Merry Christmas from the Ruddick Family!

Josh, Gretchen, Ronan (5), & Griffin (3)

Visiting Santa

December 17th~ When Santa asked what they wanted for Christmas, Ronan said, "A Mace Windu lightsaber and a Darth Maul lightsaber." and Griffin said, "I want a lightsaver, too" (:

 

Girls Night

December 15th~ Our 2nd annual girls night Christmas gathering at Beth's house--now it's tradition. (: It's always so much fun to hang out and laugh with these girls!  Everyone brought something to share, so there was lots of yummy food, drinks, and goodies! 

Becca, Katie, Melissa, Beth, Me, Lindsey, & Kelly

Holiday Brunch

~December 15th~ 
Here's a group picture from the Moms of Grace annual Christmas Brunch

I'm so thankful for all of these lovely ladies!!

Christmas Party

 Josh and I had been wanting to have an open house in our new home for awhile, so we finally set a date and started planning for it.  We decided on December 12th in hopes that it would be early enough in the month so that people wouldn't be too overwhelmed with holiday parties.  We had a great turnout--I think we had almost 60 adults and 27 kids there...not at the same time thankfully! (:  We hired a babysitter to hang out with the kids in the attic/bonus room, which worked out so great!!  It was so much fun having everyone over and getting to visit with so many people: family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

(Jenn, Melissa, Barron, Eric & Jill)

  goofy guys-Aaron & Alan

Jill & I

 the "kid party"

Kelly, me & Becca

 

 me and my new friend, Kerry

Kelly & Lindsey

 

 

Papa, Paul & Sydney, Becca, and Katrina

 

newlyweds McKenzie & Tiffany

Kenton, Carolyn & Jesse

 

 

 

 

Christmas Party Prep & Decorating

To get ready for our upcoming Christmas party Josh tiled the back splash in our kitchen.

Back splash before:

 back splash after:

 

 our Christmas tree

 

 

 We have a tradition of giving the kids a new Christmas book each year when we decorate our tree.  We only put books under the tree and wait to put presents there until Christmas morning.

I painted the niche the same color as our dining room wall.  Now we just need to find artwork to hang there.

 

 

Field Trip

December 11th ~ Ronan's kindergarten class went on a field trip to Wildish Sand & Gravel after their science unit about rocks.  Josh, Griffin, and I got to go, too!  It was during the week that we had below freezing temperatures, so we were glad to hear that we got to stay in the bus during the tour.

The kids got off the bus for a quick group picture, then we rode around the Wildish property with Mr. Wildish as our tour guide. 

 

During the tour we saw lots of deer and even a coyote running around!