December 28th. Happy Birthday Tom.

This year I had to work on Tom's Birthday. So I gave him a hug and kiss and sent him over to my sisters to celebrate his birthday with My family. They had a good time. They made it a fondue party. Yummy, and I had to miss it.

Just a quick shot of Tom and Andi Belle right before he walked out the door.

It is too many to count.

Emily, Linda (mom),Kass, Bridget, Christy, Andi Belle

Brian, Paul, Tom, and Criag (dad).

Christmas Holiday--Breaking and Creating Traditions

Christmas Eve we did something I never thought possible for our family- we went out to eat. I always felt sorry for the people who went out to eat, but now that I am older and have to do the cooking, I can understand. We did have the full Christmas dinner, but decided to take a break on Christmas Eve.
We even got a babysitter for the grand kids! I don't think that we will do this every year, but this year it was a nice break from the norm.
That night we started a new tradition, making Christmas sugar cookies. We made gingerbread men, bells, candy canes. They were all so good.
The next day we enjoyed opening all the presents Santa brought us during the night. Brycen got Thomas the Train and friends trains, track and round house. Andrea got a Glow worm.

My sister Christy and her family spent this Holiday with her husband's family, and my brother, Taylor is is Spain. We did have a lot of fun and we are so glad that my brother, Brian and his family were able to come and celebrate with us.

If any of you are close to St. Joe and hungry, Cheddar's is a restaurant you have got to try. My mom invited some family friends to eat with us as well

I think we all devoured the cookies this year. Next year we need to go caroling.

I grew up with a tradition that we all wait at the top of the stairs Christmas morning until the whole family was together. Then we all went downstairs at the same time. That is what Brycen was doing here. But we didn't wake Andrea up this year, next year for sure.

This is forever going to be one of my favorite pictures of these two.

White Christmas

Lindsey, Bryce, and Sarah

Andrew, Bryce, and Dayne

Dad on the deck making the snowman

Version #1 with the carrot nose

Version #2 with with Tom's art skills

Braven' the slopes

One day we were in St. Joe the weather was really nice and the snow was perfect to pack a snow man. So we got Bryce all suited up in his snow get-up and headed out side. Dad started making a snowman. Mom wanted a carrot nose but dad shortly nixed that and turned on his art skills. We enjoyed him for a couple of days. I wanted to go sledding because my parents have a great hill on the side of their house. But the only one I could get to go with me was Bryce. We had a lot of fun and it really wasn't that cold.

Christmas Sunday

The Sunday before Christmas is a day I look forward too. This year I was particularly excited because I was in my hometown and would see a lot of families that I grew up with. I usually never make it back home on Sundays to go to church. That morning, Brycen scratches his cornea while he was getting ready. The poor li'l guy was crying all morning after that. There was no way Bryce was going to church, so dad volunteered to stay home and be with him (he wasn't to sad to skip church). So dad and Bryce slept the day away right on the couch. Brycen did ok, but he was really sensitive to light. Dad was great and held him almost the whole day. The next day we put a Band-Aid over his eye and he was fine. I wish I would have got a picture of that.

Me and my li'l sis Emily

Dad and B on the couch

Moms turning 49 again?

The holiday's at the Martin's started out by celebrating mom's birthday. We made her a Mississippi mud pie. Mom got everything she wanted since she made out a nice list of practical things. One of the items was a frying pan. My dad wanted to get her that but mom said that list was only for her children, he needed to be a little creative.

I know it doesn't look that great but is sure is delicious.

It was funny because Andrea just started crying when we were lighting the candles, not sure why. But the next day we lit more candles for another birthday and she started crying again.

My sister's inlaws came, they are very good friends of the family.

Christmas on Thanksgiving

We started off the Holidays by traveling to Norfolk, NE. to spend Thanksgiving with Tom's mom, sisters, and nephew. Tom grew up in this town. He moved to Kansas City when he was 24, wow so long ago. Like most of you know, I hate the cold, but some how over the years we have lucked out most of the time, this week was no exception. I only think we had one supper cold day.
She is a wonderful cook and always overdoes every meal. We always eat so good and have a lot of fun visiting and relaxing. I stared to read the Twilight series while I was there. I much say this will always be known as the year Twilight ruined Christmas. Just kidding, but I could not put the books down. I had to read them all (liked them, a little disappointed in the ending) which meant that I did not put up one Christmas decoration up in my house. We spent the Christmas holiday with my mom so she had a tree. Something had to give.

This was the Thanksgiving spread, made almost exclusively by Tom's mom. I made the roles (not shown) and the gravy which never really turns out that great. Betty also makes yummy pumpkin pies. The table included turkey, mash potatoes with gravy, crunch salad, a macaroni salad, watergate salad, sweet potatoes, and green beans. On our way up to Nebraska we were listening to a radio program that talked about all the different ways to cook a turkey: fried, smoked, in a paper bag lined with lard. Betty buys turkey breasts and cooks them in a crock pot. A cleaver way to free up the oven.

Andi tried the mash potatoes. It was a hit.

This is Alek, our only nephew on the Bollwitt side. He was 8 years old during this visit. He is such a good cousin to Brycen. He loves to play with him and has a lot of patience for Brycen. Alek has lots of toys at grandma's house for Brycen to play with.

This was our Christmas gift from Alek. A nice Chistmas letter and picture(not shown). As you can see he signed it "Alek or AK". When Brycen pronouced his name he says, "AK", like yak without the y.

Alek gave Brycen a train set that he played with when he was younger. Brycen loved it and still plays with it everyday. We have added a few pieces to it as well. Here is Alek and Julie with a few trains.

Bryce opening gifts

Alek opening gifts

Yes we are teaching him good manners. Here his is hugging his Antie Laura cause she gave him a train set too.

Grandma and Brycen

This is Fat Andi. Can't miss that double chin.

Andi Belle spending some quality time with Aunt Julie and Laura

Grandma looks great in this color.

Here is Brycen and Thomas, how he loves this train.

Daddy was great to set up the track for Brycen. Although it did not stay up for long since he put it in the middle of the kitchen.

Betty was so kind to take our picture, the only one of the trip. It is kind of funny because if you look at the past years pictures, we are always on this couch for usually the one and only picture.

Andi Belle happy.

Andi Belle sad. Such a fluctuation of emotion at this age. What am I talking about, at every age.

Snow Days

Well I am back. I hope everyone had a great Holiday, I know I did. I haven't written anything since before Thanksgiving so I have a lot to make up for. These pictures are from December 11th. I normally like to keep things in order, but I wanted to put these pictures first. The weather was nice this day and so I thought it would be fun to get Brycen all dressed up for some fun outside. He had a great time out doors and looked so cute in all his snow get-up. We chased each other around the back yard and I tried to get him to teach him how tom make snow angels. Of course I wanted to go in before he did.