A Week of Christmas

     In lieu of writing too many words when most of you just want the pictures anyway, I decided to list our Christmas events in bullet form. 

• Tuesday (Christmas Eve): Ate food, enjoyed each other's company, and opened presents at my mom's house.  We got to hold those precious miracle twin babies, too!  
• Wednesday (Christmas Day): Had breakfast with my dad, Sonya, and step-brother Josh.  Opened presents and let Marcus play while I re-packed the car.
• 4:30pm Christmas Day  - 3:30am Boxing Day: We drove straight to Canada, stopping only twice.  The boys were fantastic, the drive was overall very easy, and we only had snowy conditions for about an hour.
• Thursday (Boxing Day): Played with Emma, Sam, and Alyssa as much as possible, sled in the snow, "skated" on a frozen creek, had lunch with Mark's high school friend Steve, and had supper with Mark's parents and the family next door. :)  We also opened stockings just for fun.
• Friday: Power went out for a while, we went to see Mark's Beppe (grandma), then enjoyed an evening together with Schuurmans from all over!  Four new babies were born since last Christmas (Caleb, Titus, Adam, and James).
• Saturday: More snow playing.  More cousin time.  Lunch with another one of Mark's high school friends who is now a Messianic Jew (incredible story there) and her family.  Supper with our big fam at Boston Pizza, then we opened presents together at home.  Marcus was beyond elated to get a golf set from Grandpa and Grandma Schuurman.
• Sunday: Church with Mark's parents.  Titus slept and everyone else went sledding and played more in the snow while I re-packed the car.  We left around 3:30pm and drove until 10:30 in the evening, stopping just south of Pittsburgh for the night. 
• Monday: Slept in, got breakfast in the lobby, and left around 11am.  We finally returned home around 8pm that evening.  Whew!
• Tuesday: Mark went to work and both boys slept late.  Titus slept until 8:30 and Marcus slept until almost 10am.  When you sleep that much, you know it must've been good fun! :)

Christmas Eve on Marcus' bed

Uncle TJ and Titus

Daddy and Papa John putting Marcus' teepee together (Tyson is in the bottom left corner)

Could you tell Marcus liked his new truck?

Grandma B, Papa John, Marcus, and Aunt Liv

Sweet sleepy Tyson

Sweet sleepy Hunter

Grandma B was showing Marcus how to sew.

Daddy and Titus, Christmas morning.

Daddy putting together Marcus' new scooter.

He was a LITTLE bit excited about it.

He wanted to be pushed around instead of do it himself.

Mark's big gift

This year's big gift was the set of antlers from the deer Mark killed earlier this year (his first buck).

Granny and Titus

Titus was happy to be in Canada (and out of the car).

Marcus and Sam helped Grandpa shovel snow off the porch.

Marcus was throwing snow on Sam instead of over the rail.

They were covered in snow when they came in, but proud of their work.

The gang's all here!

Getting the goodies from our stockings.

Grandpa had all three on his lap (Marcus, Sam, and Alyssa)

Beppe meeting Titus

Beppe loved the new sweater from Grandma

Lots of snow and ice - beautiful!

MANY trees and limbs were down due to all the ice.

Just hanging out, playing in the floor with cousins.

I built them a fort with cushions.  Marcus was in the middle.

Despite our great efforts, this is about as good as we could get of a family photo.

Marcus playing with Alyssa, Nadia, and Abigail.

Gunner's yearly selfie.

Look how our family has grown!!!

Giggling with Aunt Lisa before going to bed.

 

Cuddling under blankets until the power came back on.

Uncle Greg pulled the boys with his kabota.

Needless to say, Marcus LOVED this.

Fun times with Uncle Greg.

Emma skating on the frozen creek.

Sam playing hockey like a pro!  Marcus was on the ice, too, but just standing (and falling) in his snow boots.

Alyssa stayed back to play with Titus.  He didn't seem to mind.

Emma and Grandpa at supper.

Daddy and Marcus

Grandpa and his girls

Sam trying out his new Christmas gift.

Opening presents back at home.

One for Alyssa!

Sweet girl.

Marcus and Grandpa

Beyond elated about his new golf clubs.

Emma and Titus

Sweet Sam played with Titus, too. 

 

Smiley eyes - drooly mouth

Putting together Sam's new hockey net.

After church smiles all around.

All five cousins!

Even though Marcus and Sam took turns not smiling, they both though Mark was hilarious.

Grandpa, Grandma, and all their grand-kids. 

I jumped on Mark's back and acted like he was a horse so they'd laugh.

A great picture of the two of them. :)

Love that sweet face!

Goofing off as we stopped for supper.

Love his face in this pic!

Marcus helping push our luggage rack into the hotel.

Smiley Titus

Our two boys, woke up happy, even though it was in a hotel bed. :)