OC Christmas Dinner/5th Chapel

On Friday, December 13, OC had it's Christmas Dinner and 5th graders were in charge of chapel. Avery had a speaking part, sang "Way Maker" and played their instruments as dinner music and Aubrey led Luke 2 with the 1st graders and 8th graders.

 

VG Christmas at Thanksgiving

Because of new babies coming and a possible trip, we decided to have our Van Grouw Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. We drove up Friday and stayed through Sunday.

Right away, we stopped by the Wynias and of course started hanging out and doing cheers - 

we were watching the Chiefs game.

The boys were playing a little poker

That evening we met up in Sioux Center to watch Moana 2

After the movie, we went to the Heritage Village to grab hot cocoa and walk through the lights - 

pretty but very cold! 

The group in a packed theatre!

Saturday morning was hanging out at Grandma's and playing with cousins

That afternoon/evening we had our party - but first, PICTURES!

These girls sang and played a Christmas song for us!

Grandpa reading a Christmas book to the grandkids.

Magna tiles are ALWAYS a hit!

Sunday afternoon we gathered for stocking gifts - ornaments!

There was snow along the road, but the roads were clear and fine, but Monday morning we woke up to several inches of snow as our first snow that stuck this year! So, it really did feel like Christmas!

 

Painting with Lights

On Saturday evening, our little town of Oskaloosa had a Painting with Lights ceremony where the City Band played Christmas songs, they turned on the lights, had snacks, met Santa, and hand horse-drawn carriage rides. It really feels like a Hallmark movie!

Avery and I ordered Pizza Ranch to-go, brought our chairs and blanket and ate while we listened to the City Band play Christmas songs. Steve and Aubrey were at a basketball tournament in Marshalltown.

We got hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn, while we were waiting in the carriage line.