The Most Phenomenal Christmas Ever!

Well, this last week has been one of the most memorable weeks of my entire life, and by far the greatest Christmas ever. We had the Bendixens over for four days (along with three nights), while Bear and Manda stayed five. Here is some of the things we did, but there are too many to remember everything.

Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, we spent most of the day cleaning up the house. That is, until about 5pm or so, when Bear and Manda surprised us by coming a day early and helping us get ready. After doing some work, we had a great time that night.

We played pick-up sticks with light-up glow sticks, while watching It's a Wonderful Life:


We had the present opening that I mentioned here, and had bought my present here:


Some of the presents we recieved were really funny ;)


Donnie gave me a great shirt:


All the Christmas presents, there were way more than you can see here (at least 100, up to 200):


Hanging out in the basement:


Christmas Day
The Bendixens arrived in the early afternoon. After a while, we had our big Christmas dinner, but we didn't have a really long table - like at Thanksgiving - we were split into two. After a while, we cleaned up, read the Christmas Story and sang songs. Then, after the adults made some jokes that we should wait until tomorrow to open them, or at least a few more minutes, we opened presents. ;)

Opening presents:


Pictures are almost always better when people aren't all told to smile, notice the lovely faces ;) (bigger)


The group picture (bigger):


Here is my sisters (love Phyllissa) :D


Friday
On Friday we did lots of things, the main one was all going ice skating (or maybe spinning around in their icy parking lot ;)

The only picture I took while ice skating:


On the ice:


Playing Balderdash later in the afternoon:


Playing Apples to Apples:


Watching Little Men in the early morning hours, that was lots of fun:


Saturday
On Friday night, Andrew and Levi had came up with a plan (I listened to them). So when we came together for devotions the next late morning, Levi said he had a big announcement, that would be so stunning to them all, and we really played it up. ;) He then did a very good job at telling it to them all. The plan was to have some of the Bendixens go home on Saturday, while the rest stay here and help cleanup, so we could Home Church at our house the next day!

The parents said they would think about it. Still, some of us went right to work preparing. While cleaning the basement, Levi and I thought of something - what if while the parents were talking it over, another family would call and say they were having it, and we'd miss our chance. Within a few moments, we heard someone say on the floor above us, "[Mr. Bendixen], Gary C. is on the phone." I right away thought they were having it. However, he was just calling for directions, as the parents had not yet told us they had decided we were having it!

After doing my paper route with Levi, while everyone else had a snowball fight, we had a birthday party for Ele and Susanna, who both had upcoming birthdays. We opened presents and had birthday cake. For the most part of the evening, we cleaned up the house.

Levi giving his plan:


When Susanna opened her present, she was so shy she stuck her head into the box. She kept it there for a minute, while we all laughed ;)


Blowing out the candles:


Susanna with her new piano:


Home Church
We had church at our house for the second time ever! Although the Hey's couldn't come, the C's and the A's could, and we hadn't seen them for several weeks. Church itself was really great, we even had two whole services. ;)

During the second service, my Dad said we were going to be reading in the book of Malachi, and all the men and *young men* would take turns reading five verses at a time. As it came around the room, I tried to figure out which verses I would be reading. But, there was five verses to little in the book, and it ended with me next in line. ;)

For much of the afternoon, I played with several other people a new game called Acquire, a really fun board game Mr. Bendixen received for Christmas. After that, we went out and played volleyball in the cold weather and muddiness. I hadn't played it in over a month, so I didn't do very well, but it was still fun.

Playing Acquire:

After the A's left, we played more games. While several people played Acquire again, Jacob and I played Jenga and Stratego. At around 8pm, everyone left, including the Bendixens. And with that, so ends our amazing week, and the best Christmastime I have ever had.

Christmas Lights Show

On Monday night, the Johnsons took us to a Christmas lights show, where you drive through and around them. Here are some pictures from that.

There were lots of lights everywhere, it was very pretty:



Through the gates:


The view from behind us, when we did our "Fire drill" where everyone had to run out of the van into the cold ;)


The group:


Well, my next post will probably be from when the Bendixens come over, and are spending the night, at our house for Christmas. It should be lots of fun, and I look forward to taking lots of pics. ;)

Merry Christmas!
J.J.

Having Bear & Manda Over v.2!

The continuing story of Having Bear & Manda Over

On Wednesday night, our house furnace stopped working. So, Bear, knowing much about them, decided that he and Manda would come over. From the time that we woke up on Friday, we were all laying around in blankets, as it was really cold, save my Dad, who was trying to fix it.

