Wii Good TIme

We had the Versendaal Christmas Party at Malissa and Duanes this year. Our menu was lasagna, salads with all the fixings, frozen Pina Colada fruit salad, bruchetta, and for dessert, christmas cookies and chocolate fondue. In the above picture( Terry, Chad ,Heather and Duane we were playing Wii Tennis for prizes, then Wii boxing in order to steal someones prizes. As you can guess, big Jim really got into it.

This is me holding little Derek , what else would I be doing when a cute , sweet baby is around.

Malissa, Al, Marcia, Floyd, Heather and Derek, and Esther , watching the Wii tennis players.

Avery doing what he does best, charming people. During supper he asked me when we were opening presents? I told him after we were done eating. Five minutes later he came back to me and said his mom told him it was OK for him to open the presents that were from me . Now I know Tracy better than that. I am looking forward to the book they will write someday on the Escapades of Avery.

My Dad, does the nose look familiar ? He could not find a comfortable chair, of course he doesn't sleep in his bed because that is not comfortable either.

My brother Rich and Ron. Is Rich sleeping or is he deep in thought ( since he is a night shift worker, I am betting on sleeping).My nephew Joe, he works at Phil's in Saugatuck, he said it is real busy these days. he's a fan of the right school !

Our Family Party

Later that night, we opened our presents, I got this special one from Daniel, a picture frame, and he picked out some pictures and filled it , Loved it ! And Chad got me a new , fancy crockpot, I have meatballs cooking in it right now, it's fabulous. I can throw the old one with the broken handle out .

You gotta love their picture picks !

Jim getting excited over some chocolate covered cherries. (Whoopee !)

Chad opening his presents : a blender, lawn chair, cologne,and socks.

Jeff with his favorite present a Kid Rock t-shirt. I put Dan in charge of getting a couple of presents for Jeff, that was a mistake, I would have never bought him a t-shirt with someone pointing a gun at you. He better not wear it around the little children. Next year I shop, and he gets a t-shirt of Andrea Bocelli. He also got a softball glove, a double hobo pie maker, lawn chair, and airbed for camping.

Ben with his new northface jacket, he also got some socks, a dress shirt and warmer gloves.

Dan waiting patiently for the presents to come ! Not ! He bought a used Suburu Outback and wanted money towards his car, lucky for him I already had 2 presents bought : a panini maker and an expandable fishing pole, so he had a little to open. Looking forward to the Nykerk party tomorrow !

This was Advent Sunday before Christmas and Dave and Jeff were asked to be participant's by pastor Dan along with 2 other college age people, well one was sick so Dan graciously volunteered to help . Its not a great picture but proof they were there !

Christmas 2009

Well the real reason for this blog is I could not stand looking at my nose from the previous blog any longer. This is our mantel . People still laugh and offer to buy me some real stockings which would look classier but..... I did not think I was very sentimental but I just cannot stop putting these goofy animal stockings out that the boys have had all their life. Each year they joke about which one is the best and put down the other guys. Chad is the black bear, Dan is the raccoon, Jeff is the panda ( which he will remind you is the coolest as his is reversible from panda with legs to a stocking, and Ben is the bunny.

This is our Christmas tree, this also is full of memories, my old ornaments from when I was a little girl, my favorites from the past are the carousel looking ones which have foil in the middle which rotate from the heat of the bulbs. My later favorites are , you guessed it , the homemade ones of the boys. One of the personal favorites of the boys is the one of a picture of Dan with a bowl haircut, and Jeff with a goofy smile and a large mexican hat. They have provided the most laughs.

Bandit happy, content the boys are home but also exhausted from having to share her poof with the boys friends.

Some of the shoes which collect when the boys friends come over. I could never get tired of seeing these worn out shoes. It makes me cry to know the ones missing this Christmas are Jeff Christenson's, he will never be forgotten.

Another pick of bandit.

soccer shot and Bandit

This is me after Sundays 4 pm soccer game at soccer spot. It was my worst game ever . I took a hit from one of the guys directly in my nose, my nose is swollen ( as if its not big enough as it is) and I have under the eye swelling, and my nose is bruised. Then to add insult to my injury, I took another hit at the end of the game getting a soccer ball kicked into my R jaw, so now my jaw clicks and is sore. Luckily bodies heal. No I am not ready to give up soccer yet.

See how well my glasses hide the injury, I look almost normal.

Dan dedided to do a photo shoot of Bandit for Christmas. She was not real cooperative. We did get a few pictures, my camera does not take great pictures.