Chucky Cheese for Parker's Birthday!

It was Parker's Birthday while we were in Iowa, so we got to go to his birthday party!

Timmy, George and Parker in a spinning cup of hot chocolate.

Max and Timmy playing a game together.

Timmy and Braydon shooting hoops together.

Sophia and Madison playing a game.

Timmy and Henry's turn. Luke was there but too fast to get a picture of, and Alex was also there but 13 and didn't want his picture taken.  We spent another whole week in Iowa visiting family. Going down to Cedar Rapids again, celebrating Margaret's birthday, celebrating New Years and visiting some more. We were so happy to not get terribly sick this year! And as always we were sad to have to leave.

More Christmas!

On the 26th we went to my brother, Nick's house. We celebrated with his family, our grandparents, and our cousins and their families. We had 3 days together. This is all the cousins on that side. Henry with his arm up, then down the left side is Emmett, Kale, Max, Zac,  my grandma, and Mikey. Then down the right side is Timmy, Brady, Sophia, Luke and Matt.

Luke and Zac hanging out.

Grandma is watching Sophia and Brady play Trouble while Rick, Joni and Matt are in the background.

Zac mostly just wanted his mom (Joni) that weekend, unless Uncle Randy was around, then he was alright!

Sarah and her step-son, Emmett.

My brother making bacon for all of us the morning of our celebration.

Nick watching Zac and Joni make monkey bread in muffin pans. It was delicious!

This is later that morning on the 27th. We were tricked, the day before had been mild and beautiful. So we assumed the next day was as well, it was not! It was freezing with an extremely cold wind. So we only stayed at the park for about 10 minutes. It was still good for the little monkeys to get out and run around for that little bit.

I'm cold, let's go!

Henry, like most of the kids, enjoying the little bit of time outside.

Later we opened presents. Thanks Uncle Nick and Aunt Joni for the fart blaster - it is a well played with toy!

Uncle Pat as a Christmas present.

A few random shots of everyone as we open gifts. Rick, Zac and Joni, Kale and Sophia.

Randy and Luke, with Timmy and Alex in the background.

Grandma, Mikey, Matt, Emily, Sarah, Rick, Joni and Zac. Max and Henry in the front.

Mikey in the front, Emmet and Max in the background.

Emily and her joke box, the crib dribbler. A pretend box for a basically a hamster feeder for your baby so you don't have to get him/her out of their crib. We had some good laughs over it.

All the cousins. Back row is Kale, Brady, Tim, Sophia, Emmett and Lukey. Front row is Max with Zac, Henry, Mikey and Alex.

My cousin Sarah and her new husband Rick. We had never meet Rick and it was a pleasure to do so. The first night at Nick and Joni's he cooked an amazing meal for all of us.  And we had a great time getting to know him.

Emmett using Sophia's new hair styling kit on Sarah.

About 4:30 we went to my Grandparent's home. We used a party room to eat pizza and give my grandpa his gifts. Grandma had gotten everyone a jiggle bell to wear around their neck and the kids got a little gift bag with a blow up penguin beach ball, a washcloth and their jiggle bell. It was great because they could use those beach balls right there, and they had a lot of fun with them. They all had a good time ringing their bells, surprisingly, so did my grandpa.

The little guys eating pizza.

Me, Grandpa, Sarah and Grandma looking at the family calendar we made.

Sophia and Joni.

Emily and Mikey. Whose that creepy guy in the back, oh, wait that's Uncle Pat or Pa-pa as Mikey calls him.

Grandpa with his groceries, ready to go!

The next morning, Kale, Brady, Max and Sophia playing a little Jenga.

Merry Christmas !

Our Christmas tradition is to wake up on Chirstmas morning at Grandma Steffen's with the Shook family. The kids always get up way earlier than the adults (as it should be Christmas morning) and then we lounge around in our pj's most of the day. Then we go to Dale and Audrey's to celebrate at their house, usually still in our pj's. As you see here Alex finally got his own ipod for Chirstmas this year!

Max got his own gun. Well, actually Santa brought that to Timmy, but as always annoying toys are the favorites with everyone. (This gun makes lots of noise.)

All the Shook kids got scooters, Julia's riding her's before the sun is up.

Max and Randy playing with Max's new r/c car from Santa.

Everyone loved Parker's train set. Here's Lukey, Henry and Parker playing.

Timmy starting on his Legos from Santa.

Sophia in her new roller skates by the little blue candle she made. Unfortunately Santa's elves forgot to put this candle making set through quality control, the candle wouldn't burn !

Luke and Julia checking out Luke's new Lego train.

Henry got to work making a play dough creation.

Lots of kids tried out the roller skates, the carpet was a great spot for beginners.

Say cheese. Sophia and Julia, great buddies, having fun together.

Christmas Eve

We started Christmas Eve at Nick and Joni's with Dad and Cheryl.

Max and Kale checking out the Legos Max got.

Zac driving his Jake and the Neverland Pirates ship.

Alex and his camping food from Uncle Nick and Aunt Joni.

Sophia with her new flowery skirt and pink sweater from Aunt Joni and Uncle Nick.

Grandma Cheryl watching Tim play.

Brady and Henry checking out their loot together.

Lots of legos were built that day. Here are Brady and Grandpa Leymaster building some.

Kale hard at work doing his Legos.

Max with his Minecraft guys and Alex building Legos.

Dad and Cheryl with 9 of their 12 grandkids. On top Brady, Kale, and Sophia. The middle row is Henry, Grandpa Leymaster holding Timmy, Alex, and Grandma Cheryl holding Zac. Front row is Max and Lukey chewing on a plastic candy cane full of M&Ms.

We left Nick and Joni's so we could go to Mass at Barkley.  After church a few of us had pizza together and then our kids and the Shook cousins exchanged gifts. And Randy and I gave our kids their present from us. Up above is Lukey coloring with his new crayons and his own new notebook.

Max and Alex looking at Max's new Minecraft books. Alex got a HUGE Reeses peanut butter cup from Max.

Aunt Coco and Kelli came over to take in all the chaos. And there was lots of it. The kids were CRAZY with excitement !

Sophia and Grandma Steffen

Uncle Chris helping Paker set up his new train set, while Henry looks on.

Timmy checking out his new handcuffs he got from one of his siblings. 'Cause everyone needs a pair of handcuffs to celebrate Christmas.

Sara helping Oliver start his new Lego set.

Madison, Aunt Audrey, and Uncle Dale helping put toys together and also taking in the chaos!

Eric and Julia doing her new puzzle together.

Mom changing Luke's diaper. See how cooperative he's being, looks like it was his idea, uh? Then it was time for bed so Santa could come.