....and now it's 2016!

Yesterday we cleaned up the house and got everything back where it belongs after Westerfield Christmas and today the girls went back to school. Christmas vacation is over!

Friday and Saturday we had 24 Westerfields here for Christmas. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. I love having them all! Next year we'll need a bigger kids table! Hopefully Madeline will be able to join us and there will be at least 3 new babies....I better start rounding up high chairs and pack n' plays :)

Friday night we made a trip to the barn so all the cousins could ride Breezy (I should have taken a picture or 2!), then Saturday after all the presents were opened and we'd eaten (actually I think we'd already eaten twice) all the kids geared up and headed out for some sledding. We had a nice sunny day!

You can see the Reagan is thrilled by the commotion!



Alex, Oliver, Gracie, Ellie, Elsie......Maggie & Arnie on the snowmobile.

After everyone headed home we were all pretty exhausted. We enjoyed a quite evening at home. By Sunday night Maggie was tired of eating leftovers, so she begged to go out for dinner (in her defense, I was likely going to feed them the same leftovers again, she was right!)


Sunday was a good day for a little 4 legged Follow the Leader!

I think Gracie was more excited about Breezy's new sign then Breezy was :) Now when she's making trouble in
the barn everyone who walks by will know her name, to yell at her.

 A couple of pictures from Maggie's days at Grandma and Grandpa's last week....

2 Chefs in the kitchen...Chocolate Chip pancakes were on the Menu.

"Mom, I got to use the lathe!" Maggie and Grandpa made a cute little toy. She loves being in
the shop with Grandpa.

Mom is headed for Norfolk right now, when she gets here Arnie and I will head for Omaha. Tomorrow we're off for a few days in Grand Cayman. He has to sit in meetings but I get to just enjoy the sunshine! I'm not sure I've been to a beach without my kids since I had kids......ahhhhhhh the peace and quiet! I won't know what to do with myself, it'll be so peaceful! I hope the weather holds out and the kids can behave! Good luck Mom! (and thank you!!!!!!)

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas week. Maggie had school on Monday and Tuesday, so it felt like it snuck up on us quickly. It's very cozy having the girls home for a few days, the house all decorated and lots and lots of cookies around :) If only we could make it last a few more weeks!

We've had these Santa hats for the horses for awhile, but just hadn't gotten around to using them. Wednesday night we made a quick trip out to make sure they were ready, incase Santa needed them.

They're very good sports :)

We couldn't leave out the original four legged elf.

The girls had been hoping for a white Christmas. It started to snow lightly just as we were packing the car. If only I'd known how much
was coming, I'd of packed snow boots!

By the time we got to Omaha there was a lot of snow, but it couldn't stand in the way of our annual
dive bar lunch....We were just about the only people at Danny's, but it wouldn't be Christmas without it.

All ready for Christmas Eve.

Did Santa come?

Yah!!! Santa came through :)

Maggie's hanging chair was a BIG hit....

....with everyone!

They might need life jackets!

Whoa....what a mess!

Uncle Arnie helped Elsie try out the swing for her new baby.

....Uncle Arnie's turn.

I can't believe I didn't take more pictures on Christmas Eve or at Aunt Joyce & Uncle Lee's. The girls had a great time playing with Hailie and Connor and enjoying our family.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours! 

Arnie, Gracie and I came home from Omaha on Saturday. Maggie got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days on her own. Sunday Arnie and Gracie took advantage of the new snow.

Maggie's first Grandma Day request was HuHot for dinner :) She'll come home totally spoiled (and happy as a clam!)

Friday night we'll have Westerfield Christmas here in Norfolk, can't wait for them all to invade our home!

BASKETBALL!

Saturday Maggie had her first basketball game. I'm not sure who was more excited her or Arnie. She did great and had the BIGGEST smile the entire game. She was pretty tired by then end, there are only 6 girls on the team so they don't get to take very many breaks.

The 3 coaches on Maggie's team, grew up playing ball together.....it's funny how fast time goes.

Gracie wasn't impressed by basketball but she had fun taking selfies with her friend :)

After the basketball game we headed to Omaha for Aunt Trisha and Uncle Jeff's kid Christmas party. The girls had a great time. Gracie says it's because no parents were allowed and "grandparents are funner" :) ......she's right!

 

Sunday while Mom, Dad and Mark were at a meeting, Elsie locked herself in the hall bathroom at mom and dads. Thankfully Uncle Arnie came to the rescue. We'd asked her a hundred times to try and turn the lock, she always said she couldn't. Arnie had the door handle taken apart and we were contemplating breaking either the handle mechanism or the door, when Arnie thought to ask Elsie to try and turn the lock the other way.....click....and out she came!

notice her little fingers under the door :)

HE SAVED ME!!!!

Sunday night was the last night of Hanukkah. Gracie stayed in Omaha for a few days so we didn't even have to argue about who got to light the candles. Happy Hanukkah from the little girl in the Christmas sweater :)

Gracie stayed in Omaha Sunday to spend a couple of Grandma and Grandpa days. I'm sure she's having a great time. It's sure been quiet around here with her. I've seen a few pictures....they all contain food (usually sugar:)) I get to pick her up today at lunch time, I'm not sure she'll want to come home, but I'm excited to see her!

This picture is from last week, but I love it so I want to be sure it ends up here someplace. Gracie and I were working on a project in the shed, she was helping me haul wood to the house.....but of course that required a scarf, vest and pretty boots.....we wouldn't want to look sloppy while we work :)