Xmas with G&G x 2

We were lucky to have Gramma & Grampa plus Great Gramma & Grampa stay with us when they came for Rachel's graduation so we had a little Christmas fun too.

First stop...to the mall to see Santa.

She was all excited...right up to the minute she realized she was going to have to sit on her lap.  Sorry honey, the torture was worth the picture.  :)

 Our discussion afterward... damage control.

Now for a few early presents...Courtney doesn't look quite as thrilled as the other 2 monkeys.

New jammies...

I think she approves.  :)

I think they all approve.

And new sleeping bags!

Who doesn't love slumber parties by the tree.  If you look in the background, my Grampa made that manager and brought it for us...it's a replica of the one they have had by their tree for years.  Hand made, right down to every shingle.  I remember laying by their tree as a kid staring at it for hours.  So cool.

Doesn't get any better than this.

Having breakfast with Great Gramma & Grampa...we loved having them stay with us!

Thanks for everything...hurry up and come back to stay with us again...it's the best.

Zach B-ballin

The Grampas & Grammas even got to catch one of Zach's basketball games while they were in town. 

It's tough being the little sis...sometimes we have to bring extra entertainment.

Rach's Graduation

We had fun with family in town to celebrate Rachel's graduation from MSU!

Nick & I, Jake & Rach, Andrew & Melissa

We love Rachel and are going to miss seeing her at Cat games and having her hang with us once in awhile.

My parents came up to help celebrate. 

We had a little get together at Rachel's the night before graduation. 

 Got to meet Andrew's girlfriend Melissa...very sweet.

Another Bobcat grad!

Hockey 101

The boys got ice skates last year for Christmas...we have a pond in our neighborhood that a lot of people skate on during the winter so thought it would be fun for the kids.  That...along with a new found love for the Mighty Ducks, turned into Ben wanting to try playing hockey this time around.  A new experience for all of us...we had a crash course in hockey 101.   

These are some shots of practice one night.  He was on team yellow for regular season.  They play every Tues & Thurs nights, with games every other Thurs.  

Bundle up...I guess we better get used to this. 

For only 2nd time around on skates, he did pretty darn good.  Most of these kids have been play for a few years, but Ben got right in there.  As much as I missed watching him play basketball this fall, it was fun watching him learn something new! 

 Practice drills

I think he found a new game, new love.

Christmas Strollin

One of our favorite December activities is taking in the Christmas Stroll.

Our 3 monkeys

Checking out the lights.

With our BFFs Nolan & Taylor. 

Missing Jaaron, but still having fun! 

Watching some of the band. 

3 Amigos

The Gang - Us, Lauterbachs, Hendersons, Shellmans, and Bryans 

Dad, Sis, Jason & Jax 

 Sweet little buds

They were watching a train in the jewelry store window.  Pretty fitting sign for this bunch yet...stop growing!