Hobby On Tour..

 Keith heard about this "Hobby on Tour" last week and decided we needed to go.  Children 16 and under were free, so we just had to pay for Keith and I which wasn't very much at all and we all had a very fun four hours.

It was in the St. Louis Convention Center, so as you can imagine, it was huge.  We had no idea what to expect when we went, but basically, it was just older fellows that had a hobby in little trains all set up all over the place. :)  Some were huge and grand and others were just small, but they were all so interesting.

I can't imagine how long this must have taken to set up!

This sweet man loved talking about his train.  :)

A real steam engine! :)

A lot of the men had train things for sale - kind of like a flea market type thing and the kids thought the people were very cool (and tiny).

Dad, this is the Lionel set up. :)

A Lego Train and Town. :)

Our sweet little Conductors.

The kids saw an escalator on our way out and asked if they could take a ride - so I took them up and across the walk and back down - I think Megan was enjoying herself. :)

Thanks for stopping by to see us. :)

Last part of December

So nice to be with family!

Giving hugs..

Opening cards....

Explaining chocolates...

Putting puzzles together...

Playing Spot-It...

Candy Land....

Block game...

Stacking blocks...

Basketball...

Cuddling with puppies...

Listening to stories...

Spending time with cousins...

Having fun with new presents...

Loving a nephew...

More stories and candy canes...

 Tea parties...

 Lincoln logs...

More time with cousins...

Puzzles with Grandma...

Stories with Uncle Mark...

Snuggles with Isaiah...

Traditional grandkid picture...

Dress up...

What else could you ask for in a Christmas?  We had a marvelous time and wouldn't trade it for anything!!!  Thanks, Mom and Dad, (both sets :) ) for giving us a place to stay so long - we enjoyed our time so very much!

First part of December

December is always such a busy month for us, so I decided to break it up into two posts....not that I'm putting all the pictures that I took on here. :)  That would be painful - for you and me both. :D

But here are a few for the Grandma's that don't get to see the programs and things like that and a few others, too.

I decided to add the second skate to my window this year - I really like it this way.  See last years here.

 

 My little cherubs giving me some Christmas music.

We have had quite a time with being sick this winter and for a few days we were all home sick.  One of the days when the kids were feeling better, but weren't good enough to go back to school, we made some Christmas candy to lift the spirits. :)  Notice who's eating....?

Little Miss excited about the tree. 

Keith did an outstanding job with the program at school as he always does and it turned out beautifully this year.  These are the city gates (the boys are searchers looking for Jesus)

 They got caught by guards and ordered to leave town. (Scary guards - huh?)

 

Then the city gates open up at the end and it's the stable inside - VERY neat, but I wasn't able to get a picture of it from a distance.  (Don't you love Joseph?? *snicker*)

 Then we had a Kids Club program at church and Kristyn was the angel that came to Mary and Joseph.

 

Megan was in the multitude of angels.

  

 I love this picture. :)

 Jeren was a puppy - and Keith said he acted his part well.  I was sick, so I didn't get to go, but he said Jeren was checking out all the scenes just like a real puppy would do. :D

Owen was one of the shepherds.

 

Some of our Christmas candy that we made for the program.

Our first snow!

Our tree - before we packed up 90% of these to take to KS and OK. :)

 Our blessed little family!

We got the boys cowboy hats - they were very happy!  I don't know why my picture of the girls didn't load. (?)

We hope you had a Merry Christmas!

**Merry Christmas**

We would like to wish all of you a very

Merry Christmas!

I tried to put a picture on here, but it is not working, so it will have to wait until next week when we are home again.

We weren't able to send out Christmas cards this year, which I'm kind of sad about, but that's just how it is. :)  We had an unusual winter so far and sending cards just wasn't part of it, so if you normally get a card from us and are thinking maybe we don't like you anymore because you didn't get a card???  Not to worry, we still love you!!! :D

We are having a WONDERFUL time with our families!! 

Have a BLESSED Christmas and thanks for being the best family and friends in the world!!

See you next week! :)