After celebrating Dalton's birthday we had a couple weeks off and then on December 18 we celebrated Finley's 5th birthday (12-19) and Mallory's 10th birthday (12-20).
After celebrating birthdays we get moving into Christmas activities. On Friday the 23rd Jim and I organized a Caroling party at church. It was kind of last minute but we had a GREAT time. About 10 people showed up. You know it was worth it when some of the people tell you no one has ever done this for me before. They all sang along with us. After caroling we returned to the church for Jim's chili and everyone brought samples of all those Christmas goodies they've been making.
On the 24th we went to church and then home. Mom and Dad, David, Mike, Leah and Caleb joined us for supper. Christmas Day brought all of our children to our house. We went to church first and then home to eat dinner. We finally opened gifts in the afternoon. However, the sickness bug hit this year. Troy didn't come from Webster City as he was sick. Dalton was sick, thought he felt better, ate lunch and then missed all the present opening as he was back in the bathroom. During the next week, Kari, Finley and Mallory had moments of being sick. So far Jim and I have escaped the evil bug. Alicia was not with us this year for Christmas. She left on the 22nd for a church mission work trip to Jamaica. She doesn't return home until 10:00 p.m. on the 2nd of January and then has to go to work the next morning.
