Holidays with the Qualsets

Holidays with the Qualsets

Christmas 2008:

Putting up the Tree:

The tree before decorating. Daddy helping the kids pick out ornament spots. Hanging the ornaments.

Still decorating...this year we got a new tree! It is much bigger and no longer looks like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. All done...boy are we proud! Now can we have the candy canes?

Seeing Santa:

Santa came to the Library to meet all the kids. Emma was nervous, so she told him what she wanted from long distance. Kody told him all about his truck he broke the wheels on and how he needs a new one. Angel told him about the very long list of things she wanted. Then one last quick picture with Santa and our family was all done.

Christmas was a lot of fun! We had three days worth, so we will just add a few pics from each...mommy took a ton of pictures!

Before we headed to the first family gathering, we had to stop and pick up Emma's new glasses.

She wouldn't wear them if everyone made a big deal about them. Boy does she look cute in them though!

Christmas Eve: the extended Qualset family gathering:

Here is a picture of all the kids together (with one dolly that Emma insisted be in the picture!). Then we got presents...some of us sat on one couch and the rest of us sat on the other. Emma opening her present.

Angel and Kody showing off their presents.

Christmas Eve: Our family:

Waiting to open presents. We went by age (youngest first), but Emma took so long that Kody finished first. Boy was he excited because he got a blue tractor just like Papa's! Emma still fighting with the paper.

Angel also finished unwrapping her first present before Emma got done with hers. Clothes and headbands. Kody wasn't as excited at his batman pjs, so he went back to his tractor. Emma and Angel both got a new blanket...Emma got Dora and Angel got Princesses.

Mommy got a new sandwich maker (she loves making grilled cheeses in it!). Daddy got new lounge pants and a new beanie hat. Here is Kody modeling his new pjs.

Christmas Day:

Santa came!

The kids were up early! Standing at the door to the living room peeking through the glass to see if Santa came. checking out the gifts. Finally getting into the stockings.

Opening the presents. Showing off what they got. Playing with their new presents.

The immediate family Qualset gathering:

Playing with Erin, Zach, and Max. Chilling on the couch waiting to open presents. Helping to pass out the presents.

Finally opening! Angel pretending to be the dog from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

Dec 26th: the extended Bartee family gathering:

The whole group. Wow there are a lot of people. Kennedy. Kody playing with one of the twins.

One of the twins (I admit...I can't tell them apart!). Kody still paying attention to the twins. The Myher family. Amy and the twins.

Playing together. Kody wishing there were more boys, but still playing nicely. Emma playing with a Christmas bag. Look at all those presents!

Ripping into the presents! Books!!!! Emma taking her time. Kody's new truck!

Playing nicely together with the new toys. The ladies enjoying the presents. Maisen helping her mommy!

Fun all around!

Thanksgiving 2008:

Normally we would have a ton of pictures from a holiday family get together. Unfortunately Angel and I had a stomach virus and didn't get to eat turkey! We had sprite and popice instead! Curt, Kody, and Emma did bring home some turkey leftovers for us for when we were feeling better.

Halloween 2008

Kody's class had a Halloween show and put on a program for the parents.

Then we went Trick or Treating in town at the businesses! During the day!!!!

This is what our town looks like. We live in a pretty small town.

The kids loved putting on their costumes! Angel was Cleopatra, Kody was a fireman, and Emma was Super Girl.

First we went to the library. Then to the gas station (do other towns have a full service station like ours???). then to the next business. Hey look it is our friend, Marinee, and her mommy!

To the pharmacy. Look someone even dressed up their doggy! On to the next stop.

We stopped at the bank. Mommy and daddy were hoping for money instead of candy! this place had a bowl that grabbed you when you put your hand in! It was kind of neat.

Then we went to the Hospital to trick or treat. Normally we go to the nursing home, but the one here in town closed down and some of the residents are now at the hospital.

First trick or treating the nurses. Then the residents. There sure are a lot of halls to walk down. Boy was it worth it though!

After we trick or treated all the rooms, there was a costume contest. None of us won, but we sure were cute!

Then we went trick or treating for real! Our first stop were the combines Papa and Jerry were working in. I think this is a new family tradition...Combine trick or treating!

Waiting for the combines to reach us.

Thank goodness Papa and Jerry remembered the candy! Jerry said that our tradition has spread...his grandkids also came out to trick or treat the combines. It may become a new midwest tradition for the kids and grandkids of farmers!

Then it was on to town again.

Mom only took one picture in town, but we went down three streets before we were too tired and cold to go on.

Pretty impressive haul! Candy, sodas, fruit juice pouches, stickers, markers, tattos, pencils, gum...a little bit of everything!

Here is how we spent Easter this year (2008)

It was such a windy and cool day that we waited in the car until just before the Easter Egg Hunt started!

There were quite a few kids Easter Egg Hunting!!!! Look how far away they put the eggs.

Emma's first egg find! Oh look there are some more eggs!!!!

Kody searching for Easter Eggs. Woo hoo I found some!!!!!

Kody taking time out to hug the Easter Bunny.

Here is where we found Angel once they ran out of Eggs for the little kids. Boy is it fun having daddy help find the eggs. Even the other kids wanted to show him their eggs!