December in Images — The Storey Fam

December began with a trip south to KC to visit the Great Wolf Lodge. We met up with our dear friends for lunch and a quick walk through of Ikea, then headed for 2 1/2 days of family time. It was riot and the boys slept harder than they have in years! We all did.
We got home and started prepping for company from the 9th to the 15th. It was a Portugal core group reunion that didn't go quite as planned due to changes in schedules that happened after plans were laid, but we still go some time together none-the-less, and are again so thankful to be back within driving and flying distance of these precious friends!
Josh's work schedule was just nuts during the middle of the month up until a couple days before Christmas and then was hectic again after Christmas for another week. 24 shifts in the ER aren't that bad when there's only two a week and there's time to catch up on sleep, but he had 4 in the week before Christmas and 4 in the week and a half after. Ufda. Glad to be done with that and hopeful that won't happen again. I was spoiled on my birthday on the 21st to have my husband home, and have an old childhood favorite dinner at my in-laws of philly cheese steaks and cheesecake for dessert. It was so delicious and such fun to be around family to celebrate. I felt like a kid again, blowing out a candle in the cheesecake and opening gifts with lookers on.

Josh's Grandma Storey and her husband Jimmy were here for Christmas. They are a hoot and fun to have around. Amy and Jake also came for a few days and it was good to get some time with them! Luke turned 4 on the 30th, but we kept it a secret from him and waited until my Mom and her Husband, Bill, made it down from their trip to MN to see their families. They were here in early Jan, but I'm including the pics because it was very much felt part of the holiday hustle and bustle and included a December birthday.

New to us playset

Our next door neighbor has three kiddos who are all older now and they've been "throwing things over the fence" to our boys as they clean out their kids old toys. The boys are in nerf weapon heaven! They had this built into their hill in their backyard and we mentioned to them if they were looking to get rid of it to let us know. We scored this thing for a fraction of the cost of a new one! The boys love it, even though it's much shorter than usual as we had to cut it down to get it level for flat ground.

bums

Ikea escalator fun

headed in, all suited up with wolf ears

this pic shows about 1/4 of the water works in this place. IT'S MASSIVE and SO much fun!

Huge waterslides, splash pads, tube slides, an obstacle course, water basketball pool and a couple hot tubs fill this massive area.

ha!

Over 1000 gallons coming down at us

that's some serious pressure - you really have to be stable on your feet!

actual candy gingerbread house in the lobby

Christmas tree time when we got home

the boys' Christmas program at Bible Study

I was so out of of the loop as I hadn't been to Bible Study in several weeks. I found out when I got there that the kids were doing a Christmas program - many of the kids were dressed beautifully and many were getting into costumes. I had a panic moment of rapid texting to Josh that I was that mom that forgot and didn't bring nice clothes or tell her kids! I felt just awful! But the boys knew, somehow, and played their parts perfectly. Judah was Joseph and Joel was a wiseman. Luke was a lamb with a bell and cried through most of the program when he was denied the opportunity to run and give me a hug when he saw me.

Precious time with sisters from our time in Portugal

I cherish these two!

a moment of calm

7 kids 10 and under for 3 days

It was a challenge to keep that many kiddos occupied, but this puppet show they did was a big hit and we found a hidden talent of Josh's - narrating children's puppet shows! hahaha!