Valentines Day

Daddy was going to be out of town fro Valentine Day so we decided to have our fancy dinner on Friday Night.

Everyone dressed up despite hating every second of it. Jakob made pork loin, veggies and potatoes. So dang yummy!

Lots of pictures and snuggles afterwards. 

Saturday Night Jakob and I went on a date. It was so wonderful getting out just us two again. It's been awhile since we've done anything. I got us the Adventure Challenge book for Christmas full of date night ideas. This date we had to go to three different places for appetizers, entree and dessert. It was Valentines weekend and everything was pretty booked, so we cheated a bit. We got out appetizer from Hy-Vee.

Our dinner from Burg and Barrel and dessert from Unforked. It was so much fun. We even used accents at Unforked. 

Valentines Sunday.

It was a wonderful Valentines Weekend.

Valentines Week

 

This year I really wanted to try and minimize Valentines week this year. I tend to try and make things bigger and bigger and my kids expectations were getting a bit out of control. I also knew that I didn't want the kids to have a ton of candy. So this year I made up the que cards and went small and simple for the kids and honestly, it was perfect.

Then every day we had an activity and seriously these were even better than the treats. We made heart shaped cocoa bombs. 

Super simple stained glass paper towel art.

Heart shaped pink pancakes.

Our Home Depot Craft.

We made bath bombs. They were so fun!

We made a fun fort.

Jakob's just keep getting naughtier and naughtier, so I'll share the PG versions. He got a skip rope to help with our fitness goals. 

He also got a Ocean Panther shirt. He loves Otters and this was a home run for him!

We had our first annual formal dinner. Jakob made the bourbon glazed pork chops and holy Moses they were incredible!! 

Everyone got all dressed up and we lit some candles. 

Jakob truly out did himself!

I decided to make a cake and it was not turning out as expected. Just as I was on the brink of tears Sprout came up to me and asked if he could help. We had a fantastic time sitting together giggling while he made his cake and while it is absolutely not perfect, this cake means a lot to me!

 

Happy Valentines Day! These guys are my whole world.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was nice and slow. Kids were up and they got to go through their stocking while we waited for everyone to get up. Roo was our last one up and then the fun began.

Gift giving is my giving love language  it brings me so much joy to see people light up when I give them something.

The Christmas Spread 

Baby naps are the best.

E was nice enough to let everyone help her with her geode. It was quite the team effort.

Papa and Gram cam eover and it was so nice to have them visit. We sat, talked and ate and it was blissful. They got us all matching Jam Jams and I couldn't have been happier! It was a wonderful Christmas and I can't believe it's all over.

Christmas Sunday

 

Christmas Sunday was a bit different this year as it was online and I sang a prerecorded solo. I was stressed to say the least having never sung a solo in sacrament before. It was a good Sabbath with my favorite people. (Who really didn't understand why I was asking them to dress up if there was no church.)

I love love love love these babes. I also love that Elephant made it into these pictures and secretly wish that he would make it into all of our pictures.

Santa in a Fish Tank - Santa Photos

Oh my goodness. 2020, you do not disappoint. Santa in a fish tank, behind glass it's so sad but I really couldn't think of a better Santa photo to represent the year.

Behind the scenes of what it takes to get good pictures haha. Our friends Porter and Carlie Ellett.

It's a good one. It makes me laugh every time I look at it. This is a favorite tradition of mine. Here's a throw back from the past years. 

2019

Roo's First Christmas

 

2018

 

 2017

 

 

2017- Sprout's First Christmas

2016

 2015

 2014

2013- Duke's First Christmas

E's First Christmas

 2011

 

I know I was in DuPont for Christmas in 2008 & I arrived on Christmas Eve so Jakob and I don't have a picture together, but I don't remember if we took one as van den Berge's that year. So here's out first married Christmas in 2009.

2007

 2005

 2004

 2003

2002

2001 

 

2000

1999 

 

Now this is where the years get blurry.

I Think this is 1998 and the beginning of the themed outfits.

1997?

 1996 (?) or possibly '97 again. I did wear that dress for several years.

 

I'm pretty sure this is Jared's First Christmas in 1993.
 

And 1992. Chris's Second Christmas.

This tradition makes me smile!