Days With the Duerksens

On Monday, my mom and I were able to watch Delaney's ballet class.  This is really the only chance in the whole year to actually see what goes on during class.  I can ask all the questions I want of Delaney after class, but it just doesn't compare to actually seeing her in action!  She has been blessed with the gifts of observation and awareness - especially important when learning to dance.  It was a joy to watch her!

This year, both girls got to participate in the cheer clinic.  They spent one afternoon learning a dance and some cheers.  Last Friday, they performed at halftime of the boys' varsity basketball game.  I loved watching them, and they both had such a great time! waiting - this is the only picture we have of Cambry! Thank you cheerleaders and sponsors!

Cale (14), Caiden (11), Mace (11), Cambry (9), Chayce (8), Finn (6), Delaney (5), and Boden (3 1/2)

During our week together, there were a lot of walks between houses .  We enjoyed lots of activities together - both inside and outside! While the younger ones enjoyed the trampoline:  The older kids played football and basketball: And inside, games were played, latch hook rugs were started, football and basketball games were watched, new year's cookies were fried, glazed, and eaten, and memories were made! Cambry's got a good start! Ready for the Liberty Bowl! That's one way to watch K-State football!

After Christmas Day passed, we waited a few more days before celebrating with Chelan's side of the family.  Treg, Candace, and the boys arrived from California on the 29th - very early in the morning (1:30 in the morning, to be exact)!  Getting reacquainted did not take long: We celebrated Christmas over a couple of evenings with lots of food, fun games, gifts, a large plastic- wrap ball, and most importantly, catching up on more than a year's time!  We started off with a shrimp boil:  We even had some verenika the next night: Grandma explains the big ball of plastic wrap.  They each ended up with 3 little gifts after unwrapping all of it! Time for the cousins' gift exchange! a hedgehog pillow from Cale New Legos from Chayce a Kendama from Finn - we had never heard of those, but it's quite fun and it does take a certain amount of skill to master it! Playing with Boden's new tractors from Cambry Grandma and ...