Vrana Christmas

We moved Vrana Christmas up from our usual New Year's day because both Samuel and Thomas went on SEEK and they were leaving the evening of the 31st.

The exoskeleton.  Again.

We had fun spending the day together.  

The boy cousins had a long game of football outside which Dylan enjoyed since I doubt he convinces Aliza and Clara to play it with him at home!  Thomas told silly stories much to Clara's delight, Aliza and Julia talked about girl things and a fun time was had by all!

And now we are done celebrating Jesus's birth!  Merry Christmas!!

Nick's First Wrestling Meet of the Year

A few days after Christmas Nick got out on the mat.

Since we were busy with family he'd only been to two practices.

The matches didn't go well.  He got beat all three times.  But it was good to get out there and with more practices under his belt (and less treats to eat everywhere) I'm sure he'll be improving quickly.

His friend Jacob was thrilled to get a first place ring. I was amused that was what the champions got.  :)  And Nicholas had a small lesson in being happy for your friend even when your disappointed for yourself.  The situation was flip flopped a lot last year so I was happy for Jacob!

December 26th

We stayed over at my parents and had more fun on the 26th.  The cookie shape this year was ginger bread houses.  Everyone got creative with their cookies.

I guess I only took a picture of mine and whoever's that is underneath it.  I tried getting creativity points by turning my house upside down so it could be an arrow.  But the (6 and 11 year old) judges were not impressed and I got the "looks like a squirrel would sleep in it" award.  Julia was very pleased to get 1st place.  I just asked Julia, turns out it's her 1st place cookie my arrow was pointing to!

 We had to head home after an early supper because Philip had a wrestling meet on the 27th.

Which reminds me, we did wonder if any of the neighbors had questions about the kid in the brown Carrhart jacket that ran around the block after every holiday meal.  It was Philip- he was supposed to lose 2 pounds over break so he could wrestle at 120.  He didn't make it in time for the meet on the 27th but he did make it in time for the following meet (which was a week and a half later).

Carlson Christmas

I tried to get these photos to load in chronological order twice but they're a little random so we'll have to deal.

My parents weren't sick or anything, the gap is so we can see the tree.

Can you guess what Elias had already opened?

Everyone enjoyed opening their gifts.

Philip got the hoodie from Julia that morning.  Little did we know it would become his exoskeleton. (Thanks to my high school boyfriend who first labeled the jacket I wore over everything everyday my "exoskeleton"- it is now part of our family vernacular.)

What was in this huge package?  Pillows!  Not sure Samuel has ever had his very own brand new pillow before.

Thomas had to punch out his gift.

My sisters got me a stuffed Mrs Vrana chicken.  So now there's Mrs. Vrana (just plain old me), Mrs. Vrana the chicken AND Mrs. Vrana the stuffed chicken.  By the way, Mrs. Vrana the chicken is doing well and has started to lay eggs.

Here's our present piles before we started opening!

After presents we had a delicious dinner and some family time.  It was great!

Christmas Morning

Santa was good to everyone this year...and he wrapped all his presents.  Weird, he doesn't usually do that at our house.  But everyone here knows how it works so he wrapped everything.  It's actually more work so maybe next year he won't wrap the stocking presents.

I abandoned getting everyone a book this year.  I'm pretty sure only Julia and Sam have been reading what I pick out so I didn't do it.  Also we decided that 21 is the last year for receiving an ornament about that year's interests.  I almost said 20 but then realized 21 is pretty easy.

 The kids are still enjoying buying for all their siblings so there were lots of gifts to open!

That viking hat is literally from a 2T costume we had years ago.  It is still well loved.  It got used on a cylinder shaped gift to help cover up the top so then of course Philip wore it the rest of the morning.

After a nice breakfast of special french toast that Julia made us, we headed to Lincoln.

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas Eve we went to the vigil Mass.

And then home for appetizer dinner.  

Much more celebrating to come! 

Happy Retirement Steve!

Grandpa Steve retired at the end of 2024...mostly. 

He'll still work at the parts counter a couple days a week.

Jeremy spray painted this deer gold because it's original white/silver didn't go with the theme.  He also painted a big JD that didn't make it in the picture.

Dylan missed the fun because he had one of the many nasty bugs that was going around town.

I thought this was a really nice picture of Steve and Uncle Dave.

The cousins (and Thomas's friend Chisum) got creative with entertainment.  The magnet sticks turned out to be pretty fun.

 Lots and lots of farmers stopped by to wish Steve well and it turned out to be a really nice party.