PET Project on National News

Since my father has retired, he's been involved with some wonderful mission work.  He "works" two days a week in Leighton helping other retired guys construct hand-cranked transportation for disabled adults and children in Third-world countries.  They've been featured on KCCI, local newspapers (most recently the Farm Bureau Paper in the last week or two) and now they've gone national.

 CBS Evening News had a nice 2 1/2 minute feature on them.  Click on the local PET link to be taken to the news clip.    Or go directly to CBS News.  You'll see my father in a black cap, long-sleeve shirt at about 1:10/1:11 into the video.  And only for a second or two, so don't blink!  I have to admit, I missed the news the night it was on (we were busy with family matters) but it is much better to watch it online and then watch it again.

What a great purpose to keep those men busy!

Van Wyk 2012 Christmas

We spent Saturday, the 22nd, with my family.  We arrived just after lunch and took the obligatory family photo.  We've been doing this for years and it is a nice family keepsake.  

Seth & I, Jim & Amber in the back.

Emmet (age 7), Ephraim (9), Grandpa & Eliza (5), Eden (5) & Grandma, Garret (8) & Alyssa (6)

Then it was present time!

Eliza getting a girl LEGO set.

And one for Eden.

LEGOs and a book for Ephraim!

Oh, and LEGOS for Emmet.  I'm sensing a common likeness for LEGOs.

The three girls opening up a gift that Grandma crocheted for their dolls.  They got two shawls and two hats!

I made a doll apron and sundress/swimsuit coverup for Alyssa's doll.

Puzzles from Aunt Amber for the girls.

More LEGOs for  Emmet.

We got Garret an Erector Set.  Seth took a trip down memory lane while helping him work on that later in the afternoon.

Surprise!  More LEGOs.

A Fancy Nancy Game for Eden.

I made a cheerleader outfit for Alyssa's doll.

Everyone was eager to get out their LEGOs and build.

The weather was perfect for some sledding.  And because their farm got several inches of the white stuff, we packed the sleds and snowpants and headed for the embankment!

Look out!  Here comes Emmet!

It didn't take Ephraim long to recall his sledding skills!

Eden had a great time!

Eliza was like a bullet going down.  She was the most aerodynamic of all.

Grandpa had a line of children waiting for a push down the bank.  

In case you can't tell the stocking-hatted kids apart, it's Eliza, Alyssa, Garret, Eden, Ephraim and Emmet.  They're on a drift that is as high fas the fence posts.

Back inside, the girls helped get the supper ready.

We had a delicious supper of soups and salads and bread.  And I think we had at least three desserts to choose from.  

After supper, it was stocking time.

Emmet's sour look is because he thinks his stocking smells like medicine.  Ha!  It was just some candy!

Eden waiting to open her stocking and a book that was too big to fit.

Eliza with her book and stocking.

The children got books, dot-to-dots, candy and a few other things.

It was a blessed day with family.  

We all got along well and enjoyed ourselves.  

Everyone was healthy.

Lots of memories.  

Many nice presents.  

A table full of yummy food.

So much to be thankful for.  

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve as a nice day for us.  We were home for most of it.  The children were super excited to open presents after lunch.  We had a yummy lunch of pork chops and potatoes on the grill!
The girls insisted on wearing their princess dresses.  I wanted to get a nice picture of each of them by the tree.

The presents under the tree.  Just the bags in the front are the ones for the kids.  I was able to get a decent price on the bags and had their names embroidered on them.  I put them under the tree while the kids were quarantined to their room.  

A picture before opening their bags. 

The boys got books called The Brick Bible.  It's a book that illustrates Bible stories with LEGOs.  

The girls got jewelry boxes.  

All the children got 2 Magic School Bus DVDs.  They were on an amazing sale awhile back!

While the children were opening their presents, they didn't realize what was also under the tree, only outside!

A look at their gifts.  

Then we made them stand in front of the shades with their eyes closed.  We counted to three and opened the shades.  That's when they saw the youth 4-wheeler!

Looking at it through the window wasn't good enough.  We bundled up (it was 20 degrees out) and checked out the new present.

Daddy giving a lesson on how it starts and runs, etc.

Ephraim getting the hang of it.

Emmet enjoying his turn.

That's Eliza having a blast!

Eden also got a turn and did pretty well.

Yes, it's a big gift for the children but we didn't get them much else.  They'll get lots of use from this in the years to come.  They'll be able to help on the farm with fencing and cattle round-ups, etc.  Seth was able to get a pretty good deal on it and it is used.  The children were thrilled with it, even if the temperatures are not very conducive to riding it for long periods of time.

A nice picture of Ephraim by the tree before Christmas Eve service.

Emmet by the tree before church.

And that sums up our Christmas Eve day and evening.  A nice day at home opening presents and then a delightful candlelight service at church in the evening.  

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was a fun one for us.

It started with the tradition of stockings after everyone was awake.  

Eager to look in their stockings even if they could see a few things sticking out.
 (I'm hoping to make new stockings for next year.)

Their stocking gifts were pretty typical of years past.  They include dot-to-dots, books a DVD, an Audio CD, a toy animal, socks, lip gloss, etc.  

After stockings and some family play time, it was time to go to Grandpa Harold & Grandma Twyla's house for lunch.  Also at this gathering would be Grandpa Arlin & Grandma Donna!  In the past, we've had both sets of parents over to our house but this year my mom wanted to host the party.  They also had another couple over for lunch.  

Once we had consumed too many calories, it was time for Spit.  We had 8 players going and that table was alive with hands and cards flying!

Eventually Uncle Paul won.  

Emmet was a bit discouraged because he "didn't go Spit" before Uncle Paul won.  So we played a round where he won!  I'm not sure he caught on that all of us adults were in on the conspiracy or not.

It was time to take a break from Spit and play Ephraim's new World Bingo game.  That was a good time, too!

It was enjoyable to have both sets of parents together to play cards.  We so enjoy it but just don't have the opportunity that often.  Eventually we headed home and had a gourmet supper of cold cereal with milk (hey, if you ate all that we ate, you'd have a bowl of cereal, too). We put in a movie, popped some popcorn and bid farewell to Christmas 2012.