Post Party

On Saturday, December 22, we left at noonish

and drove straight to Spirit Lake for the Post party.

It was nice that it cut an hour off our trip!

It was nice to meet up with the cousins again

at Aunt Judes's house. 

most of the kids with Grandma Van Grouw

and Grandma Post 

singing Christmas carols, led by Uncle Dave on the guitar

(Aubrey's favorite part)

present time!

spending time on her new sitcker book 

Christmas at Grandpa & Grandma Betty's

We needed to start the Christmas parties early 

to get everyone there, so we started today!

We went to Grandpa and Grandma Betty's this afternoon

for a snacky lunch, gift exchange, and dessert.

We took some Christmas card pictures before church this morning.

(I'll not post the real one with all of us to keep you waiting!)

LOVE this! 

the matching ladies in buffalo plaid 

a few of the great-grandkids 

(Avery, Noah, Aubrey and Hannah)

Aubrey likes to be the big cousin and play with Sophia

Avery likes to play with Grandma Betty's Strawberry Shortcake 

Grandma Betty reminding the kids about the 

real meaning of Christmas! 

Kids singing "Away in a Manger"

JAMMIES! 

SHARPIES! 

Grandma Betty made me her famous buns! 

switch sequence pillows

Brave Girls Devotional

(Aubrey wanted to check it out at the school library)

coloring with the Sharpies together 

Winter things

Some winter things that have been happening lately.

In a strange order, however :)

Visiting Santa in the Osky mall

Oskaloosa Lighted Christmas parade 

BIG SNOWSTORM that hit and left us with 15 inches of snow!

Steve playing Barbies with Avery 

Avery making a snow angel

real reindeer at the Christmas parade 

ginger-bread house making with Aubrey 

Steve doing a little shoveling, until a nice neighbor came

and dug us out with their blade - thanks whoever it was!

Aubrey's snow angel 

putting up the new lights on the house BEFORE the snow hit

it was COLD and WINDY - but they lasted about 15 minutes :)

drifts off the south side of the house quite a few feet deep

Avery's side of the gingerbread house 

Avery would later regret this as it got her hands VERY COLD

and became quite cranky after an hour in the cold! 

The most snow we have seen since living in Oskaloosa, for sure!

notice the snow coming off the roof