Happy Birthday, Addie! Addie's birthday was the day after we got in, so we made her a cake that is supposed to look a lot like her cat, Misty. It was a fun project!
The birthday girl with all her presents.
We announced to my family that the baby is a girl! Thus the new little pair of shoes. :)
We drove to Connor Prairie in Indiana one evening for their Christmas Eve program. On the way we stopped at DQ for Buy One, Get One Blizzards, as my family are all members of the Dairy Queen Blizzard Club. The flavor of the month was peppermint something and it was delicious!
Blizzards in the back seat.
In the lobby at Conner Prairie.
Part of the re-enactment
We also took Christmas pictures our first weekend home.
After that first weekend, we headed to Princeville for a week. Here are a few pictures of our time with Grant's family.
There was snow! Lots of it. I did not do much four-wheeling or any sledding because of my pregnancy, but I did take a little ride.
We pulled some taffy that Marlene sent - always a fun project when it turns out right! Thanks, Jim & Marlene!
Some singing and music...
... more music
I worked on some sewing projects with Elise
One day we went to visit Matt & Kim and kids - here we're playing Uno
And Grant helped Matt with some re-model projects. Marshall just woke up from his nap. :)
Back and Dad & Mom H's, we re-did Todd & Noah's bedroom (as in, stripped the border and re-painted)
And played lots of late-night games of Settler's.
We were able to meet up with some friends/our prayer group, for whom we're super thankful, at Avanti's. We appreciate you guys so much!
Then we headed back to my parents' for a week.
Nelson & Amy, Laura, Micah, and Abe came over and we made a gingerbread house. There had been a gingerbread house display at Conner Prairie and we were inspired. So Leah baked some gingerbread...
... and we made a house that is supposed to look like Mom & Dad's. Can you tell? The amazing tree is Micah's handiwork (they refused mine, so I will not post pictures of it, but let me tell you, it was pretty cool), and the snowman is Abe and Seth's creation.
The back
Stockings on Christmas morning!
Heading to church in Forrest
Playing pool at G&G Waibel's during the family Christmas in the evening
I had Ruth's name and got her some activity books
Grant got Laban a tractor and some Lego candy!
One day, Mom, Leah, Addie, and I went to downtown Champaign to do some shopping. Here we are at the Jane Addams bookstore - we could have spent hours there!
Walking downtown
Grant and Seth did some woodworking
We always take a hike as a family before opening our presents when we do our family Christmas - so here we are!
We made Mom a new wallhanging for over the piano
With our presents to/from each other
Seth and Grant got a remote-control helicopter, which they spent a lot of time playing with!
Leah and I got "steps" (mine is an aerobic Step, and her's is a step ladder) and Vera Bradley (mine's my diaper bag!)
Playing Qwirkle, a new game - and a very fun one too!
Hooking up the new zip line that comes down from the tree house.
Making music
Seth giving Grant trumpet lessons. Ever heard a beginning trumpet player?! Very enjoyable.
Playing recorders at Zehr Christmas
And more of us playing recorders!
Maria with the new baby doll sling I made for her.
Singing, like always!
Maria and Levi spent hours in this "jail" they made with Levi's gift at Auntie's Christmas. They were quite the entertainers!
We got to spend time with Brent & Janelle and Grey and Brooks. It was so fun to meet Brooks and spend some time with them.
And then we headed back to Princeville for our last weekend in the States, with all of this...
... back seat...
... and trunk...
which we did manage to pack into four checked bags and two carry-ons and get down here with us. Our checked luggage weighed in at exactly 201 pounds total. We had a very kind TSA agent.
Grant and siblings played some hockey at Streitmatter's pond.
We also celebrated Christmas with Grant's family and his Herrmann cousins over New Year's.
Then, we headed to Chicago to spend a night at the DoubleTree for our second anniversary (unbelievable!) and then fly out early (5 a.m.) on Friday morning. We went out to supper at an Italian place a few blocks from the hotel called Tuscano's - it was delicious! We felt so blessed by our whole evening.
Exchanging our gifts for each other.
DoubleTree gives you very good chocolate chip cookies when you check in, which we enjoyed with sparkling grape juice. :)
And then we loaded everything into the shuttle on Friday morning and flew back to Mexico! It was a long day of traveling, but everything went very smoothly and we managed to catch a little sleep on flights and in the Phoenix airport (which does not have arm-rests on the chairs in the airport, making it an ideal place to lay down and take a nap)
We're still settling in here, trying to be ready for school on Monday (Hannah) and (hopefully) recovering from being a little sick (Grant). It's good to get back into routine, but we are thankful for our Christmas 'break' and feel ready to jump in again to whatever God has in store for the coming year. We want to mention, also, that we have been so overwhelmed by the support the Princeville church has shown us during our first few months here and during our time back. We are truly blessed by each one of you and appreciate the prayers you continually send up on our behalf. It is a privilege to call Princeville one of our "homes". :)
Blessings on your new year!
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