Newman Family: 1st Christmas!

Tyler's first Christmas was a very memorable one! We started out traveling home to SW Iowa on Christmas Eve morning. The weather was still just rain in Des Moines, but our hometown was solid ice before we even got on the road. Our drive was slow but good until about 2o miles to go, then it was solid ice! Boy, were all of us (especially Grandpa Knute) glad when we finally pulled into town!

Christmas Eve tradition for us is the Big Newman Christmas. We had supper at Andrew's parents and the opened presents with Tyler's Great Grandma Newman. We spent the night at my parents - the drive there was interesting as Tyler screamed and Daddy tried to drive through all the drifting snow! We made it in time to see Zach and Carrie go sledding in the blizzard! Christmas Eve services were cancelled due to the weather - I think this is the first time I've ever missed it! So, the Hallquist family sung Christmas carols before going to bed!

Allison, Andrew, Kyle, Julie, John, Grandma Newman, & Tyler (Perkins couldn't make it due to the weather - we missed you!!!)

Christmas Day our original plan was to go to Allison's Grandma's, but weather snowed us in. So, we for the first time ever had Christmas day just at the Hallquist house! It was a nice and relaxing day opening stockings and presents, and the guys kicked Denise out of the kitchen and cooked lunch! It was a crazy house with 3 kids under the age of 2!!

Mom & Tyler opening his stocking at Grandma & Grandpa Hallquist's house on Christmas morning.

Andrew, Tyler, Grandpa Knute, and Zach at the Hallquist Christmas.

The blizzard calmed enough for us to head to the Newman house for the Newman family Christmas on the 26th. It was nice to be able to spend the entire afternoon and evening eating appitizers, opening presents, eating a wonderful supper, and just relaxing.

Tyler was pretty tired from the Hallquist festivities and was using this time to gear up for the Newman's!

Aunt Inky, Uncle Matt, Johnathan, Grandpa John & Tyler, Grandma Julie, Isabelle, and Andrew opening presents.

We moved the Peterson Christmas from Christmas Day to the 27th. Everyone was able to make it to Grandma Pete's to again eat too much food and snacks! The great-grandkids and grandkids are all too spoiled by Grandma!