Christmas Morning

Grandpa and Grandma with Elizabeth and Jared and all seven of their grandchildren on Christmas morning. I'm so blessed with a wonderful family and to be able to be together on Christmas.

Olivia is still smitten with Baby Jane.

All seven tearing into gifts. All were spoiled as usual.

Olivia opening her Princess Tiana doll from Grandma and Grandpa. One of her favorite gifts this year, but there are many on her list of favorites.

Santa came!

I just love Olivia's priceless look on her face when she sees that Santa came and left presents! These are the childhood memories to cherish!

The tree and all it's goodies below.

Someone must have been good, because she got her boombox CD player she asked Santa for.

After going through all the photos, I realized there aren't many with Mia's face. She was just on the go, but at least her chocolate marshmallow Santa brought a bit of a smile to her face and slowed her down enough to get a face shot. Christmas morning was great at the Feyes' home and we hope it was at everyone else's as well.

The Eve of Christ's Birth

Olivia starred as an angel in Holy Angel's Children's Christmas Eve program this year. She was so cute up there. She kept signing "I love you" to me as well as doing the "I've got my eyes on you" hand signal to all the family in the pews. She also had to scratch at her lady parts for all to see. She was giving all of us quite a laugh as well as others in the pews behind us.

It was a pleasant Christmas Eve service and Mia did surprisingly well. It was great to be able to attend church with both sets of parents as well as Andy's sister Jennifer, brother Aaron, and his wife Christy.

The whole Feyes Gang together on Christmas Eve

The McNeil troop

After church we headed to my dad and Patty's for a delicious meal and opened our Christmas Eve gifts. A wonderful evening to celebrate with family.

December Days

Grandpa McNeil carrying his dirty laundry.

Olivia helping to decorate our Christmas tree. It by no means is a tree like one you'd find in a hotel lobby or department store, but it is filled with keepsake ornaments from the past to the present. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mia giving Olivia hugs and kisses. Immediately following she grabbed a big chunk of her hair and pulled it. That's my Mia for you.

From L to R: Max, Olivia holding Zane, Noelle, Violette, and Mia

Towards the beginning of December, we were finally able to go meet the newest Roehrig baby, Zane. Such a fun family, and the girls had a blast playing with the kids. The adults enjoyed some time with other parents. It was a wonderful visit as always.

It's beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

This blog entry is long overdue, from our Thanksgiving trip up to Alpena. We had a great time, as always staying at Jere's. On Thanksgiving Jere's mother Hilma and his sister Doris came for a big feast. We watched a little football and relaxed. The next day we did some brief shopping, visited with my Aunt Julie, Uncle Dale, and cousin Jennifer, and Olivia went out hunting with her daddy.

Going out hunting for her first time!

She fell asleep sitting in the deer blind. After she was freezing cold and did not want to go into town for the Christmas parade. We convinced her to, and all of us bared through the frigid cold. The parade was very neat at night with all the lights up in town. We only watched part of the parade and walked to a local favorite restaurant of ours for some hot soup to warm up. While walking back to our vehicle we saw that Santa was in at his little house in town. We couldn't pass up the chance to see him!

Is that candy cane for me Santa?

Mia did better than I thought she would, but Olivia was all smiles as predicted!

Olivia put in her request for a CD player boombox and a pillow pet, and also let Santa know that Mia wanted an ironing board.

The tree lit up in town outside of Santa's house next to the fountain.

The parade, seeing Santa, the lights, and a beautiful fresh blanket of snow really helped get all of us in the Christmas spirit. We had fun going outside of Jere's and onto the golf course playing in the snow as a family.

Olivia had fun following animal tracks around. We even saw a porcupine. The nature is just abounding up north. It's the perfect setting for the holidays!

The girls had fun playing together and got along quite nicely. We thankfully had fairly clear roads home and look forward to our next trip up north.