Christmas Part 2

Sunday brought about another Christmas celebration. Another chance to spend time with family. It started out with a visit to Sarah's for an afternoon of felting. As one of the gifts she gave Amy and me, her BFF, Renee knitted us a pair of slippers. Here they are in there pre-felted form. Seriously they are HUGE at this stage.

So while Lukas gave aunt Sarah a lesson in ottoman drumming we shrunk the slippers.

Here they are in there finished form. I can't wait for them to dry so I can wear them warm and snugly on my feet. Thank you so much Ren!!!! You rock.

Then is was off to Brian, Rhonda and Sami's for a family gathering. The whole gang was there and as the shoes can attest there were a few of us!!! There was an essential member of the family missing as whatever bug was making it's rounds last week decided to rear it's ugly head again and hit Dave. We missed you honey.

Here are a few of the family patiently waiting dinner. There was all kinds of food. That is one thing you have to love about the holidays.....the abundance of good food. I did think it was time for Lukas to try sauerkraut, but for some reason this was frowned on!!!???

What would you expect!!! After dinner Jesse and Michael found a spot next to the treat table!!


Lukas showing off his walking skills. He was all over the place today. Seems that crawling is no longer the preferred mode of transportation.

Here he is just before gift opening telling uncle Jay, aunt Nancy and Travis all about the Christmas celebration the other night at g-ma's.

A few years ago as the family was growing my mom came up with a plan for gift giving. Throughout the year she gathers gifts and then they are all put into red bags. If they won't fit there are #'s in the bags. Your name is drawn and you can choose. It is always fun to see what she has come up with!!! My sister Janet is the super shopper and she helps mom with the gift gathering.

Here is Michael looking very sad because the clock he got didn't have pictures of his favorite aunt Mary in it!!! That's OK I will get you some pics....now cheer up!!

And yes, the hat and scarf were part of the gifts but unfortunately they were not his!!!

Nancy scored a hat, scarf and glove set.....and as it says....shine!!

So she did!!!!

I ended up with a water bottle for Dave....couldn't leave him out....and a craftsman tape measure for me. After all the gifts were distributed there were extra gifts for the taking. Jay could hardly wait to get his hands on this hat!!!!

Look how happy he is!!

There is always the opportunity to trade with someone else. It was kind of surprising but I think the only one that traded was Mike T. Why he didn't want to keep his crystal glass I will never know!!! Lukas decided to try and eat a bowl, so Amy and Jesse took that too......hey, who's hand is that on the red blanket??? I think Jay took the leopard blanket, Sarah took the other bowls and the red blanket made it to Vicksburg.

A GREAT time was had by all!!

What a pleasure to be able to spend time together. As the family grows it is always a challenge to find room for everyone and it was so nice for Brian and Rhonda to open there house to the clan.......and I know they look forward to next year...wink wink!!!

And with that Lukas was over all the Christmas celebrations and ready for a nap!!

Said it before and I will say it again......man I LOVE this family!!!

Christmas! Part 1

Wow...all I can say is that we had a awesome Christmas this year. I wasn't sure because leading into it with everyone sick and the whole "in the spirit thing" not being there I wasn't too optimistic. Dave and I had the pleasure of Sarah's company on the Eve and the day. It is always fun when she is here. We just hung out all day while Dave cleared the driveway...for 3 hours!!! He was determined to rid it of the ice!

We got a nice phone call from family in Oregon....miss you guys!!!

Then in the afternoon we got a great visit from Santa and Santa Jr.

Santa Jr. wants to thank uncle Tom, aunt Lynette and family for the awesome snowy owl. Owls are his favorite thing right now.

He was more interested in the owl ornament than the pile of presents spread around the room. He is standing up from the middle of the floor now and walking everywhere.....he doesn't care to crawl when he

can walk!!

Aunt Sarah assisted in the unwrapping starting with a bear from Great Grandma and Grandpa Ward. I am not sure what he liked best, the gifts or the paper! He had a long day and was so tired when he got here so he was only interested for a little while..after that he was most content to carry a few toys around...and around....and around the living room.

