Merry, Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and on his shoulders dominion rests.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

For this gift we are eternally grateful!

We feel blessed to have all of you in our lives! Merry Christmas!

.

These are for you, Karly!

I've been a burp cloth making machine! These 30 (!) are headed to Thailand to a high school classmate, Karly. International business??!

I'd like to say that the sewing is the cause of my blogging hiatus. But I did all the sewing in the last 3 days. And I haven't blogged since October - somehow that just doesn't compute. Let's hope the new year brings with it a renewed dedication to updating the blog (for the few readers that remain).

Happy Birthday, Brenna!

We spent the past weekend in Ames, IA to celebrate our niece Brenna's third birthday! It's hard to believe she's already three! It doesn't seem so long ago that she looked like this!



We had a great weekend with Ryan's family - his parents and Grandma also came for the celebration. Lots of time for meals together, a few garage sales, baking, football, presents and cake! Jared and I spent a couple hours baking the 4 layers for the cake and then he spent a few more hours decorating and perfecting Brenna's requested princess cake! Sadly, I don't have a single picture.

Brenna seemed to enjoy the extra attention - we sang to her a few times throughout the day and she had a party on Saturday evening. 15 kids 4 and under - it was CRAZY! We gave her a toy microphone for her birthday (thanks for the suggestion, Steph!) and she put on a couple performances for us.

Ryan's parents and grandma headed home on Sunday afternoon and the rest of us ventured to campus to enjoy the gorgeous afternoon. Strolling around made me wish I was back in school. It had the total opposite effect on Ryan!



The Birthday Girl


Cute


Opening from Great Grandma Bohlen


Reading her cards


Thanks Great Grandma!


Really fun doll and an entire wardrobe from Grandma and Grandpa Bohlen


Uncle Ryan and the girls


Performing!


Aunt Dana and baby Lauren


Feeding the geese on campus


Under the campanile


The microphone even made it on to campus for an outdoor performance!


Pretty baby


The Campanile


Who is that good looking guy!?


Just look at those eyelashes!








Totally relaxed















Happy Birthday, beautiful Brenna Joy! We love you!

The Iowa Rudes

I spent the first weekend of October visiting the Rudes in Des Moines. We had a fabulous time! Gorgeous weather lended itself to a visit to the pumpkin patch. We also spent time playing at home bouncing around on my bed, "playing guitar", hanging out in Quinn's fort with glow-sticks, eating yummy soup, sharing sour worms, reading, splashing in the tub and listening to fireworks!


Quinn and his guitar (anything he can strum along to the music on becomes a guitar)


Chillin' in the highchair





Unbelievable blue eyes!


Goofball





Using the glowsticks for some drumming! He's a musical kid - dancing, singing, drumming, guitar - he loves it all!


Getting ready to head to the pumpkin patch


Sweet girl


Q and Mom check out the go-carts


The twinlets playing


Cool dude!





Look at the cute pumpkins we picked!


So cute!


What a smile!





Q's first pony ride


Meg said even though he looks so serious he was having a good time








Ooooooo!


Playing in the big corn pit - diggers, shovels - Q was in heaven!














Q-man picked his pumpkin





More family cuteness!


Aunt D and the kidlets





All of us


Tub time - bubble beards





Smirk!


Happy Q

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