7 Quick Takes in December 2018

(Disclaimer, these might not be so quick. 😊)

1) Extended family on Gordie's side.

With Grandpa and Grandma, all their kids (3 boys plus 3 spouses), and all the grandkids.

We had a nice get-together early in December with Gordie's side of the family. Did I mention I feel like I did well with my in-laws? They are good stock. We had a good time. And the weather was beautiful for pictures.

Just our clan.

Just our kiddos.

All the cousins.

2) Vehicles

Our house is starting to look a little bit like a used car lot. 😊 We recently (thanks to our amazing neighbors) added the 2005 Chevy truck to our collection. It is four-wheel-drive so we can tow out the van when it gets stuck. And it is probably the nicest car I've owned in the past ten years. Too bad it only seats six. But that's still a lot and I am so grateful to have it.

Gordie is a little bummed, though, as he had his eye on Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel but this was definitely the wiser choice for us at this time. Perhaps we will need a more "farmy" truck as our future out here on the prairie progresses.

3) Holiday Houses

I mentioned our shepherd in a previous post. One of his activities as he searches for Jesus is to make a home for Jesus in our hearts, as well as making a gingerbread house. We improvise and make our houses with graham crackers and frosting, but everyone loves them. And the sugar buzz is really the same I think.

These four decided to combine their resources to make one big "complex." I believe the boys were more focused on the structure and they let Miriam do the decorating.

Peter made his own.

Zipporah also made her own.

And since Rebekah was busy helping everyone else in the beginning, she found enough supplies to make two by herself at the end.

4) Museum

We actually finished up our semester about a week before the regular school kids (because that's how our virtual school does it) so we loaded up to celebrate the effort by hitting the museum. The kids always love it there.

Doesn't Rebekah look like an angsty teenager here?!?!  😁

I was told Peter did this "by himself."

And of course I took a moment to take advantage of the large mirror and capture a photo of Baby #8. I always get so big when pregnant!! But it's so worth it. 😊

5) Tiny House

Because I know you just can't wrap your brain around our living quarters. Here are a few pictures. It has gotten a little more cramped thanks to the addition of the rocket mass heater, but are adapting and enjoying the heat for sure!

It burns twigs. Crazy right? But it is awesome.

And we can cook on it. Bonus!

Lit.

The crack was a bit of a shock to discover, (definitely not supposed to do that!!) but Gordie has since fixed it (because he's awesome) and it is working again to supplement/sometimes replace our propane heater. It also helps with some condensation issues we've been having this being a metal building and sealed up entirely too well. 😊

6) Random kid stuff.

Samuel loving on the cats. Normal cats sit in your house and look out the window all day. Our cats sit outside and look in our house all day. Sometimes we go out and say hello. (Please pardon the messy glass. Cleaning is beyond me these days.)

Check out this picture Zipporah drew. Not bad for a 4-year-old. She is artistic like her older sister Rebekah I think. And she probably has better handwriting than all of her older brothers already.

Peter smiling, just because.

Miriam met Santa at the mall while selling stuff for Cub Scouts.

Samuel moved up to Tenderfoot rank in Boy Scouts. That means I get a pin on my ribbon as his mom. (Such a cool tradition.) 

Miriam and Zipporah being silly. They are always begging me to come take pictures of them these days.

7) And my friends blessed me with a Sprinkle!

I have the best of friends that threw a celebration for Baby #8. It was so touching to be remembered even though we already have a good amount of kids!

Pardon the messy mirror. This is my favorite pregnancy outfit these days. Many thanks to my mom for the beautiful cardigan.

Gordie's Family Christmas 2018

Gordie's side of the family is such a blessing. They do family stuff up big. We were celebrating for a large chunk of a day and the activities just kept on rolling.

(Full disclosure, my pregnant self might have dozed on the couch a bit, but everything was very festive and everyone appeared to be having a blast.)

One of the highlights the past two years has been to re-enact the Christmas story as a group. We try to get everyone to participate (children and adults -- including a narrator and camera person). First, here are a few pictures of us getting ready.

Zipporah was an angel.

Peter was a sheep.

Paul as a sheep.

Miriam got to be Mary this year.

Selfie with Zipporah. I was a sheep -- a very very big sheep. 😊

Jacob was a camel, Samuel is the donkey. Joseph was played by cousin Thomas.

And for your viewing pleasure, here is a link to the video. Unfortunately the space ran out as the wise men came on the scene, so you can view the second video (maybe 20 seconds lost in the interlude), here.

We also did this fun present pass game that my sister-in-law found. (She's all creative like that. 😊) I think all the cousins found it entertaining.

And nothing says Christmas more than a birthday party for Jesus! Rebekah made the cake this year (with Grandma's recipe and back-up). It was delicious.

One final note. Here is a little gift Rebekah cooked up for Grandpa. I happened to have a canvas I had picked up on sale at Hobby Lobby and she sat down and painted a picture for Grandpa on it. Gordie helped her with the inspiration of WHAT to paint. -- I think it turned out quite well.

Why yes, that is Scooby Doo with a machine gun, on a turtle. 😊

Mary's Side Christmas 2018

We enjoyed Christmas lunch served up by dear Uncle/Brother/Father John and then went crazy with gifts on Mary's side.

I like this picture of Gordie and I. It sums us up pretty well I think. 😊

Rebekah painted this from a picture of Nana and Papa, celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Nana was obviously impressed. 😊

We usually have the youngest open first. Peter was so careful. It drove everyone nuts with anticipation.

   

We have not done much matching stuff up to this point. But apparently we should have. The girls were insanely excited to have matching footie pjs.

Papa got Nana a pearl. She got to get it out of the shell. So cool!