Christmas w/Dad

My Dad called me yesterday and said he was heading to Florida for a friend's wedding on Friday so he wouldn't be around for Christmas. So last night we met for supper. It was good to see him and to be honest we probably talked more than we would have if would have been the whole family together. So I was glad he called and that we got together. I hope you have a good time in Florida Dad! Btw, he isn't going to the IA game as I am sure many of you are wondering! :)

Me, Dad (blinded by the bright flash!), & Kyle

Wendi & I

Sisters & Snow Day!

Friday (the 19th) Iowa Central closed because there was a snow storm (we got 8+ inches during the night!) so that means I got the day off work, which was AWESOME! So all us girls & Geoff decided to go to Ames to hang out for the day. We ate at Hickory Park for lunch, went shopping, and sang Christmas carols the whole way home! It is so fun to have all of us together again! Stef & I had the idea to stop at Mom's house on the way home to "Christmas Carol"! So we did and she loved it...she even cried! But those of you who know my Mom, you know she's a "crier"! So we expected it! It was fun!

Geoff had the idea at lunch to see what a dill pickle would taste like with sugar on it...

In it goes...

Not good! (I could've told him that!)

Since it was close to Stef's bday, she got free dessert!

Wendi & Mindi trying to feed each other their dessert!

Geoff cracks me up...he carried around this giant tub of cheese balls all around Sam's Club and then decided he didn't want to buy them! (I like his "Country Boy" sweatshirt!)

Happy Birthday Stef!

My sister Stefanie & her husband flew home last Sunday and my other sister Wendi flew home on Monday (both will be home for a few weeks (or more!) for Christmas), which happened to be Stef's 30th birthday! So we had a small family get-together to celebrate Stef's birthday! Mom made soup & sandwiches and we had our favorite birthday cake, Oreo Ice Cream Cake! It was a fun evening!

We always have to take some sister pictures when we're together!

Wendi, Stef, & I

Don't you just love Stef's shirt?!? I hope I look that good when I turn 30!

Stef & her 30 candles!
Geoff & his HUGE piece of ice cream cake!
Dad, Stef, and our cousin Toni!

Mom and her 4 girls!

Stef & a few of her gifts

Geoff & Stef...luv these guys!!
My cousin's lil boy, Randy!

Christmas at Our House

Just thought I would share some pictures of the Christmas decor at our house. For some reason this year I didn't get everything out near as early as I usually do. But it's done now, and you can't help but be in the "Christmas Spirit"!

This is in our kitchen behind the sink.

Our "main" Christmas tree....glowing so pretty at night!

Here's a brighter picture so you can see the color scheme we used!

This is on top of our entertainment center. I got the "Joy" last year at a craft show.

In previous years I didn't have lights and greenery around my nativity scene and I don't know why, because now that I did it, I LOVE it!

And a brighter picture....this is one of my favorite Christmas things!

In the words of Kyle: "Why isn't this our "main" Christmas tree in the living room upstairs?" I told him that I thought it goes better in the basement with the rest of the Hawkeye stuff!

I hope everyone has had a nice start to their December. I'm getting anxious for these next two weeks to get over with. I have about two weeks off over Christmas and Stef & Wendi come home on the 15th! So much to look forward to!!

Long Weekend

We went to Poky for Thanksgiving Day this year. We wanted a Des Moines paper to look at all the ad's for "Black Friday", we stopped at about 10 gas stations in three counties on the way to Mom & Dad B's and no one had one! I couldn't believe it. So we had to settle with just the Fort Dodge paper, which was ok. And come to find out (we didn't figure this out till Sunday tho) we had one waiting on our front step, but bought one, not knowing we had one!

It was a nice relaxing day. We had a great dinner with turkey, ham, and all the fixings! The tradition at the Bangert house is to look at the all the ads, make our "wish lists" and plan our shopping expedition for the next day. It's always fun to see what's on a sale and what everyone wants to get. It seems like that stores open earlier and earlier every year. We were at Younkers Friday morning at 4am!! I couldn't believe it! Sorry...I'm jumping ahead!

Kyle had to work on Friday so we left Poky at a good time and Wendi was going to stop over one more time before she left on Friday. It was good to see her, Mom & Dunae came too. They spent Thanksgiving day in Waterloo with Duane's daughter. Sharon & Melanie stayed with us since we were getting up so early to shop, save some drive time in the morning!

Mom B with our Thanksgiving Turkey! She's a GREAT cook!

This was Abby almost all day long...she was always begging for something. I guess we should have taught her better!

Friday we shopped from 4am and didn't get home from Des Moines till after 5pm!! It was a long day, but we got lots accomplished and $aved some too! And when we got home Kyle was there (he worked all day) and wanted to shop a little so him & I went back out to a few stores here in FD!!! I think my favorite buy of the day is the digital picture frame I got from Wal-Mart. I just need to put some pictures together on a memory card and get it going. I've wanted one since last year when I saw Stef & Geoff's and loved it!

Saturday I got our Christmas decorations out and decorated and worked in the house all day. It always puts me in a good mood to have all the Christmas stuff out. I can't believe that it's already December! 2009 will be here before we know it!

Sunday we went to church and did our weekly grocery shopping and a few returns from Friday "buys"! We had lunch with the Bangerts at our all time favorite place...Sports Page, it's a classic! And then we went home and Kyle took a nap and I read the book "Twilight" (Wendi & my friend, Kim, got me started on this series)! I finished it in the early evening and couldn't wait till Monday to get the 2nd, "New Moon", one from Kim so I went to the bookstore and bought it and got a good start! You just can't put it down...they're so good!

Vikings won and Orgeon State lost, so it was a good weekend sports wise. We needed Oregon State to lose for the Hawkeyes to make a better bowl game! We're hoping for the Outback Bowl in Tampa! We'll find out Sunday!!

Here is a pic we snapped over the long weekend, in between our Christmas pictures! Thanks again Wendi for taking them! I hope to finish our cards and get them in the mail to you all this week!

Thanksgiving With Grandma

Wendi and I went to lunch with Grandma Freund on Wednesday since we wouldn't be seeing her on Thanksgiving Day. We went to Tea Thyme at Sadies, one of my favorites! Their food is AMAZING!! I've never been disappointed with what I've ordered! It was good to see Grandma....here are a few pics!

We all decided to wear green that day...not on purpose either!

Desert Time! Mmmm Puff Pastry!