We got Jesse a weight set and I was wondering how to wrap it.....Santa Dave said he would take care of it. When Jesse opened his package he found a straw and 2 round cardboard discs.....well worth the look on his face!!! Dave informed him it was a kit and assembly was required. Soon after he figured out the puzzle........way to go Dave!! Too cute!

I put together a photo album for Amy of Lukas's first year.......surprise, I had some pictures!!! I was very gratified that she loved it, with a few tears around the room. I was able to sneak the disc out of their camera and onto my flash-drive so I was able to include a lot of photos of the times when I am not there to (over) document his life!!!! I had such a great time working on it and remembering.

Every year Dave has done a little shopping of his own. I am not even sure when he does it, but he always has one gift hidden away for everyone.

This year he had this for Lukas.

He was so excited to bring it out and show him.

As you can see it was a HUGE hit with someone!!!!

Faster aunt Sarah faster!!!!

Lukas took a break from the action for a little snooze and after that a little chat with grandpa. I am sure he was wishing him a Happy Birthday. Grandpa shares his B-day with Christmas.

At the end of the end of the day it is the time with family that makes all the difference. We get to spend tomorrow with my side of the family and we look forward to the fun , food and camaraderie. Wishing we could spend time with the rest of the family. You live so far away, but know you are always in our hearts and minds. It was great to at least be able to talk over the phone for a few. We shall see you soon.

Stay tuned for more!!!

Christmas preview!!

We have had a rough lead into the holidays. Most of us have been sick with something or another. Lukas has an ear infection and the rest of us have had a stomach bug!! Lot's of fun. Has made for a busy and confusing week for the kids especially!!!!

While I was at the V-burg house a package came from Aunt Dianne and Wes, and Betts. He decided to practice his gift opening skills. This was the first time the entire day that he hadn't wanted to be held. Thank you Batts family.

We have a tradition here at the Ward household...we always make and decorate cookies on Christmas eve.....OK, Dave and the kids do this. I watch.... Here are Dave and Sarah working diligently on the cookies.

And the end results.......it wasn't supposed to be a ugly, inedible, cookie contest but, that is what it turned into. Much fun was had by all. We look forward to tomorrow and spending time with the family.

LOOK GRANDPA IT'S SANTA!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas tree O' Christmas tree....

For many years we have not had a tree for Christmas. They are just too much work!!! For any one who was around in the early years you know that was not always true. We always had a tree.....they were not always conventional trees, but they were trees. Of course there was the year......well 3 years that we had the SAME tree( because I wouldn't take it down.) So, Sarah has prom pictures in front of a Christmas tree. But, things are different this year...we have Lukas to celebrate his first Christmas with, and do you not think he would like a tree????

Not that there is any dissension in the house. We are all uhhemmmm in agreement..

NOT.

You see this is where our tree should be!!!!

But, this is where it is!!!!

I have one week left to convince someone to get it down....I have my doubts!!!!

The weekend

A semi busy weekend here. Started out with all the snow and blizzard conditions. Dave and Sarah have been chatting about a snow blower for her. Dave found a used on on-line and we checked it out and picked it up. We headed to Sarah's abode to give it a try. So what do you think happened?????? Yep, it would not run.

We loaded it up and Dave took it home......Now me I would have given it back!!!! Dave let it go for the night and went out in the morning to try again. With a little adjustment it was off and running. We had our drive cleared so he practiced on the deck.

So back to Sarah's we went! Started up at her house and like us she had already shoveled all the snow. So they cleared her deck also. Now we wait for the next snow and hope all things work out well for her!. It sure will make it easier for her on those snowy days.

Smiles all around!!

And remember a few weeks ago when we went to Ikea??? This is one of the pieces that she bought all put together and in use.

The last 2 nights we have heard owls out in the woods north of our property. Now usually that would bring a smile to my face.....it does NOT!!!! The owl we are hearing is a great horned owl. They sound different that the barred owls we have nesting here. The worry for me is that they are a natural predator of our owls!!! They will eat ours. I will try not to be too concerned, but I better hear or see ours again soon!!!

Warm!!!

This is what it is like outside.............

