December

Greetings, one and all! It does get busy around here, so I'll have to fill you in on what has been happening this month!

We had our annual Christmas recital, and it went really well! Each year it is neat to see how much others have improved and hear the beginners. It's always very tense before but, always a sigh of relief to be done, when it's over.

Daniel- playing his violin solo ( which was alot of fun as I accompanied him!)

Caytlin and her friend Stephanie Iorga- playing their harp duet: it was really pretty!

Our family also went to a concert for some friends of ours. This concert was a mix, half was our friends the Patterson's band, and the other half was our friends the Ouatu's and Iorga's string group. We really enjoyed visiting and listening to most of the music!

Above: is the band of beginners, the little blond girl sitting in the left hand corner is Susannah Patterson. She plays clarinet. (Sorry the lighting was low and the flash was to bright so it's a little fuzzy)

Our friend: Janice Iorga, red sweater, playing the violin in the string group.

Another friend: Johnny Ouatu, white shirt and glasses, playing the violin in the string group.

Exciting news came to us on December 16th: our Aunt Lillian had her baby! So off we went to visit our new cousin Samantha Jane Chrispens. We were very happy and it was a blessing to see and hold her!

Samantha Jane Chrispens



December 19th we headed out to Aunt Diane's house for an early Christmas celebration! We had Gondola Pizza for dinner, watched a few classic movies and opened presents. We received a fun game and a puzzle of one of my aunt's pictures! We had a very enjoyable time, as my aunt who is a photographer, let me try out her very nice digital Nikon SLR camera!

We gave Oma and Aunt Diane both some special gifts from the Dutch store.

Me (Ashley), enjoying my aunt's camera, it was so much fun!


Isaiah and Uncle Kevin watching the "Swiss Family Robinson."

The day before (Christmas Eve), Opa came to visit and spent the night! We enjoyed a delicious dinner of Mama's homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and bread( made with Mama's new mill and Bosch.) The bread didn't rise properly so, it was short and thick, but still delicious!

The next morning, we opened our stockings. The boys got some neat walkie-talkies, I received a piano solo CD and Katie got a new watch. Mama also got a walkie-talkie to communicate with the guys and Opa got a carousel picture frame with a picture of each of us in it, and a few others. Joshua's gift was the best: a new pair of cowboy boots!

Mama thought it would be fun to go to the "Back Bay" and let the boys try out their walkie-talkies, so we did! It was pretty cold so I stayed in the car and listened to my CD. The others went and had a good time but we all took a group picture together!

Afterwards we went to Bolsa, tired some different foods, said goodbye to Opa and headed home.

Christmas Day we went to the Christmas service at church and then we went to spend Christmas day with our Unlce Dan and Aunt Rocio in their new home! We enjoyed another delicious meal, this time it was: enchiladas, taco salad, fresh beans and sauce, tostadas and guacamole and Posole, which is a Mexican soup.

Mama and Aunt Cio preparing the food

Setting the table...

We visited with our family and opened presents. The two little boys, Natey and Joshua got a box of cookies, Daddy got some LED lights, Caytlin got a painting set, Isaiah, Daniel got robots and Ryan, Mama and I got a puzzle. We also got a pumpkin bread mix and a gift card.

Uncle Dan and Aunt Cio opening their presents

Grandma, opening her present.

Ryan showing some of his and others movies.

three cousins: Left to right: Natey, Joshua and Matthew, Uncle Victor's oldest.

Rachel, Uncle Victor's second born, and Natey.

Uncle Victor, holding Emily his youngest, Rachel, sitting next to her daddy, Katie holding
Timothy.

Friends and sisters: Aunt Adriana and Mama

Aunt 'Drana and the two babies: Timothy and Emily

My cousin Christina and I putting together a puzzle

After the presents we got to play Uncle Dan's "Wii" again. That was fun, and even funnier was watching the people play it with your back turned away from the screen.

We had a really good time, and soon it was time to head home. So we packed up and left. Thank the Lord for such a nice Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (KJV)

Isaiah 9:6

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)

Romans 8:28