St. Nick Party at church

Each year our church has a St. Nicholas Party.  (Knights of Columbus)

There were crafts and snacks and dinner (which we skipped to eat fajitas at home.)

Long ago there were four - now there is but one participant.

However - you can tell she enjoyed it!  The joy is spread all over her face!

Freedom (for me)

So the day finally came when the pros outweighed the cons for buying a second car. (Ken's car is a company car....so we don't own that and only employee and spouse can drive.)

Ken searched and searched and finally found CHARLIE (aka Mitt).  Matthew named him Charlie (for no real reason), but I think Mitt is much more clever because it is a Mitsubishi Outlander.

Here the kids are showing their enthusiasm.  (Except for Carolyn, because she was cold.)

The best news of the day is that after we bought this vehicle, my dad wrote us a huge check that covered the majority of it.  I told him it wasn't necessary, but he said they wanted to do it and that they had given other kids cars, instead of trading them in.   So I get a bunch of freedom (not having to drive Matthew here there and everywhere) and I am  not even feeling it much in the wallet!

I don't think it will make it until Anna gets through high school - but hopefully most of the rest of the years!  It will only be driven a few miles at a time.  (The high school is under 2 miles and HyVee is under 2 and church is under 2....all our hotspots!)

THANKS GRANDPA AND GRANDMA!