Christmas 2013

This year the family spent Christmas at our home in Des Moines.  My parents, Lynn and Steve, flew in from Las Vegas to help us celebrate.  We had a wonderful time, it was hard to narrow down all of our photos to fit them into this slideshow.  Have a blessed year!

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The Addition is complete...almost!

Our addition has been almost complete for a few weeks now but with the hustle bustle of the holiday season, it has been hard to find time to post the updated pictures.  Take a look!  The only item left to complete is the barn door slider to close the new pantry we had built in our kitchen.  More pictures to come when that gets installed.

In the meantime, here are several photos to showcase the additional square footage built onto our home!

Links from previous blogs to see the progression:
The Addition 10/5/2013
The Addition -- new pictures  10/27/2013

The exterior, it's cold out now!

The family room with a view into the new hallway.  So seamless!

Another view of the new hallway leading into the addition of the main level
master bedroom, bathroom, and covered deck.

The 12 foot sliding glass door leading onto the covered deck.

One of two ways to enter into the bathroom (this view is from the hallway).

Inside the bathroom

Shower with travertine tiles, an entrance to the bedroom is to the left.

The bedroom (Drake's), a walk-in closet with a window is in the 
background which is great for all the kids' toys!

The covered deck at nighttime.  We have a flat-screen TV mounted above 
the fireplace when the temperature is above -4... sadly when I took this 
picture it was -10, so we had to take down the TV for a few days.

The covered deck from the other side, showing the walnut slab bar top.

The covered deck during the daytime.  The TV is back up!

Kirsten's Christmas Concert

Kirsten had her first Christmas concert at her school, Des Moines Christian.  Daddy got her a beautiful orchid for her great performance!  We are so proud of our little 4 year old.

Alexa dressed up for the night, too!

Family photo with Santa

It is an annual tradition for us to visit Santa while we are in Minocqua, WI for Thanksgiving.  Drake has no problem going right up to Santa and telling him exactly what he wants to Christmas.  Kirsten and Alexa are a bit more hesitant... Kirsten is getting better and more brave, but still is a bit uneasy.  :)

Gobble, Gobble

The Guthries headed up North to Gordon's parents house for Thanksgiving.  However, this year was extra special because the Ball family was there, too!  The last time we saw all of them was before Alexa was born in May 2011 at Kirsten's baby dedication.  It was great to see Megan, Shawn, Taylor and Hailey, plus the cousins had loved seeing each other.  We have so much to be thankful for, amen!

Hailey (5), Kirsten (4), Taylor (7), Drake (8), Alexa (2)
The Cousins

Drake, Hailey, and Taylor having a push up contest.
The judges were Kirsten and Alexa.  Hailey was our winner!

Nana reading her grandchildren a story.  They all loved it!