More sledding pictures...

When there wasn't a sled available the back of a jacket did OK too!

There were tall snow angels...
and short snow angels

Then Uncle Mark brings fuel for the snowmobiles...It's time to go now dad!Isn't it time to go now dad?????I'm the leader I'll say when it's time to go...Let's go!!!

I shall finally post some Christmas photos! I only took dozens and dozens...that's the problem. Takes me so long to sort through them that I get bogged down. Our Christmas celebrations began with our Kansas Christmas 12/21 with Mom and Dad A and Bill and Paula (and of course us!) The day itself was busy with church in the morning, our lunch and celebration and then the Christmas program at church that night. This was magnified by leaving for PA the next day!Bill and Paula gave the kids ornaments that are adorable. I did not get that photo taken! Great Grandma and Aunt Sherrill sent books that the children are very excited about. Hans had his 2 read before we made it to PA 2 days later! Last of the Mohicans and Swiss Family Robinson. Thank you!

Chris asked Pop pop to make a Hope Chest for Erin. Chris had some cedar wood (from when he cleared the trees out from the church's old parsonage property) milled and prepped for the project. Dad Anderson out did himself as usual. It is gorgeous and Erin hardly knew what to think! It gave her the giggles to think of filling it with blankets, linens and things!

Alan begged and begged for a Red Rider BB gun and he got it. Pop pop gives him some tips. Each boy got eye wear to go with their guns...we can only hope! They will be supervised!Merry Christmas!

We are on our way! The drive from KS to PA does not get shorter, although it seems to get longer. Our children are wonderful travelers and were instrumental this year in helping me stay away for the long drive. We left KS at 4:30 pm on Monday after school. Stopped in Emporia for dinner and laughed while the kids ran around like crazy out in front of the McDonalds. There was a lawn in front and even though it was twilight our kids played tag! I'm sure the motorists along the hwy wondered what was going on! Collin and Alan pleaded that we open presents before Sunday because they wanted to play with their presents. That did not happen but they did bring them with us on our trip. Collin is sporting a Nerf Vulcan gun and Hans his new Nerf prize. Motorists did not realize that they were targeted! Erin escapes to DS land when the boys get into Nerf mode...can't say as i blame her. We drove through the night...ugh! At 1:30 a.m. I thought we were in serious trouble. I was so sleepy! I knew Chris was sleepy so I did not want to go to sleep. I finally turned on my passenger light and did my nails. That helped. We got a large coffee (Mt Dew did not do it) and around 3 Chris got some sleep while I listened to Third Day and Brit Nicole during my turn driving. Erin said she was awake, but we did not talk. I had been very nervous before we left, frightened that I would fall asleep driving, but God was good. We made it! Daylight found us in Indianapolis driving in snow! We stopped for breakfast at Bob Dole's, I mean Bob Evans! Here were in PA getting ready to cross the bridge by Pittsburgh. The roads were not bad, but the wet was annoying! My man and driver #1!!!

A busy day! Actually after the ice puddle play there was a time of helping dad with the wood splitter while Alan and I cleaned up inside preparing for our Kansas Christmas. I was surprised at how much the kids were able to help, even though a fairly big piece of wood shot off and smacked Collin's finger. He had a significant jam, but was ok overall!

Later we cooked up some very yummy goose and duck cabobs, that we were supposed to share with Lamberts, but they had the flu, so we had to eat it on our own. Plus we shared with Bill and Paula!After a long day Collin goes to sleep dreaming of Christmas!

Oh Deer! This post is not for the faint in heart! Chris got his deer this year and it was/ is a rather nice one. It was also a very merciful kill because afterward Chris saw that it had a broken leg and had been "antlered" by another deer. It was so very cold and Chris had been alone so he was thankful for our friends and neighbor that were able to help him field dress it and get it loaded up! Isn't Collin nuts? It's like 3*F outside and he is in shorts and barefoot!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" I was truly ready to bah humbug this year. When Thanksgiving came, I just was no where near ready for the Holiday season to begin. That changed quickly as we got busy with the things that make Christmas, well Christmas. Our pastor preached the the 30th of November about how even though we may not be ready for Christmas, God has always been ready for Christmas and had been promising a redeemer, a savior since the before time began and we traced the journey through the old testament. Even though I knew this information, it blessed my heart. So as we began to do the outward preparations, inside we have been preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ!

Someone has to sleep with the Elf hat, it's tradition!

Alan and Hans' school program for Christmas. The 4th graders are in a play and the 1-3 are the chorus. Hans had a role and got to wear a very cute costume!! You can hear his song on youtube

Those of us far from "home"... Hans was part of a precious song in his school Christmas program called "Place Like Home". You MUSt listen to the end, Hans' closes the song and if you enjoy a boy's unchanged soprano voice listen. It's precious... OK I'm mom, but still!

I'm driving home work and look what I see, 2 doggies not in their yard looking at me!!!

It was cold enough outside that we made a nice chicken soup for our colds!

Looking outside at the Christmas lights I was surprised to see icicles on the icicles!Brrrr...

The first snow of the season left me seeing strange things in the yard:
The children recreating Stonehenge like ice sculptures (yes, on purpose)

and Chris creatively getting wood up to the house without lugging the wagon through the snow. Not sure if the seat was wet or not, but it gave me the giggles! Maybe not as much as work boots and shorts, but...Wrangler butts drive me nuts! (o;

Ice "skating" on "Lake Dill"
In the middle of one of the wheat fields that we farm called the Dill place (the owners of which built the house we live in) is a large frozen puddle the kids found. What fun they had on a bitter cold Saturday sliding and playing around on the ice. Lacy had fun as well and I made the long walk out there to photograph it!

My biggest problem with this was the muddy snow suits afterwards!

First snow! The kids head to school amidst the first snow of the season! It was a hoot trying to find boots, gloves etc for everyone. I know this happens every year, but I inevitably someone outgrows their boots or loses their gloves or something!

The dogs and I were out for a walk as the bus arrives in the afternoon...

Lacy greets Alan enthusiastically!As usual the next few days warms up and Hans is outside building a snowman without a coat!

Have you ever read the book "I Love You Forever" by Robert Muench ? Well we were reminising: "I love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as you're living my baby you'll be!" Of course rocking back and forth and back and forth and back and forth!

Ah motherhood!