Thursday, December 31, 2015

New Year's 2015

We are still house-sitting for my brother and his wife. This has allowed us to have a ginormous house, beautiful yard and two wonderful fur babies to play with.   We knew the traveling Gherkins and the adult Male Gherkins would be staying at Will and Sherri's. We hadn't planned that Krista and Arielle (Adult Female Gherkins) would move over with us. They simply couldn't resist the chance for family fun. Ten of us under one roof - that's nearly as perfect as it can get. We gave the D family a pass on sleeping on the floor over here. They've been over a lot. 
Gracie and Jared

Leighla & Me

2015 has been a YEAR for the Gherkins! A year transitions......All of our boys have left San Angelo, Arielle graduated and moved to OR, we retired and moved in the trailer and BreZaak are closing out the year and ringing in the new by moving apartments.  We've had the GREAT joy of expecting our BreZaak's blessing - our grandblessing.  We entered 2015 praying for answers to Michael's health concerns - and Parkinson's Disease entered our lives uninvited and rather surprisingly - but we have 99% of our answers.  It's been a year of going deep with Jesus. He is still good - all the time. 

It's o.k. to say goodbye to 2015 and welcome in 2016. I'm curious to see what God will do this year in  each of our lives. 

We ring out the old with hourly activities.....here are our bags ready to go. 

Izaak brought over a couple of big pans of Enchiladas, Krista made panfuls of steak fries, the rest of us brought yumminess from local delis. Dinner was our first activity. 

Up next was our 2015 gift exchange. 

Stacia was VERY excited for all to open her gifts

Arielle

Izaak got a bracelet making kit as she knows he loves to make
bracelets with her. 

Gpa got a mug about being Strong

Older boys got a little bottle with personal messages about what each means to her


Gma got an elephant mug (she collects elephants)

I got this canvas

Older girls all got polish 
SCORE - Chick Fil A Sauce
BreZaak gave everyone PJ's - wonderful themes.  

The Wookie
 We scored three kindle fires for $35 each on Amazon - they'll be great for the kids in the trailer. 
Alex, Stacia, Nolan open gift
 We got the older girls adult coloring books and funky colored pencils made from birch

Nolan collects Monopoly games - this is Seattle based

This is MY gift - Baby Bosch

 In keeping with giving experiences and not "stuff" which has to be stored and/or hauled with us....we bought THIS.....but first....they opened a gift, found a clue, had to find the next gift and so on....the older helped the younger 3 find their gifts.  Chocolate bars.....


A book....

Graham Crackers and Marshmallows

 Finally, "the gift"

We asked what they thought it was.....well....all the stuff for s'mores, a book....sounds like a campfire....and that's just what it is.  A patio fire pit which will easily travel with us so we can have campfires wherever we go. 

By 8:30 p.m. our 3rd Gherkin Gingerbread Competition was underway.....photos are posted on FB at the Courageous Joy Page for voting. Feel free to click and vote - before 3 Jan. Both houses are great - a bit messy as our time was SHORT. This is a race!

Wooky helps guys




Mad Hatters Tea Party 

Tea pot, cups and table

Santa's Sleigh at Santa's Village

Santa's Village
Krista had planned a Scavenger Hunt for 9 - 10:30; but we were getting a late start....and so we divided into three teams and made Rave Videos.  Maybe some of us will do the hunt next week. 

We talked, played some games and then it was time for THIS. 




Our first family acts of 2016? We came back inside and shared memories, toasted the New Year with sparkling cider and then prayed in the year.