Iowa Basketball Game

Our Christmas present from my dad and Sue was tickets to the Iowa vs Michigan State Men's Basketball Game. It was the perfect gift for our family. We went down early and had a nice meal at The Brown Bottle restaurant and then finished off the evening with the game.

The kids loved seeing all the black and gold. They got lots of free Hawkeye memorabilia
 such as posters, magnets, and basketball cards with the players information on them. The latter was a huge hit! The Hawks came away with the "W", making the evening even better...

House Updates

The first floor is framed!

Me and my love

Walker Christmas 2015

Aunt Shelli playing the Heads Up Game.

We enjoyed good food, great company, gifts, and lots of laughs at The Shannon's new house this year.

Family Christmas 2015

In the midst of moving and building a new house, I sometimes found it difficult to prepare for Christmas this year, that is prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. Once things began to settle down, we found time to watch "The Nativity Story" and attend several church services that helped us focus on the ultimate gift, Jesus Christ.

We spent Christmas morning in the usual way with reading the Christmas story, opening stockings and other gifts, and eating our yummy monkey bread. The rest of the morning was spent relaxing as a family and enjoying our new gifts. We are very blessed!

Cook Christmas 2015

As usual we spent a fun-filled Christmas Eve eating, playing games and opening presents. We are enjoying all the Christmas celebrations without the hectic schedule we usually have when we are back in Iowa for the week!

Gaskill Christmas 2015

Cousins

Dad and Sue

Dan, Debi and Libby

Our family at church

We timed our return to Iowa to coincide with the Gaskill Christmas Party and The Churchman's arrival from Colorado. It was great catching up with The Churchman's and visiting with Keri's dad and Sue before they leave for AZ on the 21st. The kids had fun getting reacquainted with their cousins. We look forward to getting to spend more time with our loved ones in 2016.

Moving to Iowa

Trace and Mrs. Banks

Kianna with Madison, Chloe, Kierra and Mrs. Laughlin

Mrs. Laughlin and Kianna

Katie, Amelia, Kaylee and Hannah

Mrs. O'Brien and Kaylee

Chloe, Emerson, and Kianna

Kaylee and Amelia

Daddy and Trace watching Star Wars in 3D

Kaylee, Kianna and Mommy

Darth Vader and Trace

This week has been a very stressful week trying to organize our house into what we want to have with us in temporary living versus what we can live without for four months. At the same time, emotions are running high, as we prepare to say goodbye to our friends, school, classmates, coworkers, jobs, home and town.

Trevor and I had some nice farewell luncheons with friends. The kids received a thoughtful autographed picture from their church group, along with several special gifts from their friends and teachers. Trace's class threw him a "Dress like Trace Cook Day" meaning they all wore Iowa Hawkeye colors. My coworkers sent me away with two very special bracelets, one representing faith and the other new beginnings. Trevor's work prepared a farewell party for him as well. We felt loved!

The most emotional time for me was following the kid's LCS Christmas Program when the Head of School, Tom Durbin, bid our family farewell in front of a 700-person auditorium full of people. Lots of tears were shed that night!

It was weird seeing our house completely empty. The kids handled it all amazingly. Instead of tears, they sprinted around the house like crazy people.

We surprised the kids by taking them to the new "Star Wars" movie in Illinois on our drive to Iowa. They were super excited. The movie was amazing!

Leaving Michigan was difficult, but we know that God has opened the doors for us to be closer to our family. We look towards the future with anticipation, as we discover what God has in store for our family back in Iowa.

Ice Skating

Jenae, Callie, Tory, Gage and Kianna

Kaylee, Katie, Lauren, Olivia, Carlie, and Makayla

Kaylee and Lauren

Kianna, Lexie, Natalie and Trace

Tory and Kianna

Natalie, Noah, Trace and Lexie

Kaylee, Mrs. O'Brien, and Lauren

Trevor's work Christmas party was at the Adrian College Ice Skating Rink this year. Unfortunately, he was in Iowa, but the kids and I had a blast skating with our friends for the afternoon. It was a little bittersweet knowing it was our last weekend in Adrian.

Kaylee's FCA Basketball Tournament

Kaylee joined a 4th/5th grade fundamentals basketball team in early November. They have been practicing twice a week and then it ends in two basketball tournaments. Unfortunately, she won't be around for the 2nd tournament as we will be in Iowa by then. However, she was excited to play in this one. Since the focus of the team was on fundamentals, they didn't spend a lot of time working on team play and it showed. Very few points were scored in the three games played. Kaylee got off two shots. The first one landed on top of the backboard and the second one drew a foul getting her three free throws. Kaylee played good defense. Her dribbling and shot form have improved a lot. In Iowa, she gets to play on Isaac Newton's 5th/6th grade team and will also play Upward Basketball through our church league. It will be fun to see her improvement as the season continues.

The coolest thing about the day was seeing the girls gather up the other team to pray with them at the end of each game, win or lose. It warmed this Mother's heart! That is one of the things I want to take with us from Michigan.