And this is want it's like inside.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

And because for some reason this video didn't load so here goes.....

Hope you are all staying warm!!

Nother one!!!

It is time once again for me to take over the blog. G-ma was here for another short visit. The weather here was really iffy and so she took off and left me!!! Can ya believe it??? I have had a little cold this week. Started with a fever this weekend and now I am just sort of feeling a little off with a runny nose. But I will persevere with the blog for G-ma!!

The sandhill cranes are back in full force this year. Here are 4 of the ones that were hanging out by the pond in the snow. They are really loud but, so far I like them.

Here I am with my daddy right after g-ma got here. See how happy he is to see her!!! :)


This weekend mommy, daddy and I went out and cut down our Christmas tree. It is a real beauty if I do say so myself. It has been very tempting but, so far I am behaving myself and for the most part staying away!!! We shall see if I can maintain my distance!!!!! Some of those things they call ornaments are really intriguing.

Besides the whole walking thing, which I am really getting good at, I love playing with all my toys. I have my favorites and one of those lately are my Lego's. I surprised g-ma by pulling them apart whenever she would put them together. I could have made it easier on her by also putting them back in the box (which I do all the time) but why make it easier on her!!! Hey, I am aware that the rule is you play with it you put it back, but in all fairness she is the one who dumped the bucket!!!

After mommy got back, while she and g-ma were chatting I got a treat. I just discovered clementines. They are really yummy, and juicy. Don't worry it didn't ruin my appetite, because later I had some pasta, and broccoli, oh, and another new favorite......a whole bottle of dananimals yogurt. Mommy put a straw in it and I drank it all down, even slurped when I got to the bottom!!! YUM!

Grandma and I had lots of fun today even though it was a short visit. She really wanted to put a video up of how well I am getting around but blogger was causing her some grief!!!!! I am learning a lesson or two about balance and how to step over somethings....nothing tall but some of the little things I may leave laying around......hey, I am still young I don't always pick up after myself, ya know!!! Well, hope to talk to you all soon. I am getting excited for this holiday stuff I keep hearing everybody talking about!!!! Should be an interesting time. Oh, and I keep hearing rumblings about someone having a birthday party sometime next month!?!?!?! Wonder who that could be?

Bye for now!!! Lukas

???? Why is the title the hardest thing

I want to start this post with a Happy Birthday wish for our Amy. I can't do the same type of post as with the others, I have NO baby pics, awkward middle school, or embarrassing moment shots to put up. I do have some pics of her when she and Jesse found one another so here are a few.

Early on she became a part of the family. Trips to Nevada to celebrate the holidays.

Camping in Colorado.

And after she spent time with us she still agreed to marry Jesse. She can't say she wasn't aware of what she was getting into...she had fair warning.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

Last week we had our first measurable snowfall. It really was pretty and as long as you didn't have to drive in it not so bad!!

On Saturday we headed down to V-burg to celebrate the aforementioned birthday. When we got there Lukas was not feeling the best. He is working on those pesky top teeth. He was running a low grade fever and was a little messy faced!! But in true Lukas fashion he was trying to be happy. Here you can see he takes after his mommy!! They play the same!!!! :) :)

Lukas and I sat and read a book together. He was really enjoying it...........OK that should be we!!!

Once again Aunt Sarah will go to all extremes to get a laugh out of Luke. Here she is channeling her inner Baby Bop ( I know wrong color, but come on it does look like her) from Barney!! What else would you do with a Boppie? (get it???)

And after they played ....they lunched!! He wasn't too interested but anything was better than nothing!!

After all that excitement and eating someone found their best buddy for a little snooze!! It has to be noted that the first one to sleep was not the one with the paci!!!!!!

It was a good thing they napped. We went out for dinner and G-pa was more than happy to keep Lukas occupied. They checked out all the Christmas decorations the restaurant had to offer. They were both very happy. Dave is so very smitten with his little buddy and enjoys showing him around.

Oh and someone else wanted a nap after Lukas woke up. Once again Dave was happy to oblige(Or maybe he was just not aware!!!!)

Sleep tight Kitty!!!