The Bauer Christmas

We hosted the Bauer Christmas this year. It was fun getting ready for this gathering: decorating the house for Christmas, organizing, and cooking. Ahhh..retirement allows time for this. The Bauer clan gathers on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to celebrate Christmas because some family members leave in December for Florida and this timing allows us to get together. 39 members were present! Ages 3 months to 84 years old!
We were missing Brent, April, Cade and Kasen as they were in Kansas and Luke, Annie, Rye and Oren from Colorado as Oren is just 5 weeks old now.

Scott, Melissa, Landon and Owen arrived first that morning and we had time to play.

After dinner we each opened our present from G & G Bauer. We love this process as they send everyone their money a month early. We each are to purchase what we want with the money, wrap it and bring it to the Christmas party.

Landon got legos....

And Owen got a train station.

We headed to the gym for some fun. A big kick ball game was played.

The Beranek crew headed home after the gym play. The rest of went back to the house for left-overs and a "turkey cookie" project.

When things quieted down Landon spent time working on his legos and Owen played ball with Papa.

Thanks, Mom and Dad! What a wonderful family you've created: 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren!

Fun in Indianapolis

We took off Friday morning (yeah for retirement!) and traveled to Indy to see some of our favorite people: Brent, April Cade (3 1/2) and Kasen (17 months). As Cade greeted me with a big hug he said "Nana, I've missed you." He melts my heart. Kasen is now walking and it was a hoot to watch him toddle around so expertly.

Off to the zoo on Saturday morning!

Cade with his "basketball" face painting.

Steaks on the grill for Saturday evening.

Homemade pumpkin waffles for Sunday brunch - Thanks to Cade and April.

Time for play!

Go Colts!

More fun together.

Yeah again for retirement as we didn't start home until Monday morning. What a FUN weekend.