Cousins at Christmas - and decorating gingerbread houses

The cousins arrive! Six kids age three and under! We had a full 6 days together, making a wonderfully happy mess at Nonna's house. The four girls (ages 3, 2 and 21 months) mostly played well together (except for times when they wanted the same toy, to which Gemma would announce, "I fighting!"), and they especially all loved playing with dolls & accessories, stuffed animals, the nativity creche, and the doll house that was unveiled on Christmas Day. The two boys (age 4 months and 2 months) both enjoyed the play mat as well as lots of attention from the girls.

Bella hanging out with Timo (who is starting to show interest in toys!)

Gemma and Elsie are only 6 months apart and nearly the same size. They were both first to wake up in the mornings and would then spend an hour+ together (with the dads) eating breakfast and reading books and rearranging toys. Quality bonding time - and SO fun to see them interacting.

Early morning...Elsie and Gemma pick out books to bring to Noah.

Granddad and 3 granddaughters during a craft time. Yes, that is Gemma with pigtails!!

Boy cousins checking each other out. Noah is holding 4 month old David.

A huge highlight this Christmas was 're-beginning' a Gieser tradition of gingerbread houses! (made with graham crackers) The Gieser sibs grew up doing this event, usually with friends over, and now it's time for the grandchildren to begin. It was a HIT!! Of course, lots of hands-on assistance was provided by the parents.
 

Jim and Gemma strategizing on what candy to apply first

Katie and Elsie, with a mouthful of candy

Steve and Bella, carefully fixing the roof

Yum, Elsie!

Looking good, Avery (with help from Tiffany)

And that's all folks! We are finished!
 

Christmas in Wheaton begins!

We had a tremendous 12 days in Wheaton over Christmastime!! Both of Jim's siblings and their families were also able to come together for a week. Mom/Nonna had the house seriously decked out with gorgeous Christmas decor. What a special place to be, with all 8 adults and 6 kids under one roof.

We arrived a few days early (and stayed a few days later) and so got to enjoy everything with the house a little quieter... Here's Timo gazing on the lights of the kids' Christmas tree (gumballs, popcorn, teddy bears, and unbreakable! plastic balls).

The last thing to get put up was the tree, which Jim helped to do when we arrived. "Okay, folks, here's how it works," Jim says. Yes, it was a fake tree - the days of real trees unfortunately ended several years ago. However, a fake tree - with lights already attached! - makes set-up pretty simple.

Timo checks out the action. He's definitely taking more interest these days in what people are doing.

Gemma really loved helping decorate the tree for the first time. And un-decorate and re-decorate. Every day. And other girl cousins helped with that too when they arrived.

We were able to have dinner with the newlyweds (2 months on Christmas Day!), Tim and Carol Avery, on the 21st (Jul's cousin Carol, that is.) Fun to use their wedding pottery, get introduced to some English beers, and hear a bit more about their time in China and dreams for their future there. 

 Gemma loved spending time with "Cousin Carol" and "Cousin Tim," as she called them.

A romp in the yard - this was the only snow we had during our entire two weeks there. Bummer!

A Hoosiers basketball game!

A good friend from church, Kevin Katerberg, had an extra ticket for a recent IU Hoosiers game vs. Central Connecticut State. It was only my second basketball game, so I was glad for the chance to go again. IU won, 100-69. What fun to be there, watching the #1 team in the country (at the time - they have since dropped in the rankings a bit) dismantle the opposition, from the 15th row of Memorial Hall. Some great dunks!

And why not add a pic of my and Timo?!

Small group White Elephant Party

Last Saturday night was our small group's Christmas party, with White Elephant gift exchange. What a great way to celebrate the end of the semester - and recount some of the amazing ways that the Lord has provided for each of our families in the last few months. Many of us have been in places of transition and challenge in the last year; we have appreciated the support system that this group has been for us.

on stairs: Justin and Sarah; Fred and Angie; Jordan and Holly; below: Wes and Erin; Andrew and Leah

Jim (with a tiny bit of help from me) made this amazing pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling for the party.  Moist and flavorful - definitely a recipe to re-do. (And we are inspired to make a Yule Log for Christmas, now that we know how easy these roll-up cakes are!!)

Of course no White Elephant party would be complete without some hilarity...
 

Timo, my son

As a dad, it is amazing to have a son now, in addition to Gemma. To have had a child at all, with Gemma, was an amazing, eye-opening experience. And now, to have a second, and for him to be a boy - another new, amazing, eye-opening experience. Here's Timo at 6-7 weeks old.