One more blog post in 2022

Another 7 hours and it will be 2023.  Seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by.  I thought I'd sneak one more blog post in before we ring in the new year!

We had a snap of super duper cold temperatures, wind and cold right before Christmas.  Katie kept telling us that it was air that escaped from Siberia.  I'm not sure about that.

John couldn't find enough buddies to golf one Thursday so Darren (obviously the bravest of the golfing guys) came over and set up bucket golf in our yard.  Katie was even out there for 9 holes.  I watched from the window.

Our very cold creek.

It's tradition for us to see a movie around Christmas.  This year it was Avatar 2 on Christmas Eve. Not my favorite but still fun.

Out for supper at Red Robin and then back home to open gifts.

Once a year Carly gets to come into the house to get her Christmas gift.

Christmas Day was spent at Paul and Carissa's house.

I was in charge of games.

Holly spent Christmas with her Grampa and Gramma in Tucson.  Apparently, she was quite the bees knees at the Wagon's West Christmas party.

Happy New Year!  

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.  We even have snow which personally I can do without but it makes Katie happy.

One good thing about the snow and cold is that I can just stay in my house all warm and cozy.  It's all Christmasy.

I'm sure I've blogged about these before but they one of my favorite things to get out.  The kids all made clay nativity sets in 5th grade (I think??).  

I finally got a new fake tree last year.  Our old one was over 25 years old and was shedding it's fake needles as much as a real tree.  My girls are very resistant to change and didn't want a new one but I managed to find one that looks pretty much the same.  Maybe next year I can get a new tree topper??!!  My mom gave me the angel years ago and she's starting to show her age too.  She used to light up but one year something shorted and she actually starting smoking.  She now has a singed dress but Katie loves her anyway.

I brought in a lot of cedar boughs this year to decorate.  I love the look and the smell, so I tolerate the extra vacuuming I have to do now.

I put little trees in the new attic and office windows this year so you can see some Christmas when you drive up now.

Our front porch is 99.99 percent done.  John just finished putting up the shakes and lights last weekend.  So good to have that job done.

I've kinda been into puzzles lately.  I got two Christmas ones done last week.  They are strangely addicting.  John and Katie like to "help" me when I only have about 30 pieces left, drives me nuts.

I saw this on Facebook the other day and thought it was really a good reminder.

My favorite college kid is home!!

It is so nice to have him back that I am ignoring his new mustache.  

The Hiemstra House is just a lot more fun with Sam around!

Wishing all my loyal (and patient) readers a very Merry Christmas!

End of November - Beginning of December

Holly's finished up her first traveling nurse contract right before Thanksgiving.  She was happy because she said this was the last night shift she would ever work again.

Ryan all decked out for turkey day!

Lunch was at my house this year.  We had twelve.  Gary and Sally, friends from church, and John's nurse and little girl.  Very nice day.  Lots to be thankful for.

Like this chocolate chip cheesecake I made.  I hate to brag but it was truly delicious.

Also super thankful for these four.  We took a fun little shopping trip to Arlington.  Thanks for the picture Julie!

John really didn't want me to put the tree up before Thanksgiving so I resisted until the day after.  

Holly helped me make almond puff pastries this year.  

Ryan's all gussied up for the holidays.

I got new slippers at our annual Coffee Ladies Christmas party!  Another fun day with precious friends.

Holly left for Arizona on December 7.  She left early but Katie got up to hug her goodbye and give her a Christmas present to take with her.

So very thankful she got to her new home (for the next three months) safely.  She is settling in, getting used to a new job, and enjoying the sunshine.  

Defender Days

John and I went to Defender Days at Dordt the end of October.  We had beautiful weather and had a wonderful time hanging out with friends and family, walking around campus, reconnecting with alumni, watching sporting events, eating Butter Burgers, attending chapel (where I almost had to sit on John's lap the entire time), and of course....seeing our favorite college kid.

We flew into Omaha and Doyle and Susie were there to pick us up (thanks for chauffeuring guys!).  We stopped for supper at a fun brewery in Sioux City.  

It's been so much fun having kids at Dordt together.  Defender Days wouldn't be nearly as much fun without them.  I've already told them they need to continue to go even after Joshua has graduated!

It was SO GOOD to see Sam.  He's doing well and I definitely missed him more than he missed me.

It probably helps a little that his second favorite girl is at Dordt with him.  

Apparently, they study together.  Either that or they were just showing off for us.

I was pleasantly surprised and relieved at how clean and organized Sam's dorm room was.  He claims it's always like this.

He even got himself a desk calendar to keep track of assignments and deadlines and WAS ACTUALLY USING IT.  I'm not sure how many calendars and planners I've purchased him over the years that he never even cracked opened.  

Good friends Bernie and Alesia drove down from Sioux Falls to see us (and maybe their son too).  Bernie was John's roommate at Dordt and Alesia was mine.  We have a lot of wonderful memories with these four and it's been fun to create more.

John's sister Janet and hubby Mike were there too but for some reason, I have no pictures of them.  My folks also came up for a day and drove us back to the airport on Monday.

At a volleyball game.

Walmart trip.

Playing cards in the student center when our kids didn't really want to hang out with us anymore.  They always managed to be available when it was time to go out to eat though!

It was a lot easier to say goodbye this time around than in August.

And he'll be home in 4 more days!!!

 

Five things for your Friday

 Firstly, it would have been my Grandma's 101st birthday today!  

That lady could really rock a head scarf.

Secondly, Katie is taking a floral design class in school.  She's made some really cool stuff.  

Thirdly, Katie dislocated her finger in PE class.  John went over to the school during his lunch break and put it back into place for her.

Fourthly, sometimes I get to go on a date with this handsome guy.

Lastly, lucky for us, Holly's first traveling nurse assignment was at the hospital just 15 miles down the road.  We LOVED having her home for awhile!