A Busy Brown Family Christmas!

Wow! It kind of feels like Christmas! :) We continue to lament the fact that we are having a warm and wet December - with absolutely no snow to speak of! Dave is saddened by this more than me so far...I'm trying to be grateful for the driving conditions and ease of getting the kids in and out of the car, etc. :) 

This is our view out back right now!

Given the lack of feeling like Christmas up here in Central Wisconsin, we were thrilled to get the report that there was snow in Decorah last Friday (December 18)! Perfect - just in time for our family Christmas! We loaded up as best we could on Friday, Abby went to the pet retreat (she has been acting a little funny and sick, so we didn't want her alone in the house with just a neighbor to check in once or twice a day), we had to wait for Kate to get off the bus at 4 p.m. but we tried to hit the road as soon as we could. Well, it wasn't right away (le sigh) but we got on the road around 6 p.m.?, I can't remember. We did hit the new McDonalds on our way to grab some superly, overly indulgent frappes :) We drove to Mom and Dads and had a somewhat rough ride with Ayden waking in La Crosse and not very happy for that last hour :( 

So happy to be there!

Unloading all the gifts!

Eating a little something
And at first, we couldn't convince Collin to come unwrap presents -
he just wanted to play with the micromachines!

This one was excited:)

No one wore the antlers with me, oh well!
We were in the spirit!

But hooray! We arrived and there was some snow on the ground. The house was festive and family was there. Andrew, Kylie, Mom and Dad were happy to entertain the kiddos while we unpacked quickly. Then it was pajamas on for the kids and gift opening/FaceTime with Okinawa! The kids went first, then we have an intermission and get them to bed:) It works well! This year, we had Ayden in the nursery/bathroom:) and the big kids on cots in the main floor bedroom. They didn't put up a fight, were so tired and slept well. 

This little man's first Christmas!

She sat pretty patiently on the coach:)

He was into it!

Uncle Andy helping

Opening gifts together...Collin wearing his new Spiderman hoodie-
Kylie has the video of him opening this....priceless!

Meanwhile, we adults had our gift opening and "quiet time." :) Such a great time with wine, Christmas music and some special things given to and from. Somehow, every year we cut back but it seems better and better. <3 

It was late! As it always is, so around 2 a.m. we went to bed. I, of course, got an hour or two of sleep in there - thank you, Ayden. But the little man wanted to be up early, so I shuffled him off to whatever willing adult I could rouse or came downstairs:) I slept WAY in on Saturday - Merry Christmas to me! and woke to the smell of egg bake and cookies being made! 

Attempting to get a good pic of these monkeys!

Not bad. 

Sweeties

We had a fun, Christmasy morning and waited for family to arrive from Minnesota! (Great) Grandma Oehlke, Marie, Guy, Sam, Charlie, Bob & Shelley all came down! And we had fun catching up and watching the kids play and run around like crazy. A puzzle was worked on, farm conversations were had:) lots of yummy food and treats were made...it was awesome! Then Charlie and Sam made sure we had a plan for presents...we opened and got more fun gifts (so blessed!) After more playing, movies, puzzles, eating and all that fun! We went to bed. I had an even worse night as far as sleep goes - Collin had one of those - I can't wake him up but he's upset nights. Oh well, I'll sleep when I'm dead!  

Sam playing with Ayden

Ayden was usually happy to be in the high chair eating something!

Charlie, Kate and Collin coloring upstairs

Collin doing a puzzle from Quinn:)

The cousins! Well, the young ones anyway:)
(I don't do "once removed" and all that)

Watching Elf, I think
Kate was doing a plank:)

Charlie and Collin:)

Collin climbed up and looking at something with Shelley

The table crew

The kids frosted the sugar cookies Sunday morning and it was warm enough that the kids played outside for awhile, which is always nice. I had asked Mom to play piano (I love it!) and so she obliged and right before we left, she played. And of course, Collin needed to join in:) The ride back went well. The kids were OUT! Always a nice trip then:) I did some last minute Santa shopping online:) and we stopped in La Crosse to grab some groceries and see the Rotary Lights! 

Aww..just like I used to do at my Grandma's :) 

Quality control. He's on it. 

I convinced her to play!

The boys wanted to join in

It was a sweet Christmas moment - right before we left!

Of course the kids were sleeping as we get to the lights. So, I ran to the grocery store (Peoples Co-op somewhere near Riverside Park - it was awesome!) Then we drove to the Rotary Lights and despite our yelling back at them and shaking their legs, Kate and Collin wouldn't wake up. So funny. Ayden was awake for it:) 

Ayden awake for the Rotary Lights

Whoa

They were so cool! I didn't take many pics, I knew it wouldn't do it justice. And there was a live nativity that was cool - I haven't really seen one of those before. I teared up. I've been a little more emotional this Christmas, for some reason, I'm really focusing on the fact that Jesus was this tiny newborn...makes me cry.  :) 

Anyway, a nice trip back and it was good to be home! Fortunately/unfortunately, we had a house showing at 10 a.m. the next day, so we actually didn't unload everything, I put a suitcase and all the presents back in my van! We cleaned up a little called it good. 

Monday was busy - we got Kate to school, I cleaned the house, went to pick Kate up, took the kids down to Madison for dental appointments, had lunch at Panera:) and got back just in time to have a half an hour for them to play before loading back up and going to Kate's Christmas program at school! Thankfully, this year they decided to split up the concert - so it was early (5 p.m.) but we were down and on our way out of there between 5:45-6 p.m. Nice. Dave was on call, but managed to go to the Dells to pick up Abby from the pet retreat AND make it to the school gymnasium just as the concert was starting. PERFECT! Kate was so happy he made it. The boys did pretty good just sitting there for a long time. 

I love this dentist, they put a ticket in the "No Cavity Club" drawing, got a token for a prize
and the obvious toothbrush, floss and toothpaste - they love it!

This big man showing off while we were home for 30 minutes!

Took the kids to the school by myself, so I wore Ayden and had two hands for Collin
This Ergo is my lifesaver and I found it at a garage sale for $25!

Ummm...he smuggled a flashlight in. But they didn't turn of the lights -
thank goodness!

The New Lisbon gym - it feels so nostalgic to be in a very small high school:)
The little ones were on the stage, bigger ones down in front, no moving around - it worked well!

The dress she picked out for the concert

I'm pretty happy to be successfully through those busy days! We have a couple days to regroup and get ready for Christmas and hosting Dave's family here!! Looking forward to it!

Oh wow, I almost forgot...I woke up Sunday morning to Dave telling me that Collin had cut his hair. 

Yeah.

The kids were downstairs and Kate had brought a scissors down. Of course, Collin took it and gave himself two big snips on the very top of his head. Nothing crazy, but a little like Friar Tuck. :) He was covered in hair, I had to change his clothes. So.....yeah, that is a first for us! 

It doesn't look too bad here. His hair is long right now,
we need to get it cut. I'll have to post a pic when we do:)