Buerster Family Christmas

Last Sunday, we had Buerster family Christmas at Aunt Brenda's house. It was a nice time with lots of good food as always. We tried to get a picture of all the little ones. It was a little difficult but this one didn't turn out too bad. As you can see, Ava is not happy about it. The only ones not in the picture are Bailey and Emma. There are 14 total - ranging in age from 1 to almost 13. In 2007 alone, 5 babies were born. So far we are expecting 2 in 2009. The family is growing by leaps and bounds.

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day with Jeff's family. Ava did very good all day considering she only took brief naps in the car. Holidays can be very trying on little ones who are used to napping. She loved all of her Christmas presents and really liked opening them (and everyone else's).

Ava got a John Deer Gator from Memal. This is what kept us up late putting together. I'm thinking when she gets the hang of this she will enjoy hauling her baby brother around.

She loved her kitchen set from Nana and Poppy. It's amazing to watch them pretend.

Ava loved seeing her Aunt Lindy (Jeff's sister). Lindy lives in Texas so we hadn't seen her since April. It was nice to spend some time with her and Isaiah.

Christmas Eve

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas. Christmas Eve began that morning at home by opening our gifts too each other and Ava. We then went to 4:00 church at Ste. Marie. After church we went to Mom and Dad's. About 10:00 p.m. we drove to Jeff's mom's house in Valier. We stayed up quite late putting Ava's Christmas presents together.

She looked beautiful in her Christmas dress. She didn't like it at first but then got used to it.

I don't know if her dress or her coat was cuter. Both were thanks to Memal Patchett.

I thought all the girls would be too cute in matching shirts. Landon was a little left out but he coordinated with them.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I am excited about the holidays. Of course it is always busy. Tomorrow, we will be going to 4:00 church at Ste. Marie and then to my Mom and Dad's house. I am looking forward to seeing my Aunt Rene, Clay and Nikki when we get there. After all of those festivities are over we will head to Southern Illinois to see Jeff's family. We will return Friday evening because I have the Holiday Basketball Tournament on Saturday. We also have my Mom's family Christmas Saturday for lunch and we are going to my Aunt Brenda's on Sunday for Buerster Christmas. Glad I am pregnant so I don't have to fret over all of the calories I will be consuming.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Christmas and that Santa brings you everything you ask for! I am looking forward to seeing Ava open her presents. She thinks the bows on the presents are hairbows and she pulls them off and puts them on top of her head.

New Background

Can you tell it is Christmas break? I have spent hours on the computer tonight updating my blog and looking at others. My cousin, Sara, had the cutest background so I had to check out the site. It is super easy to add one of their backgrounds. What a fun way to show off your Christmas spirit. Thanks Sara!

Christmas Goose

Today Jeff went goose hunting at a hunting club in Northern Illinois. Some of you may not know that Jeff used to be quite the goose hunter. In college, he hunted and guided hunting trips everyday over Christmas break and all other weekends. It definitely took up all of his free time back then. Well as you can see from the picture he has something else to take up any of his free time now so he doesn't hunt very often at all anymore. He had a really enjoyable time though and killed his 2 geese - which by the way we won't be eating. He says they don't even taste good - it is just fun to hunt them.

Day at Grandma's

We had nothing going on today so it was a perfect day to go to Grandma and Grandpa Buerster's. Mom was watching Bailey and Emma and Martha, Alli, and Landon went with us so all the grandkids were there. Even in mom's big house that is a house full. The kids played well together and at one time we thought lightening might strike because 4 of the 5 of them were all sleeping.

I think Ava is getting ready to be a big sister because she loves her babies lately.

The older girls thought some boxes would be fun to play in.

Time to cook!

Time to eat!

New Toy

Ava discovered a new toy this week. She found the step stool in the closet. She has been carrying it around with her everywhere. She is not necessarily using it to get into things she's not supposed to have. I think she just wants a higher perspective of the world. It is pretty cute but it is allowing her to get to the top of the cabinets which she couldn't reach before.

