Laura & Gib: Time to Catch Up!

So I've been slacking a little in posting to our blog. And since Gib is working out of town I figured I better get started. So, to start off on catching up with the holidays. I had Thanksgiving at my mom's this year. This is very unusual for me. I've always had Thanksgiving at my Grandma Koele's, but now that they live in the retirement home, we had to make adjustments. I was glad that mom was willing to do all the work. Here is a picture of the table set for lunch at their house in Sheldon. Katrina wasn't able to join us this year because she was visiting Kaylee's other grandma, but Becky and the kids were able to make it.

Mom's table set for Thanksgiving in Sheldon.

After lunch at Mom's, Gib and I went to Orange City. Nik was home this year for Thanksgiving and he cooked a Thanksgiving Dinner for us and Grandpa and Grandma Koele. It was delicious. I must not have taken any pictures because I can't find them, but we had a beautiful dinner.

Then on Friday we packed up all of Grandpa and Grandma Koele's things from their house that were to be put on the auction they had on Saturday. The auction went well. Grandpa came down to visit with everyone and Grandma stayed at the retirement home. Gib went and sat with her to keep her company. She was very heart broken about having to sell all of her things. I bought a few items at the sale. My biggest purchased was her set of colored pyrex bowls. I've always wanted them and now Gib wonders why I won't use them. Just call me crazy. I also purchased their old picnic basket, a large vase, a punch bowl, a crockpot, roast pan, some pyrex baking dishes, a perkulator for making hot cider, and a few other odds and ends. I do have to agree with grandma that it was really hard to watch everything be sold.

Here's a picture of Grandma Koele in her new living room area.

Here's Grandpa Koele and Gib walking by the ice cream shop in the retirement home.

Well, that wraps up Thanksgiving.

Now on to Christmas...

Well, if memory serves me right, we start off with Christmas at Mom's on Christmas Eve. Again another new thing for me as for we had always had Christmas at Grandma Koele's. Mom had different stew and soups for dinner this year and it was great. Opening gifts was a little crazy with all the little kids. I'll add just a few of each kid so that you can get a little idea of the madness.

Mom's Christmas Tree for 2008.

One of two table for Christmas Eve Dinner.

The main table for Christmas Eve Dinner.

Alicia with her new make-up kit.

Austin playing with bows.

Bob...he sure was happy about something or he drank too much...just kidding!!!

Kaylee Sue got a bow too. She wasn't too happy this night. But was comfortable in her bouncer.

Kato with bows. They was a hot commodity this year.

Laura & Gib...I told you it was madness.

Evan with bows.

Kevin with his new Singing Bee game.

Trent with a new shirt.

Katrina with diaphers for Kaylee...can't you just see the excitement written all over her face!

Mom opening up her favorite perfume.

The whole gang for Christmas 2008.

Now on to Christmas at Dad's. It was a pretty quite year. Nik didn't come home, Karla-Teri-Austin all went to Kansas City to visit Ang and Steve, Grandma was in the retirement home and Grandpa was in Remsen at the Nursing Home. We had decided since it was going to be such a quiet Christmas that we wouldn't exchange gifts this year. Dad did still decorate just for me. I think he knew I would be mad if he didn't. So here's the decorations.

Christmas at our house was pretty quite this year too. We didn't get eachother gifts because we were in the process of finishing our basment and we knew we wanted to buy a nice tv for down there so Christmas came a little late for us. I did set up the tree again, but only got lights on it. The decorations never made it out of the box. I promise to do better next year.

I wanted to share a picture of our neighbors. They are great neighbors and we love their entire family dearly....Dave, Lisa, Hunter, Kobe, Drew...just missing Fraho the weiner dog that has become our adoptive dog that we seem to feed quite often.

We also made a quick trip to Kimball to have a little Christmas party at my Aunt Sue and Uncle Raymond's house. It would have been a lot of fun, but I spent the whole day throwing up among other things. I did get the question of being pregnant a lot that day, but we are pretty sure that I've developed an allergy to eggs. Sorry no bun in the oven yet!

So now I just have New Years Eve to go over. This year was Gib & I's 4th Anniversary. We were pretty mellow this year. We rang in the new year over at our neighbors Dave & Lisa.

Gib & I.