Christmas Break Part 2

After the wedding, we returned back to Sioux Center for New Year's weekend.  Russ preached in the Sioux Center URC that Sunday (and the following one) as the church is currently vacant.  The temps were exceedingly cold so the services were at 9:30 and 2:00 that Sunday.

Most of the family gathered that evening for fellowship and Mom's ollie bollen, a New Year's Eve tradition.

The "Drinks Guy"

Eventually, all the parents left, leaving most of the cousins at Grandpa and Grandma's for a sleepover.  The following morning the kids enjoyed a wonderful breakfast casserole and Becca's sleepover muffins.   They started right in playing and enjoying each other's company.  

Dodge ball

Watching boiling water turn to vapor in the below zero temperatures.

The parents gradually filtered back to Dad and Mom's house, and the kids all cleaned up nicely for family pictures later that after noon.  We took pictures of the entire clan and also pictures of each family.

We returned to Mom and Dad's and enjoyed our Christmas prime rib/beef brisket dinner, followed by the book exchange, gift opening, mystery gift (Cora's family won), and SNOWY.

Checking out the SNOWY (bingo) gift table

The evening ended with Dad re-telling a favorite story--the old robe was a must for the telling.

Other than a day trip to Glidden to see Russ' stepmother (she did not attend the wedding in South Dakota because of age/health) we spent the rest of the week enjoying playing games and just hanging out.  

He's just missing his cat...

We were thankful we stayed long enough to watch Caden and Miah play basketball.  It was especially fun since Caden had a crazy-good game from the three-point line.

We flew home on January 8 with our college boys since they still had a week of Christmas vacation.  We enjoyed playing games together, eating a nice meal out, watching "The Greatest Showman" in the theater, and just laughing a lot!  Caleb's coach entered him in the BSU meet to run the open 400m.  Loved being able to watch him run in person!

Many laughs watching Seth create this little straw complex so he didn't have to bend over to drink his soda.

Overall, it was a very busy, but wonderfully blessed Christmas vacation.  We look forward to having our boys home this summer AND taking a vacation back to Iowa for the annual Big Sand trip which we missed last year!

Christmas Break Part 1

We postponed our summer Iowa trip until Christmas because Leah, a niece on Russ' side of the family, asked Russ to officiate her wedding in South Dakota on December 29.  We flew out of Boise and into Sioux Falls on Christmas Day and met the college boys in Iowa.  The majority of the first week was spent with Russ' family in South Dakota. 

The wedding and reception were both at the Americinn in Chamberlain with just immediate family and Leah's aunts and uncles and cousins.  Since Willem is from South Africa, only his dad and brother were able to make the trip.  Leah will be moving in March/April to South Africa with Willem where he works on his family's citrus farm.

Most of the Herman crew at the community center in Reliance, SD where we ate our meals and played games together.

Putting the reception area together before the rehearsal.

All Done!

This girls and I contributed by opening candy cane packages and displaying them prettily in two of these little "bouquets."  That was about the extent of our talents.

The boys provided all the music.  Since the room was pretty small they were relegated to a small area between the "ceremony" room and the "reception" room.

Bridal Party--Leah's sisters, Willem's brother, and Leah's brother-in-law.

Russ with his dad and siblings.

Beautiful bride!

Having fun with Lilly!

The kids enjoyed being able to leave the reception while the adults were visiting to swim in the awesome pool!