Christmas Shopping

Martha and I did the majority of our Christmas shopping last week in Evansville; however, I still had a few things left to get. Today, I decided spur of the moment that I wanted to go to Terre Haute and of course I invited Martha to go along. The Jeffs were scouting for geese. So we nervously loaded all 3 kids in the van and took off for Terre Haute. We don't really take our kids shopping very often. They don't usually enjoy it and it is a lot of work. Much to our surprise the day went very well. We only shopped for about 3 hours but got what we needed to do done.

This is when we were getting ready to leave the house. You can see they were very excited. Alli was thrilled. She informed us all at Thanksgiving that she didn't know how to go shopping so it is probably time she learned.

Friday night at home!

This weekend I had 2 ballgames - Friday night at Flora and tonight at Grayville. I asked my volunteer assistant, Laurin to cover 1 of them for me. Thank goodness she did and I got to stay home on a Friday night. The Kirts' came over for supper and for Martha to finish up some gifts she was making for Christmas. We had a very nice evening. Now that it is Saturday afternoon I am wishing she was covering today's game too. An hour and half one-way on a bus doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

Alli and Ava were peaking downstairs to see what Martha was doing.

The girls watching Frosty. Alli looks like she's asleep but she's not.

We had to get that silly cheeser in the pictures.

Cheerleading Christmas Party

I hosted our annual cheerleading Christmas party last Wednesday. I always enjoy all the girls coming over. We have pizza and snacks and my old assistant coach Diana is always so nice to the girls and makes them whatever dessert they want - its always gooey bars. The girls play "Dirty Santa" with the gifts they bring. Every year I make them some sort of personalized OHS gift. This year it was a picture frame. For entertainment we play how well we know each other game and watch the DVD from last years competition. Being around this many girls keeps you young!

Front Door

I had to put up this picture of my front door because I love it. Marty and Saundra got me this wreath and garland for my birthday. They both light up. I don't put up a ton of decorations but this is perfect. I just had to show off my festive entry way.

Santa Train

We went to the Santa Train today in Oblong. We had never been before but it was a little disappointing. I thought there were supposed to be several characters. All we saw was Santa and Mrs. Claus. We didn't get there until the very end so maybe the other characters were there earlier. We didn't have to wait outside any so that was good since it was freezing. It is a great idea especially for kids a little older who would enjoy getting on a train.

Well I thought she might like Santa but obviously not. She was very clingy from the time we got on the train so I knew sitting on Santa's lap wouldn't go well.

New Van

I'm a little behind on this post so most people know that we got a van. The day after Thanksgiving while I was at a basketball tournament all day Jeff went and bought a van. It was a pretty big surprise even though we had been shopping for them for a year and a half. I hate car shopping and he is much better at it than me so he did it by himself. It is a 2008 White Chrysler Town and Country. I think the radio is my favorite part (it has all these crazy options). I really like it even though all my students are making fun of me for getting a van.

If the palm trees in the background didn't give it away - this isn't it. But it looks just like this. I was too lazy to go outside and take a picture (plus its dark)

Ava likes it too. It has the DVD players. Even though she is not that into cartoons yet she does watch it when I turn it on.

Happy Holidays!

Yesterday we decorated the Christmas tree. We only broke 1 ornament and that was totally my fault not Ava's. I am surprised she didn't break more the way she was handling them. She is really enjoying the tree. She hasn't been messing with it. She just stands back and talks and dances in front of it. She decided she was going to go bye bye yesterday so she got her purses and gave mom, dad, her horse and the tree a kiss goodbye.

I think Ava could tell Dad wasn't really into this.
He said next year him and the baby boy might have to go hunting while we decorate.

It's a ....

IT'S A BOY!!! We had our sonogram after school today and the baby cooperated right away so it was easy to tell that our baby is a boy. They said he looks perfect.

Baby Boy Patchett
You think this one will look like mommy? I doubt it.

Hello everyone!

I'm a boy!