Christmas Christmas Christmas...

 How do you classify Christmas festivities… Day 1, Day 2… well, we are just shoving it all into one post… So here are some FUN, FUN times  we had this year!

First, we had a crazy gingerbread contest… check it out on FB: Gingerbread Contest

This is the 2nd annual Penner kids performance… we had wiremen, angels, Mary and Joseph… it was a wonderful performance!  

 Followed by caroling… our family has been extremely blessed by carolers in the past.  We have caroled every year that I have been around… one year our Aunt Rose was very sick and the entire choir of people came to sing to the family.   It was a beautiful thing and we love continuing to share with other people who would be blessed by it!

 The annual kids picture… we are going to need a bigger couch!!!

 The next day we went bowling with the entire family… both sides!

This is great grandpa Bieber helping Jed bowl.

 Some daddy-daughter love.

 Lauren… some things never change… she has been bowling like this since we were kids… makes me smile. 

 All my sisters...

 The Bieber side:

 The Penner side:

 Jed and Papa having a blast bowling.

 Fun with cousins.

 Lauren, her fiance DJ (left) and their friend Kris who came up to join us for the fun.

 Back at the house, Great Grandma and Riley… 

 The next day we went out and played some basketball at a park… Riley got into it!

 The boys playing...

 We made yummy green protein shakes every morning, Riley was digging it.

 On the 24th one of our favorite traditions is going to People's church for their Christmas performance.  Aunt Rose use to sing in the choir at the performance… it brings back such great memories of her and is a great time to honor Jesus and celebrate His birth.

Riley's hat is too cute… Rudolph with a bow...  

 Austin was superman...

 Jed and Austin had such a great week together… they are besties.

 More Christmas morning… 

 Oma gave Riley a sweet kiss… and left a little love behind :)

Christmas Day Festivities...

 Christmas is always a great time of the year… we love having family around and love traditions.  This year we celebrated at our home in the morning.  Of course, there is always utter exhaustion involved… but totally worth it.  This year, Riley and I were sick (up all night) and our little Jed, well, he was excited for the morning and woke up at around 4:30… sigh… all that to say, we had a great time celebrating!  On Christmas morning both of the kids grandparents came over to open a few gifts, have hot cocoa with marshmallows… and sprinkles...

 Stockings were filled… the look on Jed's face was priceless… 

 And the look on Jesse's face was priceless… (since I had been up most of the night, he took the 4:30 shift)

 Jed got his first set of GOLF CLUBS… not sure if he or Bapa was more exited… 

 Grandma D, Bapa, Oma and Opa… best grandparents ever!

 Riley got and LOVES her hat… she even said "hAAt"

 Getting some practice in.

 Happy girl and mommy

 Sneaking some of Bapa's pancakes.

 Riley was given a cradle that has been passed down from generation to generation… it was made by her great grandpa Janzen.  This is a very special gift.  She loves it.

 We then went over to Opa and Oma's house where the kids went on a string scavenger hunt (follow a string throughout the house leading to their gift) where they each got a new bike!!!

 Jed has been using a balance bike (with no pedals) and a tricycle (with pedals)… so we thought he would be ready for the next challenge… he rode his bike around did great!  We were so proud of him!

 We even got a little stop in from Chelsey!

 Riley needed in on the action!

Opa shared with us, reminding us why we give gifts… because Jesus is the greatest gift we were ever given.  Then, it was time to give gifts to each other. 

 This next gift may take the position for top gift of the year.  Jed has non-stop carried this around, putting all of his tools, playdoh, firetrucks… into it.  

 Blake got cardboard… and LOVED it...

 Aubrey was in awe over her princess jewelry box. Priceless… the reactions keep getting better.

 Cherie, well, she went practical this year and got a fixture for her bathroom… 

and gave blake a honey-do list...

 If any of you gave me box tops… (I put out a request on FB)… I gave Aubrey Rose a box of them.  She looooved it.  

Aaron and Christy bought a house in Alameda a few years back… they are updating the house room by room… And when I say room by room, I mean it.  They do one room and move onto the next.  In an order. Without compromise.  The garage is next!!! Yeah!!!  So we got him a personalized metal sign.  

Opa gave the boys airplane launchers. 

 Jesse got a hiking sleeping pad.  And enjoyed taking a break and trying it out. 

 I made HP and Margie a sign… 

 And all the girls got matching jackets… 

 We had a great afternoon together!

 Opa and Oma.  

 And a little more bike riding!

Merry Christmas!