Friday, September 23, 2022

Mom’s 40th Birthday

Dad planned a fun outing for Mom’s 40th birthday. Just her style - outside, active, and with her favorite people! We enjoyed adventuring at Johnson County Recreation area near Kewanee. It was a nice park with lots of land and wildlife areas. The snow was beautiful and it made for a calm afternoon! It was just the type of gift Mom loves. Thanks everyone for going!! 
























We continued the celebration by going out for a special dinner at the Prime Quarter, an one of mom’s favorites! We grilled all our steaks and ate up! Joel was in love with the salad bar and couldn’t get enough. Cade loves the meat! And Callie are it all. We had a great time together in our corner spot at the restaurant. What a treat! 



And we ended the night with a trip over to Wyanet to have some cake! Bev made mom’s famous Twinkie Cake! We enjoyed being together. I am so loved! 






Christmas Present Craft Done!

Callie got a fun craft kit from Aunt Kim this Christmas! We enjoyed making her yarn star and hung it in her room to make a beautiful light! 







LaSalle-Peru Basketball Tournament Champs

Cade’s freshman team won the LaSalle-Peru freshman basketball team a few days after Christmas! They had some good competition in pool play. The championship game, though, the Tigers ran away with. They have a great team this year! It is fun for Cade to play with others who know the game, who are strong, and who are great shooters. It is going to be a great season! 





Special Christmas Guests!

We had some friend come through town and we were so blessed that they stopped by! The Anderson’s came by and we got some Maeve time, and the boys enjoyed playing with our action figures! 
We also had a special family drive through on the interstate and made a dinner stop! The Penner family hasn’t been able to stop for a few years so it was a special treat to see them. Cade had a basketball game in the afternoon and we headed home quickly from there to greet the Penner’s. We had a nice evening catching up, and Cade even made it home to see them after his game. 
It is so nice having life long friends who still make grgeat efforts to see us! We are blessed. 







Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Christmas Evening

We didn’t get our morning family picture together by the Christmas tree so we got one before the day was over by the tree. We were all wiped out after a full day in Wyanet. Joel got to sleep with his new little Yoda! 







Odell Family Christmas

After we opened our gifts as a family, we went over to Wyanet to celebrate with Pop and Grandma and the Lamberts. We had a delicious breakfast together. We love to eat together! We then enjoyed reading the account of Christ being born from Luke 2. Then it was present time! We had some special ones this year. Pop got the girls special necklaces. Callie made Aly a pineapple using her loops. It was so cute! 












We enjoyed playing a couple of games the kids got for gifts during the day. Those that played, we had a great time with! 


Callie had made a special crocheted something with Ms. Robin for me for Christmas. She  and brought it to Wyanet to give to me, Mom. It was so beautiful! 


For dinner, Pop smoked ribs. We know he hasn’t felt well and this was a big labor of love. 


We couldn’t end the day without the Nativity Hunt! They are all getting older. It is fun to see them together. 


Callie and Caleb were Nativity Hunt partners!


Cade and Ethan were Hunt Partners!


Peppermint stick eating with Anne of Green Gables on the television! 


Watching a movie together!


Ready for church on Sunday morning! Trying out her new karaoke microphone! 


The girls!



Monday, September 5, 2022

Christmas Morning!

Stockings filled and set with care! 


Earliest riser! 


Christmas morning hugs! 








Callie bought a Star Wars crocheting kit. Ms. Robin came over and helped Callie with this special project and then finished it for Callie to give to a Joel. He was so tickled! 

Dad jokes from Callie! 

Star Wars galore from Mom and Dad! New Star Wars bed sheets! 


A new Bears sweatshirt for Dad! 


Joel gave Callie and Wild Republic fox! 


A new backpack for Cade!


New headware for the boys! 


Christmas Day is here!