A Day with the Steffens.

Julia and Luke splashing in the tub. (We need proof we really do clean our kids while we're in Iowa).

Here are some real card sharks. Oliver, Parker and Timmy playing a little cards.

Sophia and Madison hanging out for a bit.

The adults needed to be able to play cards, for a little while at least. So Luke and Julia must be entertained. They are both watching Daniel Tiger, they just need their own screen.

Cards at Margaret's. (Audrey, Mom Steffen, Sara, Alex, Randy, Dale Steffen and Bob).

Henry spying on Max. If you can't play, you must watch.

Balloon Grandma and Grandpa's.

Henry and Timmy are playing with the balloons the kids always play with at my Grandpa and Grandma Leymaster's, (the kids' great grandparents), hence the nickname, balloon grandparents.  I really need to get a picture of the balloon dogs my grandpa makes always makes for the kids.

Great Grandpa watching the kids open their Christmas presents from them.

Great Grandma watching as well.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

It's Christmas! We got to Iowa on a Saturday and right away had the McGarvey Christmas (Randy's mom's family Christmas.) It's always a treat to be there for it. But this is a picture of the next day at Randy's family Christmas. Every year we eat first, then read the Christmas story. Randy has read it many years and did again this year. At his feet are many of Margaret's grandkids and great grandkids.

After the Christmas story it's time for individual family pictures. This was the best of the bunch for us. (L-R) Sophia, Kara, Timmy on Randy's lap, Max on Randy's shoulders, Randy, Randy holding Luke, Henry cheering someone on and Alex making a face at someone.

I'm not even going to try to name everyone but this is Margaret with her grandchildren and great grandchildren that are 13 and younger.

Finally time for presents! Henry opening something in front of a sea of presents, some open, some not yet.

More family opening presents.

Eli one of the kids cousin's sons playing with his new tractor.

Lukey and his new truck.

Eric helping Parker open a gift.

Danielle, Sophia and Madison looking at a new gift, with Aunt Audrey and Uncle Dale in the back.

Julia surrounded by her presents still opening more.

Randy playing with George and the hay elevator, that Randy was SO EXCITED to get for his godson.

Henry building Legos with Uncle Steve looking on.

Cousin Marshall (well he's not first cousins to the kids, but close enough) during  present time.

One of the two new Christmas babies. Baby Belle with her mom and dad, Bailey and Jonathan.

Alex and Max building Lego's, while Madison, Sophia, and Danielle use Sophia's new nail painting kit.

Getting ready for Christmas

Sophia went to help Randy get the Christmas tree this year for the first time. (We don't cut ours just pick it up from Home Depot.) She wanted to help with everything, even cutting the bottom of the trunk off.

Timmy helping give the tree it's first drink inside the house.

Lukey couldn't be left out. So he had a turn as well.

Ta-da! Henry got the Fisher Price nativity set up while the tree was making it's way inside.

The tree is up, and lights are on. I like a picture of everyone putting their first ornament on the tree, so here I am helping Luke.

Timmy

Henry and Sophia went at the same time.

Maxwell

And finally, Alex.

Randy helping Timmy and Sophia put our nativity up. Henry also helped.

What's that?  A ball of Christmas hooks that got tangled up in some ribbon, but one of our kids thought it was an ornament and hung it on our tree.

Mom and Sophia as we decorate.

Henry in the background working on our Playmobile naivety and Alex decorating the tree.

Here it is, Mom and Timmy in front of our decorated tree!

The rest of Thanksgiving weekend

The day after Thanksgiving was Oliver's birthday so we had to celebrate, of course! Here's all the kidos before Oliver opens his birthday presents. (It was also black Friday and so before this picture Kathy, Sara and I went out before the sun came up, in the snow, to go find Christmas presents!We love it!)

Just about to blow out all 6 candles. Happy Birthday Oliver!

The same evening Luke started pushing Julia around the house in the doll stroller.

While visiting over the next few days, you can see we got the playdough out, which proved to be hours of fun as always. The kids also go out 2 days in a row and played in the snow. There was just a little snow, but enough to start a snowman (that never got finished.).

Musical Julia with a net bag on her head that usually holds wooden blocks, silly girl!

Of course, plenty of video games were played. Here's Timmy and Henry watching Oliver and Max play Oliver's new Skylanders game.  We also went to Lights On the Lake while we were all together. It is a bit loud and chaotic with all of us in the big van, but worth every minute of it!

Alex playing his video games that weekend.