Christmas Day!

Christmas Day was spent with church in the morning,

good naps, and then our Van Grouw party in the afternoon/evening!

Merry Christmas!

snooping the frosting before decorating cookies

the cookie decorating crew :)

Aubrey did well with the sprinkles.

Avery just ate the sprinkles!

Can't wait for everyone to get here!

stockings first - all the cousins get an ornament

Aubrey got a Kindergarten one and 

Avery got Elsa

supper with the cousins

Traditional cousin pic on the couch -

this time EIGHT COUSINS!

PRESENT TIME!

Aubrey's stack of gifts

Avery's stack of gifts

Magic Clip princesses

Dot Art markers and papers

necklace and bracelet

Spot It! and Legoes 

dry erase book and markers

Weaving Loom 

new cowgirl outfit for her doll "Chelsea"

Avery got her 18 in doll named "Lexi"

awww :)

Aubrey didn't get a brand new Barbie pop-up camper,

but she did get a Barbie camper that she loves!

Steve got this shirt from the Van Grouws

Jessica got me these cool accessories!

I had Curt's name :)

Paint set, doll purse, and Barbie outfit

from Camryn

Uncle Curt always gives a nice package of meat!

getting to know Dakota 

Avery always likes to be by the babies :)

ending a great day with books with Daddy

Christmas Eve

For Christmas break this year, we went up to NWI from

Friday (23rd) through Tuesday (27th).

Unfortunately we didn't leave on time Friday, due to

an ORDEAL that happened on Thursday night.

I'll spare the details, but it involved meticulous hair combing

and laundry and laundry and laundry!

After arriving just in time Friday night, we all met at the

Sioux Center Pizza Ranch

for supper on Friday night!

Grandma and Grandpa and all 8 of their grandkids!

meeting Dakota Dawn for the first time 

the cousins had fun eating and coloring together 

playing games together 

books with Grandma

(with a towel around Avery :))

This became our nightly (and morning) routine

as we all colored, while Steve and I combed out Avery's hair 

with the lamp on the table :)

On Saturday, Christmas Eve,

Aubrey gave Grandma and Grandpa an ornament she made in school.

Grandma and Aubrey were too embarassed for a picture,

Grandpa thinking it's funny, and Avery eating a pretend donut :)

"I don't care what you look like, I just want pictures of you

to remember these moments before you're dead!"

Grandma and Grandpa started a new tradition this year

to take the big kids to Wal-Mart to pick out a gift and out for lunch!

They had a great time together shopping for their $10 gifts

and eating lunch at Culver's.

Grandma helping Aubrey with her new make-up.

She needed to work on closing just one eye at a time,

Then, in the later afternoon while others had other family Christmases,

our little familyand Grandma went to Orange City to the movie SING!

We had a great time together 

(despite Avery dumping a huge drink of pop all over Steve)

They had these handy little boosters for kids -

a clever idea as Avery usually just slips through those seats.

Christmas Program

Aubrey had her church Christmas program this morning.

Even though the weather was frigid, we were glad it was still on. Aubrey always enjoys singing and performing, even if she gets nervous thinking about it beforehand.

We were glad Grandma Char and Grandpa and Grandma Betty were able to come, too.

We were thankful that this stubborn girl

ACTUALLY

wore what Mommy suggested 

AND 

even let me curl her hair!

It has been a fight of independence with this girlie, lately )

Aubrey  is in the front, third from the left, in the red and black chevron dress.

Nicely done, Aubrey Dawn!

Since we have been locked inside due to the EXTREME cold temps,

we decided to do a ginger bread house.

We bought a kit and it was really short on frosting,

so each of the girls made a few sides and then ate it.

We didn't even assemble it this time :)

And, we even made Christmas goodies earlier in the week :)

Vander Schel Christmas

On Saturday we had our first Christmas party of the season

at Grandpa and Grandma Betty's.

We went for brunch, presents, hanging out

and lots of good food.

Grandpa Craig playing "this little piggy" with the kids

the girls playing with the extra stickers and notepads

that Grandma and Grandpa always get in the mail

playing Go-Fish

checking out the new cousin, Baby Sophia Anne

all 5 cousins at the party

Avery's turn for a present

(with a cheerful sister)

play-doh set 

Aubrey's turn

We need help, Grandpa!

a Leap Frog with learning books

(one of the original ones :))

having fun playing with Avery's gift together 

Aubrey did that all by herself!

She's really starting to notice words and spelling!

playing the game "Hedbanz" was fun for everyone!

On the way home,

we stopped by Mahaska Drug

where AUBREY was brave enough to get her picture taken :)

This was the first time we had even done anything "Santa"

before and Aubrey understands totally he's not real!

But she wanted her picture, craft and cookie :)

Downtown Oskaloosa Lights

Pictures really don't do justice but

the downtown of Oskaloosa is so pretty!

New this year, the square buildings

are painted with lights!

If you get a chance to visit Oskaloosa

in the evening, it is worth it!

I've never seen anything like it!

Way to go, Oskaloosa!

Girls signing! - vidoes!

It's been awhile since I have tried videos on the blog,

but this was worth a try.

It probably won't work :(

Aubrey has been practicing the verse Romans 8:28 for her school chapel.

The teacher put it to words and now we sing it all the time.

This means that even Avery has learned it!

Enjoy!

Aubrey practicing with the actions

Avery's turn

Christmas Concert!

On Sunday night, I gifted two friends tickets to the 

Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Jordan Smith

concert in Des Moines at the Wells Fargo.

The concert didn't start until 7 p.m. so we know it could get late

but it was so worth it!

What a GREAT concert!

Jordan Smith (winner of the Voice)

maybe have been my favorite!

We were in the second level so not great pics :)