The Broeker Family: 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with us going to 4:00 Mass, then it was back to our house for our Christmas Eve gathering. It was a smaller gathering this year, but always still a great time.

Travis and I & the kids playing Family Fued & The Price is Right on the IPAD

Spreading our the reindeer food

leaving milk and cookies for Santa before heading to bed

I forgot all about blogging this picture because I didn't take it. Saturday, December 10th, we went to Jason & Natalie's Annual Christmas Party. We had a great time! I always enjoy the parties that come about this time of year! I didn't take any pictures, though. Natalie snapped this picture of me with Kyle, Hannah & Christian. I had asked her to email it to me, and then forgot to blog it!!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Baking Day

December 20, 2011 - Today was baking day at our house. My mom came over, and we spent most of the afternoon baking with the kids. We made chocolate covered pretzels, peppermint bark, pretzel hugs, and sugar cookies. This evening Ben and the kids made a Gingerbread house.

A Visit to Santa Claus

Monday, December 19th - After spending the entire day in bed on Sunday sick (missing Kyle's first basketball game...boo!), I was ready to get out of the house. We headed to Santa Claus for our yearly Christmas visit. We arrived too late to visit Santa's Candy Castle, but we did get to go see Rudolph's Land of Lights, visit the Christmas Store and eat pizza. It's always a fun evening! This year Hannah was surprised to run into one of her best buddies, Keelin, at the Christmas store. Keelin was there with her Grandparents. The girls had so much fun looking around the Christmas Store together.

The girls checking out the villages

First Christmas Gathering

Saturday, December 17th was our first family Christmas gathering. It was the Broeker extended family gathering. It's usually held the Saturday after Christmas, but due to scheduling it had to be held early this year. I always enjoy this gathering so much because there are so many people & sooo many kids! It's always just a day/evening full of yummy food, games and LOTS of laughs! This year was no different. In fact, it was definitely a memorable gathering. We had a parade inside the YMI of Huntingburg! Ben's Dad was the Rockport Christmas Parade Grand Marshall this year. Ben's Uncle thought it would be a great idea to suprise him with a second parade....letting him know he is not only worthy of being the Grand Marshall for the Rockport parade, but also worthy of a second title of Grand Marshall for the Broeker Family Parade! Many family members worked hard making "box floats" for this parade. Ben's Dad was surprised!! It was so much FUN! The only unfortunate thing was Ben didn't get to go. With it being held before Christmas, RETAIL was calling him!

They thought Rich needed a tie, so they made one for him.

and the parade begins...

Ben did a lot of work to get our John Deere "float" ready

Individual Float Pictures Below..

the horses and the pooper scooper

the band

We all played Bingo. The prizes were some of the ceramics that Ben's Grandma made over the years. They were all found in her attic when she moved. There was an entire table to pick from. Hannah and Kyle both got Bingos! Hannah got Minnie Mouse