and taping is still going on. There is a lot to mud and tape. 

 We love sitting in the future living room and imagining that we are watching the game in front of the fire. 

  

 Funshine hugs are great.  

  

 The fireplace and stone is going to look sweet. 

Post Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Weekend

Our bathtub has gone through quite a bit. The second architect seems to have designed the space for a tub that doesn't exist. DeA picked out a different one, but it cut into the walk-way too much. So we ended up with a smaller tub that DeA wanted. Mom seems to have liked it. 

The kids helped Gma and Gpa decorate their tree. They had quite a few ideas that didn't quite make it through Grandma's approval process. 

"What are you doing? Don't take my picture!"

Jens was proud of their process. 

Grandma eventually stepped in to do it "right". 

I got to spend a morning geese hunting. We didn't get anything, but it was a spectacular morning. 

We went down to Leffler Field to watch Grandpa bring in Santa Claus. He saw kids later in town. Leo was pretty excited. 

"Eat the candy cane. Eat it!"

Max was excited, but worn out from the all the Thanksgiving fun. 

The boys jumped into the helicopter after Santa got out. Here are the kids that got to see the big guy. 

When we got home, Max put some finishing touches on the tree.

The house is coming right along. They are hanging sheet rock.

We went to pick out and pay for the appliances. I did the hard work while DeA tried out a $9000 massage chair. 

Hockey is coming right along. It's fun to watch the kids skate around and chase the puck. 

DeA notice that a friend was offering their Wapato Point Condo for cheap. We had a little staycation for a week. 

DeA has a new calling at church. She is Rock's primary teacher. He's not sure about this. 

Sheet rock!

The condo was right next to the ice rink. It was nice to just send the kids out, but to be able to watch them out the window. 

Ryker had his first recorder concert. He did a duet with his cousin Mia and nailed it. 

It has been fun to visit the house and see the real walls. DeA always is looking good.

We have garage doors!

Look at all those walls. 

It's starting to look like a real house. 

Jens' room has the coolest character. 

Ryker is living his best life. 

Thankful for House Progress on Thanksgiving

The house is starting to really look like a house. 

 The fireplace is in. I can't wait to sit by the fire on a snowy day. 

  This is the back of the house and the back of Jens and DeA

 We could not ask for a better autumn.  

 Hockey is a big part of our lives right now. Rock couldn't care less if we are watching him, Ryker checks constantly to make sure we are seeing everything that he does. 

 The school had the annual community Thanksgiving dinner. The kids were excited. 

 Rock wanted to give goalie a shot. It turned into three games in goal and he quickly realized that he doesn't like goalie. 

 The kids love it when Grandpa calls and asks who wants a ride in the helicopter. They always all say yes, so I rarely get to go. 

 Grandpa Leo would have turned 100 this year. We celebrated his birthday with chocolate milkshakes and with Mom complaining that we were only making chocolate, just like when Grandpa was alive. 

  

 Leo Baby chose to chow string cheese instead. 

 MAXAMILIANO!! loves helping make milkshakes.

 DeA was excited to see the progress on the house that she literally ran there (well, she went for a jog and ended up at the house, but still).

 This is the house color and the stone that we picked. It turned out better than we thought. 

  Thanksgiving Day finally arrived. The annual Turkey Bowl was totally lit. Dave Thompson brought hot cocoa to help fuel the players. 

 It was a great turnout and a fun game. 

 Dinner was at Doug and Jama's. It didn't start great when the potatoes spilled on DeA's feet, but she still let me join everyone else for dinner. 

 Leo Baby loved the pumpkin pie. 

 Jacob barely put any whipped cream on his pie. 

 DeA used the leftovers.to make a stuffing waffle sandwich with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

 The kids re-decorated MAXAMILIANO's skin.

 It wouldn't be Thanksgiving weekend without the kids all crashing on the couch. 

 Leo Baby convinced Aunt DeA to take him to the new house and give him a tour. At least he had a good hat.