Schultz Family Christmas

On Saturday the 31st...before we were ready to ring in the New Year we had our final Christmas celebration. Everyone was there...a house full indeed! We shared a wonderful meal, we exchanged gifts, we even played games. Grandma Tootie had the oven mitt game ready for the adults and the littles too! It was interesting to say the least. Todd finally got the box of chocolates open only to find that they had been smashed and smashed again. The girls had seen us destroying our box and they were happy to give it a go. It didn't take them too long and they had a lot of fun. They also got to make a gingerbread house...perks of being the littles. We always enjoy the time we are able to spend with family, and of course it always goes to fast. Happy to ring in the New Year with my favorite guy, my partner and best friend. Looking all that 2017 has to offer. Peace and Blessings, Happy New Year!

Dells and McRylee's Farm

 After all the Christmas celebrating that we had done, we still had more to do! On Wednesday the 28th we headed to Wisconsin. We surprised the girls with a trip to the Dell's as a Christmas Gift. They love the water and it was the perfect way to break up the drive to Minnesota and have a little family fun. The lazy river is always my favorite. I could float for hours, but I think the wave pool was the biggest hit for the girls. And all 3 were brave with the water slides. They got good and wore out and a great time was had by all. And lucky for us, Grandma Fran is only a little over an hour from where we stayed. We love to stop in and see her on our way to Minnesota!

We got to Minnesota on Friday night. First thing on the agenda (for the girls anyway) was checking out Rylee's animals. Over the years with 4H Rylee has accumulated quite the petting zoo. And most recently shes been expecting baby goats. There was a baby already there when we arrived and another one born on New Years Day. Mitch told them they should start charging admittance. They have quite the show and the girls always love it.

The Day After

So on Monday, December 26th, the day after Christmas...what did we do? We had another Christmas, of course! It had been years since the Myerscough Family had gotten together for Christmas but now seemed as good a time as any. David and Sanya opened their homes to us all. They even catered in a meal. It was wonderful. Mark, Denise, Daniel and Sarah, Dave and Althea came, Gigi and Papa, Paul and his kids, Matt and Cynthia and their kids, Tara and her kids and of course our family. Not the entire clan, but a pretty good turnout for short notice.

David and Sanya even arranged for Santa to come see the kids. He sure was tired after all that work on Christmas but the kids loved seeing him, all the same. There is talk and hopes of making this an annual tradition again. Time will tell.

A Quiet Little Christmas

Christmas Eve...it was just us in our house. Not sure the last time that happened, but I was okay with it. We were lazy, relaxed around the house, did a few chores. We went to the 7 PM church service. I had to laugh. Hattie is usually in the nursery. So when we went up for communion she had no clue what we were doing. After we received our "bread" she stood up and said "how come I don't get a cracker?" THIS KID, I tell you what?!?! But it was so cute. I cried through parts of the service, wishing I was at church with my mom. Something about this holiday (probably the fact that I made my Grandma's cookies twice) had me really missing both of my grandmothers.

After we got home we got the girls ready for bed. We watched "Meet me in St. Louis" and I cried as Judy sang "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". We got the cookies out for Santa, and sent the girls off to bed. They woke up after 7...Kiersten closer to 8. We headed down to see what Santa left. They loved opening their gifts. Hatchimals, My Little Pony's, DC Superhero toys and of course some Star Wars. Shortly after noon Gigi and Papa arrived. Mitch prepared Christmas dinner for us all. Nothing too fancy. Ham, green bean casserole, potato pancakes, dinner rolls. But even before that we had appetizers. Cheese and crackers because that's easy. And then I made my bacon wrapped waterchestnuts. It's something my Grandma Loraine always made. I guess between that and Grandma Evelyn's sugar cookies it was my way of keeping them close. We watched Home Alone and Gigi and Papa headed home before dark. So much different than Christmas past, but I still had everything I could have ever wanted and more. My loved ones, my littles, all under the same roof. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cookies for Santa

So the girls and I have had a tradition for the last several years. Every December we make cutout cookies and I let them decorate them. Now, in the past we would just use a store bought Gingerbread mix. We'd stir it up, roll it out and they would have a great time decorating their trees and gingerbread men. But this year we found my grandma Evelyn Schaumburgs Sugar cookie recipe. I had one of these cookies every Christmas, easily for the first 30 years of my life. So I was excited to give them a go with the girls this year. And as always, they did not disappoint. As Grandma says on the recipe card, they are truly "never fail"!

Preschool Party FUN

I'm telling you...these Preschoolers totally know how to party! They've had 3 parties over the course of two weeks! I already mentioned their Christmas Program party previously. On Saturday the 10th Miss Kylie Jo had her 5th birthday party...and it was a doozy! They had a princess party, complete with altered prom dressed to fit these little ones. There was jewelry and shoes and they painted nails. It was easily a hit. Hattie had so much fun. And then last week they had their 4's Pre-K Christmas Celebration. They had a snowball fight with marshmallows, they got to wear their jammies, and a good time was had by all. Hard to believe that next year she will be in Kindergarten!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Just a few pics we took as we were wrapping up our time together!