Christmas Day

I'm sorry that these pictures are so late, I just haven't had the time to post them. Dave & Carissa were able to visit us for Christmas. Dave came up with Parker, then Carissa flew in. Her work didn't allow the time off, but we enjoyed her while we had her!



Because it was so cold up here, David had to get Parker a coat to keep him warm. I think he bought the right one!

Here we were watching a movie, I believe, on the Dave & Carissa gave us.

But as time went on, Dave & Parker began to fade...














Christmas morning, as I was doing my devotions, I looked out the window just shortly after the sun had risen, & there was a cardinal sitting on a bush enjoying the sunbeams.




Scott worked so we didn't celebrate our Christmas that day but we did go over to his mother's for dinner & celebrations with the family.





When we got there, they were working on putting a Lego's plane together that little Andrew got for Christmas.











We enjoyed spending time with family.








Andrew was trying out his new digital camera that he got for Christmas.

Mom's beautiful Christmas tree.

Then it was time to eat.

Aaron, Jack & Mom found a place at the table.

Katie, Jack, & Bill in line.







Dave, Bill's brother Gerry, & Carissa chatting.













Carissa found the plate she wanted ;)








Then we opened gifts after dinner.





























Mom fell asleep while Jack was talking to my sister Jacque. It was a full evening & a good one.

Our Christmas

Because Scott worked on Christmas Day, we had our celebrations the Saturday following. But Carissa had to fly back home by the evening of that day. Here are the pictures of the day.

Thank you Mr President

I may be sappy, but I cried watching this video. We will miss you Pres. Bush! You guided us well for the last 8 years! Thank you!

Quote

from Elisabeth Elliot's book Passion & Purity

"But the question to precede all others, which finally determines the course of our lives, is 'What do I really want? Was it to love what God commands...? Did I want what I wanted, or did I want what He wanted, no matter what it might cost?'

Until the will and the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let alone to accept, His Lordship. The Cross, as it enters the love life, will reveal the heart's truth.

Jesus' feeding the 5000... I remembered what a chapel speaker, Ruth Stull of Peru, had said: 'If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a loaf will satisfy only a little lad.' "

Christmas Season

I am sorry that I haven't kept up on this blog & I'm so far behind with what is going on in our lives. Let me catch you up to speed for the Kregenow Klan:

Christmas season seemed to fly by! December started with our church's 25th anniversary. They had a catered dinner for the event! It was good to see old friends again! Some came in from out of town for this occasion.


Unfortunately my pictures came out pretty bad. Here are a few that did come out though.








Duane Bobeck came from Columbus, OH. He sat at my table. It was good catching up.
Many were there including Jimmy Inks, Dan & Sandy Mayak, & Elaine Simpson came in from Arizona.

After the dinner, there was a service of remembrance. It was a wonderful time!

Getting our Tree

We didn't end up getting our Christmas tree until mid-December. It was an absolutely beautiful ride there as you can see in the "Beautiful Snow" post below. Here are the pictures of our tree hunt.

Aaron looked outside...
















...while his brothers looked inside.

















All the while Scott enjoys a good talk with the owner.

Finally we decided on a tree - that came with snow!

We had to let it thaw on the front porch, because the snow was firmly attached.

When it finally did thaw, it made a beautiful Christmas tree!

My Guys!

The Friday before Christmas, our church does a formal banquet for the youth. My kids have gone every year since we moved here. Usually the boys had older siblings to go with. This was the 1st year they went alone.

Didn't they look great?!

Pittsburgh at Christmas

We took an afternoon & evening to see Pittsburgh all decked out for Christmas. We love this trip. It's nice family time. Two years ago, Scott & I took Dave & Carissa, last year we took Sarah & John, this year we took the boys. We always come into the downtown via the North shore & past PNC Park stadium.














It was so neat coming across the bridge & see that even the pots were wrapped in Christmas!












On our way to PPG Plaza we past the Horne's Christmas tree.














We had some difficulties getting in, so we looped around again & as we did we stopped at the Manger scene at the USX building.










Across the street is a church squeezed between 2 big buildings.
















We finally made it in to Market Square to park. PPG Plaza is always so beautifully decorated for Christmas! Here are a few pictures.
















Of course we have to stop at the ginger bread house display.













Look Sarah what we found... a ginger bread pyramid!

















Here's a view of the ice skating rink at the center of the plaza as we went in to see the Winter Gardens.














Inside the gardens.

Looking up!

The train display around the giant tree.

Heading back to the car.

Then we drove around for awhile & ended up on Mt. Washington. It was sooo windy up there, but the view was fabulous!
















This is the church we were parked across.






Afterward we headed up to Squirrel Hill to eat at Uncle Sam's Submarines. It was a nice way to end the day.


















On the way back to the car to go home, we came across a shop called The Chocolate Moose. For those of you who don't know, Andrew has been dubbed "Moose" by the youth group. So it seemed fitting to take this picture.