After several hours, he made it start running again! We called Bear and Manda to see if they were still coming, and they came. So, they arrived here at around 11:00pm. After an hour or two of hanging out, we decided to watch one of the movies they had brought with them. We watched the 1960s movie, Cinderfella. It was a really humorous and entertaining movie, especially watching it in the late night/early morning.

Andrew and Bear had fun trying to get the bedsheets on, and I had fun watching them try it ;)


And for your information, they weren't whispering :D


Bear and I went to a heating and cooling store, to pick up some parts:


The snow was soooo high! (or maybe just a foot, maybe):


Bear, the gentleman, cleaning off my windows:


He pulled right up to the door, so I went over the ledge, as the ground was covered in snow. ;)














Sitting around the table:


I debated on weather or not to add this picture, just think of the pictures that I do smile in ;)


Saying goodbye:


Hope you enjoyed it, J.J.

This Wintery Christmas Time

On the night after Thanksgiving, all my siblings drew names of each other, and you have to buy that person a present for Christmas. Today, I went Christmas shopping for that Person. Andrew and Grace dropped me off at the Jackson Crossing mall, and I started off, in a big mall, alone. ;)

As I was walking store to store thinking of what to get my Person, I walked by a Marines office. A guy inside yelled, through the glass windows, "hey!" I stopped, looked around, and saw two guys and a girl inside the storefront. I had to make a quick decision, so I decided to go inside (I couldn't just run away).

I opened the glass door, and stood there. He said, "Hey, man, what's up?" I replied, "I'm shopping" (oh really?). Then he said, "Ever thought about joining the Marines?" Okay, what am I supposed to say now? I paused, thinking of a way to tell him "no." I said, "No, I don't think it's really my calling." Yeah, right. I'm not called to it. He said, "okay, man, that's fine." And so I left, with no bullet-wounds and without a crew hair-cut. ;)

I went along shopping for a few hours. Shopping, when you actually have money to spend, is horrible. I hate spending any money, but I did. I did so, so my Person can smile at my gift that they already have several better versions of, I did. :D

So, here is my gift (+others), all wrapped up, which I also did (not including my dog and his new friend, who are protecting them from intruding siblings ;)


I cannot wait until Christmas, it should be lots of fun.

God bless,
J.J.

An Unknown Title

Well today, my Dad took his final exam. It was for becoming a tax professional, I think. He took this same test a few weeks back, and failed it by only three questions.

But this time, he passed it! Yay! It is quite exciting - thank the Lord! Here are some other pictures from today.

Phyllissa getting ready to go outside, for gym class:


Andrew at gym class:


Phyllissa and I:


...And finally, the Christmas Tree, of which I didn't have last post:

O Christmas Tree

Well, after several weeks of wanting to put it up, we put up our Christmas Tree! We usually do it around December 1st. But this year my Mother wasn't able to do it, and she wanted us to clean all the carpets in the house first. So we did that over the weekend.

Andrew and I:


Andrew put up the tree, for the most part. I don't know everything, but somehow he used up too much of the branches at the bottom, so there was like a two-feet gap in the middle without any branches. ;)


Here is my Mom and I fixing it up:


We put hearts all over it ;)


The full Christmas tree (I don't have one of it complete, maybe later):


My dearest Phyllissa:

A Picture Slideshow... All of Me ;)

I truly debated weather or not to add this, but have decided to do so. ;)

So, I was doodling around, and found Picasa, a photo editor that is really, really useful. I then learned how to create slideshows of my pictures. So, here is what I have made, entirely uncensored and uncut. ;)

In this slideshow, it is all pictures of me. Yes, all of them. ;) Just know that I hate most of these pictures, and it took much personal persuasion to decide to post them on my notorious blogger. Tell me what you think (as I personally think they're horrid). However, it was a lot of fun making. :)



God bless, J.J.

Pictures That Were Found

So, I was going through our other computer (which I rarely use). I found lots of pictures that I hadn't ever scene before. I also found a great way to edit them with Picasa, so this is some photos I found and decided to post.

My oldest siblings ;)


In a playplace with the Bendixens, after our Boyne ski trip:



Singing at a care home:


On Phyllissa's birthday:



Go-carting through our yard, a really fun thing:


Fixing the roof:


Reading to the girls:



When I went putt-putting with Bear and Manda:



At a festival in Rochester:


Some photo editing (this used to be almost pitch black):


Well, I'd love to post more, but I have to go to bed. ;)

God bless, J.J.