On the flight home, we were in the very front row (never sat there before, usually we're way in the very back). At the end of the flight, the attendant invited us to have the kids meet the pilots and get a picture in the cockpit.
They LOVED it!!

Came home to see what Santa left them at home!

And no snow on the ground! That was a surprise

Amy and Grandma working on Catherine's bday cake (she turns 6 tomorrow!)
Turned out beautiful!

The bday party: Brian actually took these pictures while I was taking a nap.

Kayelee just loved playing with Blake. She made him giggle so much .

A winter wonderland out the lake house window.

Playing "Pandemic"--one of the funnest games I've played in a long time. Everyone works as a team, which is a fun twist.

Snuggling in with Grandma.

35 grandkids

Parker & Alyse (Steven & Nicki made it in last night!) So fun to be with them again (they came and stayed with us at Thanksgiving time.

The lake was frozen enough to go out and play on, so a bunch of the kids and guys headed down.

Even got an ice hockey game started up.

How fun is that!

It is so much fun to have so many kids around! I absolutely loved it! Cousins are the best.

One popular Grandpa

We had a family home evening of sorts tonight together. Grandpa told the story about how the church had acquired rights to build the Willie Center (Handcart site) and his involvement in that. Really neat. He gave each of the girls (including granddaughters) a wooden rose from the man who they got the permission to build the site from (a non-member). Quite the story.

Grandma & Grandpa with all their 35 grandkids! (James-10, Amy-6, John-6, Steven-5, Deborah-5, us-3). I have never seen so many kids get along so well as these did together the last few days. How I love this family! We have been so blessed!

More Christmas

Tyler playing catch with Grandpa.

Jacob playing tag and tackle with Kyle.

Amy (Brian's other sister) and Craig made it up late last night. We all went to church this morning.

PLaying games together tonight.

Amy and Craig brought their Just Dance game on their Wii, which was a lot of fun.

John (Brian's brother) got in late tonight with his family (6 kids) and we had a little bday party for him with ice cream cake.

One of our Christmas presents from Amy and Craig (they had our names this year).

Hanging out together.

I love this picture...kids piled all over Grandma and Grandpa's bed.

Christmas Day 2010

The kids lined up at the top of the stairs, waiting to come down and see what Santa had brought them.

Our boys' stockings

Deborah's kids' stockings.

Jacob loved his slingshot. Used it to fling nuts against the kitchen tile and break them open so he could eat them. Much more fun, and quicker than a nutcracker! Tyler, excited about his zoo-zoo pet from Grandma.

Blake tearing open his present Blake-style: with his teeth.

Figuring out what this zoo-zoo pet thing is. He would pick it up and hold it, then throw it on the ground, waiting for it to move.

Brian's motion sensored laughing dog. Another puzzle to Blake.

Blake's favorite stocking surprise: a banana.

The volcano (that we remembered at 6:30 this morning, and got up and assembled really quick before the kids woke up. This was the boys' only request from Santa this year.

Blake scoured the floor for whole, unshelled nuts to carry around in his mouth.

After opening presents, the kids went out and sledded on the hill behind the house.

It is wonderful to be home for Christmas!!!!

Here he goes!!

Blake loved playing with Grandpa. Warmed up to him so quick.

Tyler loved helping Grandma in the kitchen.

Kyle (Deb's oldest) had fun with his new lego set. And was so patient to let Jacob help him. A perfect Christmas! Watched "November Christmas" tonight. A little too close to home for Deborah and I both, and Grandma and Grandpa. But a sweet movie. Cried most of the way through it.