Schrag Christmas

The Schrag family gathered at Susan and Cully's Tahitian Room for our Christmas gathering. Everyone was present, something that doesn't often happen! The Tahitian Room is a large room in their home, formerly a barn. It is the most interesting place I've been to in Kansas. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so these photos were taken on Sue's camera.

Levi loves pickles.


Bethany, Noah's second cousin, and Brittany (Ben's cousins' wife) playing Candy Land.


Josh, Hannah, Andy and Sara enjoying the snacks.




This sign is posted above the urinal in their bathroom - it makes Ben laugh. Click on it to make it easier to read.


The house/barn is full (I mean full) of all sorts of treasures, you never know what you'll find.


Here is Cully, in the kitchen.


Grandpa and Noah playing Pinball.



It was nice to reconnect with the Schrag family. It was fascinating to visit the Tahitian Room again. Thanks Susan and Cully for hosting us!

Christmas Eve & Day

Noah sang two songs at the Christmas Eve service at church. For the first song the children sang about wholly lambs - aren't they cute?!



Noah even moved his lips a few times, and he told Ben afterward, "Daddy, I sang a little bit."


Fast forward to Christmas morning, at our house with Ben's family. We had fun opening stockings, eating breakfast and then opening every present under the tree!


Ten stockings!


Posing with silly teeth from Noah's stocking








Andy's girlfriend Hannah brought gifts from Pakistan, a Pashmina scarf for Sue,


and a foot stool for Tim, along with many other beautiful items.














And then we went to great grandma and grandpa Hertzler's for Christmas.


Nice uncle Tim, nice.


And then back home again to unwind and go to bed.


Merry Christmas to all!

Flour makes bread

Grandpa and Grandma Schrag are here! Aunt Sara and fiancee Josh are here! Uncle Andy and Hannah are here! We have a full house, which means lots of food, which means lots of food preparations! Baking bread is one of those things and flour makes bread. It also makes for messy, happy boys.

Epp Christmas

My Epp family is steeped in traditions, and for the most part we like them.

Every Christmas we eat fried potatoes, ham and sausage. The rest of the menu varies some, but zwieback, apple salad and cherry or pluma moos are almost always in the mix as well.

Mom and dad hosted the gathering this year and we fit nicely into their newly remodeled house. Their new dining room/kitchen layout makes gatherings so much easier.

Fried potatoes cooking on the stove....hhhmmmm....yummmm!




Cambry loves to give Levi hugs, sometimes it's a tackle, but usually it's a hug.


Before we eat our meal, we have a candle lighting service. My entire life (nearly 29 years), we've done this prior to our Christmas meal. Each person around the table takes a turn reading "I love you (insert the name of the person next to you), as we all do. God's light has come for you. To it be ever true. May God's abundant blessing always rest on you." They pass on their candle light to the next person and around the table it goes. Then we sing grace. And now, without Grandpa or Grandma Epp, there are also some tears that get dabbed away.


There is also a "program" before we open gifts. This is a newer tradition, since the granddaughters (Vanessa, Megan, Erica and Tina) got beyond the age of playing an instrument or reciting a Christmas verse. And, at this point, most of the little ones are too little for performances this new tradition emerged. Between my mom and my aunt, one hosts the gathering and one is in charge of the program. This year, Patricia was in charge of the program.


Addison was one of readers. Isn't she cute in her new glasses?! She also played a duet with Erica on the piano.


Caiden and Ty with Papa (Myron)


The house was full, but we managed pretty well. Our boys were tired and not on good behavior. Earlier in the afternoon, I had thought it would be a good idea to take them swimming at the Hesston Wellness Center. They had a wonderful time, but it wore them out and it showed once the clock struck 7.




Erica, Sherri and Rylee took off the next morning for Christmas in Oregon! Thankfully, the made it there safe and sound.

Christmas at the Farm

Christmas with my parents was on the 20th this year. The chaos level rose a few notches with the boys both being older (and more aware that Christmas equals gifts to open) and the addition of our niece Rylee, but it was wonderful to share in her first Christmas. We gathered after church and stayed until after supper. In the evening we went to Night in the Barn at Maynard Knepp and Carol Duerksen's house. The boys were enthralled with all the animals and jabbered to us through most of the short program.

Back to Christmas...




Erica and Sherri brought their dogs, so Molly, Maddie and Harley were also a part of our Christmas celebration. Although, I think they enjoyed running around outside more then any of us humans in the house.




Levi and Noah each got a whistle in their stockings.


The gift exchange was chaotic with the boys fighting over this or that, but we made it through with few meltdowns. It was their first Christmas with gifts to open, so they had to learn how it works when other people are opening their gifts.





Thanks Mom and Dad for another wonderful Christmas!

Schmidt Christmas

My dad's family gathered the weekend before Christmas at my grandma's house. The boys love to dig in great grandma's closet to find "new" toys. The family makes for a house full and the potluck style meal added fun variety.



My cousins Kyle, Braden and Austin get a kick out of Noah and Levi.


The Hot Shot won the prize for "most popular old toy".






Noah and aunt Karen helping great grandma open her Christmas gift.


New clothes (much needed) for great grandma.


My cousin Krista and her husband Nathan are expecting a baby this spring!