Last Saturday was Carrie's 19th birthday.  We had a special family outing to celebrate this event.  We met her at a motel in Columbus, and started with a brunch at Bob Evan's.  We then went to the Columbus Zoo.  Here are the kids entering the zoo.

We saw lots of animals, including the one-month-old baby elephant.

Here are Carrie and Nate...OOPS!...I mean some monkeys swinging!  ;)

After spending the day at the zoo, we went to Texas Roadhouse, and made sure Carrie experienced a "YEHAW!" from the workers there!  I think Nate was more embarrassed than her! 

After a tasty meal there, we went back to the motel and spent some time at the pool/hot tub.  After a good night's rest, we went to church at World Harvest Church so the kids could experience Rod Parsley's preaching.  We then went to KFC for lunch.  Carrie headed back to Rosedale, and we came on home.  It was a wonderful weekend!  I love spending time with the family!

Here is a picture of Nate at the Youth Group Christmas Banquet.   

Sam and Carrie were one of the "couples" at the Youth Group Christmas Banquet.

After our church's Christmas Eve Service, we exchanged our gifts. 

On the 28th, we had my family's Christmas gathering at Vincent Mennonite Church in Spring City, PA.  We left our home at 7:15 AM, got there around noon, enjoyed time with family until about 4:30, and got home about 9 PM.  There were several young couples there.....

Tricia and Andy

Ben and Nikki

Dan and Bethany

Jess and Jeremy (Jess is holding Alison)

Laura and Derek

Deb with her grandson James

The gift exhange

 Lydia and her niece Alison

Mom

Mom and the grandchildren and great grandchildren (some of the grandchildren's friends are also on the picture)

Mom and her four children

Mom, her four children and their spouses

Russ

Most of Barry's family got together on Christmas day, but not everyone was able to be there.  We'll get together some evening this week probably.  I'll try to remember my camera!

 Carrie was home from RBC this past weekend.  We were so happy to have her with us!  She and Sam started dating this weekend.  Don't they look happy!!

Then on Sunday night we had a surprise 50th birthday party for my brother-in-law Kenny.  He made us scramble for awhile.  He had no idea about the party, but he decided not to come to our "small group meeting" because of the icy weather.  So we had a houseful of people here to celebrate his birthday, but no birthday boy!  We tried different ways to get him here, but he wouldn't budge.  Finally, Barry just went to his house and told him he must come with him.  I think he figured it out somewhere between his house and our house.  We all ended up having a good time! 

Below:  Kenny opening his gifts.

Below:  Lori & Daymond, Walter, Markel, Dave

Below:  Eva Jean, Kenny, Lynette (standing), Kara, Clinton, Arlin

Below:  Lila & Arlin

Below:  Edie & Tim

 Below:  Lynette, Nate, Katie, Lydia, Lisa, Kara, Clinton

 Below:  Walter, Markel, Dave, Es, Miriam, Eva Jean

There were about 40 people here in all.  Lots of food and laughter!