Richard with his parents and siblings. We were at Roy's for our Christmas Get-Together.
Richard with his mom and Dad.
Tyler is just always happy to be on board! When Tyler smiles, he smiles with his eyes, his mouth, his whole little self!
On our way back home from visiting Mother and Dad at Christmas in DeSoto, we drove by this Case tractor and it's very similar to the one Richard's grandpa had. Just had to stop and take a picture of it.
And here I am with Mother and Dad. Merry Christmas!
In the last blog, I accidentally posted the same picture twice. This was the intended last picture. Lisa and I gave our Spark leaders little loaves of bread, and this is the finished product before we gave them out that night!
Richard and I were in DeSoto Saturday and Sunday to have Christmas with Mother and Dad. Sunday isn't Sunday without lunch at McDonalds. 
Christmas evening at our house. The table was all set and stockings waiting for the kids to come. For sure it was, "Over the (Kansas) river and through the snow to Grandmother's house we go!" 
There really was 9 inches of snow. A Christmas we won't forget.
Making gingerbread men with Joshua and Kayla. You know those Wilton pre-packaged kits you can get drastically on sale at Walmart? It's a neat craft, but don't count on them being a "yummy" treat!! 
First of all.....Topeka Bible Church Light Show 2009! The "new addition" for this year was this huge, unbelievable star at the top. It was so huge with so many lights, the electricity had to be re-configured. Somebody has a lot of creative juices.
Now, here's one section of Sparks (ages Kindg-2nd grade)....and....
here's the other section of Sparks. We regularly have around 80 children each night. It's been a great ministry for our church. Lisa and I are co-directing this age group and it's been a "stretching" experience for us!! 
Sorry 'bout that....same pic got posted twice and can't figure out how to edit it out
The newest way to learn to play the piano......I got home very, very late one night and found Ryan picking out a song he wanted to learn using his iphone that not only plays the "tune," but then using another program to "show" him which notes to play.
Ryan's new girlfriend. His new tool box!
Let's just say he's pretty proud of it.
Brian and Carly
The Nelson Crew......right before it was time to leave.
Brian & Carly Varner. Carly's bouquet was just beautiful with very bright flowers.
Outdoor pictures were taken at Ward Meade Park in Topeka. It was a beautiful day for outdoor pictures.
Yeah....Grandma just can't resist. From L to R: Tyler, Max, Henry, Joshua & Kayla.
Ryan and Kayla before the wedding. The two little flowergirls were both complaining about their new shoes, so they just went barefooted down the aisle! Pretty cute!
Joshua and Kayla were up for the evening, so after supper we went to the garden. First on the agenda was to dig potatoes. Joshua thought his little flower spade was what we needed. Kayla's job was to hold the sack.
It was just like an Easter egg hunt, looking for the potatoes.
Next was picking corn. The kids said walking down the rows was like a "rain forest." Too bad they got eaten by chiggers!
This was one night's picking of tomatoes!
With great anticipation, the kids keep looking down the street for the start of the parade (with, of course, their candy bags in hand.) The amount of candy that is thrown from floats is amazing!
What??? An Equinox on the Varco Motors float? It isn't a Dodge/Chry vehicle! Good Job, Brian on the float!
Notice that Lisa has her camera ready; also that Joshua's bag is getting full. The weather was just beautiful....not too hot...a little overcast. Some interesting floats this year: like the motorcycle rider that had her dog and the dog had on sunglasses; or the truck that was so busy waving to the crowd that he ran into the back of the float in front of him.
Grandpa and Kayla
Tyler was just happy to be on board, except when that big army truck blew his horn.