December 2017

In addition to celebrating Christmas, we've had a great month, full of family activities.  We took the kids to West Lafayette to see a Purdue basketball game. The kids had a great time and especially loved staying in a hotel overnight.  Liam was happy to walk through the Neil Armstrong building.  He saw a few familiar faces on the wall.  Lilly danced beautifully in her Nutcracker performance.  It is great to see how far she has come.  She was beautiful!  We went to Concordia's Embassy Christmas concert as a family.  The kids enjoyed dressing up and getting hot chocolate afterwards.  We decorated sugar cookies and the kids made a gingerbread house and train with their cousins.  
Over break we went with Grandma Kusch and the Harts to a Pistons game. The kids got to shoot a free throw after the game.  We also went to the Henry Ford Museum.  There was a special exhibit called, The Science Behind PIXAR.  It was fascinating to see how much math and science goes into a PIXAR film.  We ended the day by seeing Star Wars in the IMAX theater!
When we got home from Michigan, the kids spent lots of time with the Herman cousins.

Liam at his annual eye exam - no glasses needed for either kid!

Kids at Dad's Christmas open house for work

The kids had their first Upwards Basketball practices

Liam at his Christmas Program

Liam with cousin Lucy Penner

We got Just Dance for Christmas - Lilly loves to dance to Moana

Christmas 2017

Christmas #1 - Hart Christmas
We hosted Christmas at our house for Dad and his wife Sandra.  We had supper, the kids opened presents, and the kids played.

Christmas #2 - Our Family Christmas

Our traditions... the kids make a stuffed animal at Build A Bear.  They open one present (pajamas) on our Christmas Eve (which is actually the 23rd).  Then, we open gifts as a family on Christmas Eve morning.

Christmas story before bedtime

  

Christmas #3 - Christmas at Grandma Kusch's

We drove up to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve.  It was snowing and the roads were slick.  The trip, which usually takes us 2 1/2 hours took us 5 hours.  We were so relieved when we finally arrived.  We celebrated Great Grandma Letsch's 84th birthday, opened our Christmas pajamas, and went to bed.  Christmas morning we opened gifts.

Mars slept on my lap the whole way up to Michigan

Lilly & Verona got matching jackets

Christmas #4 - Herman Christmas

Dave's sisters that live in Minnesota and Maryland came to Fort Wayne after Christmas.  We spent several days together.  The kids loved playing with their cousins.  

Dave's Dad made this for us!

New Year's Eve - finally got a chance to get a picture in our Christmas outfits.