Christmas Update...

Even though I am home now, I find myself spending less time on my computer. Which means less frequent blog updates, especially when Matt and the kids are at home. The kids went back to school on Monday and we have all had quite the time adjusting to getting up early again. Eli has had some adjusting to do, also, but he had a wonderful day today! Thank you to those of you who prayed for the adjustments!

We had many wonderful Christmas celebrations with family and friends. We kicked it off the Thursday before Christmas at home with just the 4 of us. We decided to do that this year instead of Christmas morning b/c the kids don't get up early on Christmas morning so by the time we do Christmas here then head over to Mom's, Luke is ALWAYS impatiently waiting. But, once again, this year, they were kept waiting...the kids slept in til after 8! I tried yelling "Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas" and grinding my coffee beans to wake them up, but it didn't work. They had set an alarm for 7am (or so they thought-must have been pm). We are so thankful for family and friends and the time we are able to spend with everyone over the holiday season. But, we are most thankful that our Savior, Jesus Christ, took on flesh, served poor and needy sinners like us in His earthly ministry, led a sinless life and died a sacrificial death for our sins. But, it didn't stop there. He defeated death so that we might have life! What a gift!

Our gift to the kids this year was train tickets from Indianapolis to Chicago. So, we went to Indy the day after Christmas and stayed in a hotel room that was an old train car, then headed out on the train to Chicago for a few days. We were able to see 2 coyotes in a snowy field as we traveled on the train. The guy in front of us on the train actually said, "Hey, look! 2 gray foxes!" They were definitely coyotes. We had 3 things on our agenda for Chicago...The American Girl Store, The Lego Store, and Lou Malnati's pizza (I think I like Giordano's better even though Lou Malnati's beat Bobby Flay in a pizza throwdown). We spent a lot of time relaxing, swimming, playing games in our suite, playing games in the lobby in front of the fireplace and eating free dinners at the hotel. It was nice just to spend time together with very little planned.

This train car was our hotel room!
The kids had fun posing for pics around the hotel.

There were statues of hobos, families and businessmen
throughout the hotel. This is Isaac with the hobos.

Our EARLY morning train ride...

Tickets, please!
This reminded the kids of Polar Express.
They thought that was cool!

Fun in Chicago!
We were dressed like it was around 10 degrees...
but it was really close to 30 degrees!

From the 94th floor of the John Hancock Tower
Or, as Isaac likes to say, from "Big John"
They told us that once you have been up in the tower,
you can call it "Big John."

Miscellaneous Christmas Pics:

The kids participated in Little Dribblers at school and these are a few
pics from their halftime performance at a varsity girls' game.
They learned some really good ball handling drills on
those early Saturday mornings!!!!

Rylie and Lissa opening gifts:
Lissa loved to unwrap the presents...
so she could eat the paper!

Isaac and Eli

Rylie got a popcorn maker for Christmas.
She wants to make LeAnn's secret popcorn recipe!
This is Rylie and Chase making some yummy buttery popcorn.
Thank you for the help Aunt LeAnn!