Christmas 2016

Kiddos at the Nutcracker

Christmas came and went in an odd way for our family this year with the  recent loss of Clifford. However,  the kids very much enjoyed the season, which did our hearts well to see them happy and enjoying the lights, music and excitement of the holidays. This year we went to an afternoon showing of the Nutcracker at the Long Center. It was lovely and we enjoyed it so much. The kids were  super excited and interested to see giant dancing rats and sword fighting. Isla, however fell sleep even before the intermission on Aunt Verna's lap. We knew it was a gamble, since it was an afternoon show and smack-dab during her nap time. Sam rallied, but eventually fell asleep about 30 min. to the end of the show. It was just so warm, and comfortable the music was so relaxing, he couldn't help it.

We drove back to Kansas in time for Grandma Regier's 92nd birthday, on December 23rd. We celebrated lunch with her at the Assisted Living and then 17 of us meet at Carriage Crossing in Yoder that evening to celebrate her. It was great to have so many of us together and a very looooong table of Regier clan. Grandma was very thankful and happy to have many of her family members surrounding her. On Christmas Eve we meet up with Zack, Quinn's brother, at the Exploration place in Wichita. It was fun, we had never been there before and it was totally empty. The kids ran around like crazy people and had a ball. That evening we went to the Mennonite Church's Christmas Eve program. It is my favorite thing of the holiday season. It just doesn't feel like Christmas until I'm sitting at church, singing hymns and taking in the candle lighting. I think I've only missed one service my entire life.

Christmas day was spent at my Mom's house and then the evening in Wichita with the Mar side of family. Lots of cousins, 2nd cousins and even 3rd cousins to see. The next day was Christmas at the Farm for the Regier side. There were 30+ people, all in Grandma's farm house. It was bursting as the seams, and she was so happy to have if full of people, noises, laughter and food. We spent the afternoon riding 4 wheelers, I learned how to drive the old antique tractor and just ran around the farm. However, there was certainly a sadness and void felt by most of us during this holiday happy times. Our wonderful and amazingly thoughtful cousins Mary and Susan Harms had brought out balloons of all colors, and some with happy faces to the farm. There was one for Papa, Grandma, Verna, me, Trae, Tanner and Tyler in remembrance of Clifford. The girls had released balloons with their nephew Isacc and niece Selah in remembrance of their Grandma Diane, on Diane's birthday earlier in December. So they brought us out balloons to release together, out in front of Grandma's house, by the barn and watched them float up with our messages of love, remembrance and missing to Clifford. It was so emotional, but felt good at the same time. It was like we were letting Cliff know he was on all of our minds and we were missing him so much. He was always such a big personality and presence, especially during the holidays.   

The next day we drove back to Texas and the great thing is that we still have another week off. Sam had a total of nearly 2 weeks off school, so I took that time off work as well. It was fantastic and a sort of stay-vacation. We were able to really relax, do some house stuff, do some Austin-about town stuff, it was totally what we needed. By the end of the vacation, I think everyone was ready to get back to a schedule. Sam told me, "I think I need a break from everyone." He was ready to go back to school.

Isla looking so pretty and Dad so handsome, awaiting the show to start.

Mama and Sam.

Isla's daycare school holiday party. It was much more subdued

than past parties, but she had a fun time.

Sam's Kdg class party. It was a lot of work, but the kids had a great time. We had Snowman bingo, Candy Cane fishing, a dance party, ornament decorating and of course yummy treats. It took a lot of planning and executing, I was glad to have it over, but it went off great.

Candy cane fishing. It's harder than you'd think.

Here is one of two tables of their ornaments. They turned out so cute, I was so proud.

The kids totally got into it. I wasn't sure how it would go over, but they cared a lot and did a great job.

Sam in awe of the Minons. This was our 3rd year going to Wimberely to see their

cute little town lights. They always do such an amazing job and their whole town is involved.

All excited for a train ride. It was in the 70's or so when we got there. But a cold front blasted

through while we were there and it drop at least 30 degrees in 15 min.

Our little pre-Christmas celebration before leaving Austin for Kansas. Sam was so excited about his remote control monster car from Aunt Ashely. She knows exactly what this kid loves.

Morning cuddles with Aunt Verna.

Again, Aunt Ashley nails it. Reading books for Isla. Was great for the long drive to Kansas.

Aunt Jennifer (the kids have a lot of honorary Aunts) put together this great activity of gingerbread decorating cookies. She included all the candies, icing in squeeze bottles. She had it all, they loved it!

He had to go run laps after this due to his sugar high.

Grandma's fantastic cake at the Assisted living. It was Angle food cake with 7 min. frosting. She always made angel food for all of our birthdays and she requested it this year for herself.

At the Exploration museum on Christmas Eve. Quinn was feeling very regal in this giant Quinn size chair.

We were hoping to get one of these in the gift shop, but no luck.

Hanging with Uncle Zack. Only in a Kansas museum would they have an exhibit about how to maintain your tractor. There was a check off list of checking tires, oil, spark plugs, changing tires and you had to complete all these tasks before the tractor would rev up.

They got it going!!

Keeper of the Plains. View from the Exploration Place. I have never seen this in person, which is odd since I grew up here.

Flying a little Cessna

Christmas morning, opening stockings.

Magnolia Market, in Waco Texas. We had to stop and check out this adorable shop. It's owned by the people from the HGTV show, The Fixer Upper. It was packed as usual, but always a good place to run off some energy and swing on giant swings.