Merry Christmas - Part II

 Just couldn't leave the blog without adding a few more photos and one of McKenna and Austin (left him out, too...whoops). Here is Courtney opening a gift from Maddy. (Am I right Cheryl?)

 The photo I had of Matthew was blurry so I added a better one of him and the Miami Heat t-shirt he got from us.

                                                 Austin opening his gift from us.

                                       McKenna...yep, here she is, opening her gift!

                                             Dad and his Christmas gifts from Santa!

                                                         Repeat!!!!?!  Dad.

 Ornament Maureen made for me that joins her other ornaments on "the Maureen tree"...here in case you check out the blog, Maureen!

Yes...I did get some gifts from Santa, too! Thanks to all of you for making our Christmas so special!! We love you!

Merry Christmas 2012 and a Taste of Bolivia

Here are some photos of our King Family Christmas Party on December 23rd. But they are all mixed up and one of McKenna didn't show up??? Sorry! But here goes! Courtney opening on of her gifts!

                                   Tyler opening up gifts! Two of those showed up!!

 Greg enjoying some of our appetizers. This was at the beginning of our party so why it is here???? Yummmmm.

                                   Game time...and the family is having a great time!!

                      Logan with his Naval Academy goat pillow pet...which he adores!!!

 Austin and Logan did an awesome Christmas rap! What a great job...and this came before our gift opening time!

                                                      Matthew with a gift.

                                           Say what???? Repeat photos!!! Help!

                                       Brent opening his football gifts from Doug!

                                Angie and Greg and their super duper new waffle iron!

                                      Dan and Stephanie opening their gifts from us!

                                       Un-wrapping time for Brent and Karen!

                                                   Christmas Sundaes  time!

                               Christmas morning snow falling! It's a White Christmas!!

Alex talking to me via Skype from Santa Cruz, Bolivia! His companion is behind him! What a great Christmas gift to see him, talk to him, and see him so happy!

It's the Holiday Season...2012

 I am a little behind on updating my post...but here goes! What a great Thanksgiving to have such great people together to enjoy feasting and family. Included in our festivities this year was Denice and we so enjoyed having her join us!

                          Haven't we got some crazy and awfully cute boys in this family!?!

 I feel bad that we can't all sit together but the next best thing is a few added tables and little chat groups!

 Decorating our tree...Dad just loves (not) stringing the lights but he does such a good day and adds so much to the beauty of our tree.

 Displaying our new 2012 ornament...a Hallmark Snoopy Jutebox one. Of course, the Mickey's Countdown was added to our tree on the 1st.

 Our finished tree! Isn't it amazing how beautiful a lit tree can make a room! I love it. I love Christmas!!

 Another day I constructed the Christmas Train...a family favorite. I loved how the grandchildren would lay on the floor when they were little and watch the train go around and around!

 Christmas Movie Day at the District. Today our movie selection was "The Rise of the Guardians". It was fun and I think everybody enjoyed themselves!

 Nothing like a movie, popcorn, and drinks. While I was out at Cheryl's I took the girls to see "Wreck It Ralph" as they had already seen "The Guardians".

 My Christmas Village with a new house added. The village has now grown to the upstairs window seats and the downstairs window in the exercise / family room.

 The house lit up. Next year we may add a few more outdoor lights but I like what we have right now. Welcome to our home!

 The back is lit up and decorated also. I added a wreath to the deck but it is hard to see with the other lights glowing.

 We spent the day in Chicago on the 10th and ...Whoops! I forgot to rotate this photo of Abigail and Maddy in front of the American Girl Store. We had a fun visit there and I bought Maddy's late birthday gifts there for her Biddy Baby.

 Yep, Abi and I standing on the glass deck 103 stories up at the Sears Tower! Cheryl and Maddy made it out there, too! What a view of Chicago!

 After we visited the Sears Tower (called the Willis Tower now) we visited the very interesting Chicago "Bean".

 The Chicago skyline and us reflected in the Bean. It was pretty cool. The park was the one I would have finished the Chicago Marathon in if it had not been closed down. We were all going to meet near here.

 The Christkindl Market in Chicago. German craftsmen sell their items here...they are invited by the city of Chicago to come here for this event. I bought another Nutcracker here to add to my collection.

It was so much fun to celebrate Abi's birthday with her. Two days after, Cheryl gave her an awesome Christmas theme party for her and 7 friends. She made these elve hats for all the kids and had so many fun things for the children to do in Santa's Workshop. Doug was Santa Claus and did a great job. Abi is telling Santa what she wants for Christmas! What a fun trip I had!

October 2012

 On October 13th we had a little birthday party for Papa and afterwards I wanted to take pictures of everyone and try out my new camera. Aren't Brent, Karen, and Matthew adorable? (We missed Tyler who was celebrating Homecoming and Alex who was in Peru!))

 Next we have those "cutie-pie sexy-pants" Floyd's...Dan, Stephanie, and Courtney! (McKenna had things going on that day, too.) Greg...I feel really bad because I didn't know it at the time but I forgot to push the shutter all the way down when I took yours, Austin's, and Logan's pictures. I will have to take another one of you guys soon!

 I had this Halloween vinyl lettering sitting around for a couple of years. Last year Steve (Maureen's hubby) cut out the board for me and I finally got it painted and completed on the 18th!!

This past Saturday, the 20th, Maureen and I had our own "Super Saturday" (my ward Relief Society didn't have a craft one this year) and we made these adorable craft items...ideas Maureen had. The Halloween craft is a large block that says "Count Down To Candy" and the top blocks have numbers on them for the dates in October. The second craft is a cute little tree for Christmas. It took us nearly all day but what fun!! We added to the fun Blizzards (a treat from Maureen), Nachos, and two chic flicks..."Meet Me In St. Louis" (with Halloween and Christmas scenes) and "You've Got Mail". She spent the night and headed home Sunday morning. It was a great weekend!

It was fun having Cheryl and the girls out to visit, do fun things together, and be a part of Alex's mission activities. Then I traveled out with them to Kenosha to spend a few days. I will be flying back home the day after she starts school...the 5th. I haven't bought a new camera yet so to see pictures of the trip, etc. check out Cheryl's blog.