Wind Power!

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Recently, a company decided to put in a wind farm right at the end of our road. Needless to say, our flat landscape of fields and more fields is rapidly changing to look slightly more commercial.

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Here is a few pictures of the first turbine to get its propellers installed.

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There are giant cranes all over the place. I counted at least ten in operation the other day while driving past!

Scale size to show you the proportions of these things. Inside the little yellow circle at the base of the tower is a full size pickup truck.

One of the propellers on the ground.

The bottom section for the tower. (I think that there are three or four sections in each tower.)

An assembled prop on the ground in front of the one completed tower.

Christmas Day!

Christmas morning at our house.

All the kids pile downstairs and open up the stockings.

Then, we all sit back and listen while Dad reads to us the second chapter of Luke and we contemplate on the first Christmas and why we celebrate this day.

After that, we take turns, one by one, opening up the gifts that we bought for each other. Below are a few pictures of opening the gifts on Christmas morning!


The next few pictures demonstrate very clearly how awake and fresh everybody feels in the morning!

A.J. trying his best to live up to the name on the package!

Lizzy, giving the typical "put-that-camera-away, this-is-not-the-time-for-it!" look.

Even Nathan put in his two cents worth about getting up early for Christmas!

Anna was excited about getting this very "un-guyish" gift...

Elizabeth went French style with a gift she got from Rick! (Or European anyway)


A.J. and I were present opening buddies!

Eli, pulling out a new addition to his car collection...

Mindy was ready to use her new cookie cutters right then!

Emily, who is constantly reading one or another book on her bed, received a plush silk comforter!

And what could be more perfect for our little inventor/builder than a set of Magnetix!


Nathan loved his new teething toy...





And Rick looks great in this new tux that he got for his college life.

Connor unfortunately, was sick all morning and threw-up several times, but still enjoyed opening up his gifts.

Sisters! Awwww! Beautiful inside and out!

And my personal favorite snapshot of the day! :o)

Overall, the day was enjoyed together as a family, relaxing and appreciating the fact of how blessed we truly are!

Ice Skating

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A few of the older kids went ice skating this past weekend, along with some friends from church. It was enjoyed by all, and we're looking forward to ice skating again on New Years Eve.

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Christmas Caroling

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Cookies...

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...more cookies...
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...and 50 dozen or so cookies later, we were ready to hit the trail.

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Here we are with some sweet neighbors of ours, the Hartmans.

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Emmy and Mindy

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Young's Visit

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One of the most delightful things about the Christmas season is time spent with family. Mother's sister and her family came and spent some time with us, on their way to Iowa.

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Psalm 23:1

Connor has memorized his first Bible verse! It's so great to hear a child that can barely talk, quoting scripture. Thought we would share the joy of it with you all.

Nate update

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Our little baby is growing up! He is 5 1/2 months already. He doesn't generally "complain" much, unless hungry or tired. Often, he is content to be on a blanket, simply watching the activity around him.

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We are enjoying every stage, the latest development being the attempt to pull himself forward, only to find himself scooting further from the toy he is trying to reach. :-)

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Random Photo

Princeton's Tree

Elizabeth, Emily and I went to Dad's office last Friday, to help decorate their large, company Christmas tree. The tree is situated in the midst of an atrium. It makes a pretty picture at night, when the other lights in the office are out. Anyway, we girls had a great time together, along with the Arnold girls!