Breakfast of Champions

Joseph had this yummy breakfst of chocolate pudding yesterday morning. (Actually, Olivia had pudding on the way home from the New Year's Eve party and left it out where Joseph could get at it. He had most of it downed before I realized that he had gotten into it!) What a mess he was - but a very cute mess!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the New Year with our friends, the Wade's, at their home. After some fierce ping-pong matches,(who knew ping-pong could be so competetive?) the guys took the kids for rides behind the snowmobile and sledding down the hill. It was a fun night even though I think I ate too much junk food! (Actually, we technically didn't ring in the New Year while awake. We were home and in bed by 10:00! Can anyone with young children actually stay up past midnight?!)

Our handsome, bundled, true Northern-bred eskimos, ur, men!

"Ah, and this one's just right!" Joseph found this rocking chair to be just his size!

Christmas '08

Christmas was celebrated at my parent's home with my sister and her family. We had a blast spending time with our family! (Olivia, Joseph, John, and Jacob didn't mind opening gifts either.)

Olivia and her cousins, Jacob, and John. John got that adorable spider hat and robe for Christmas. Those, along with his new Star Wars sword made him look like a true Jedi.


Joseph admires one of Olivia's presents.

We've Joined the Masses...

We are now officially parents who have joined the "Parents of Videotaping Kids' Events Club". Last night was our first (of many, I'm sure) Christmas program that we videotaped. Olivia's preschool had been faithfully practicing their play for weeks. Olivia was one of the angels and knew her line down pat, "Praising God for all to hear", and actually said it during the program. (It could have been a little louder and a little less rushed, but what the hay, she's only four!) It was fun to get together too with the other parents, some of which I work with. The kids and staff did a great job and I appreciated that it was the real Christmas story, glorifying Jesus' birth!

Olivia and Haylee F.
Olivia is the angel right next to the brown sheppard boy.

Naps? Who naps?

Olivia's and my conversation on the way to preschool/work today....

Olivia: "Mom, do you nap at school too?"

Jean: "No. I sure wish I did though...."

Olivia: "Do the big kids nap?"

Jean: "No, honey, just the Kindergarteners". (All the while I'm thinking to myself, I think everyone at school should take a nap, kids AND adults! And, Rich totally agreed with me when I told him about our conversation.)

Eavesdropping

I overheard this conversation between Rich and Olivia tonight...

Olivia: "I love you, Daddy."
Rich: "I love you too."
Olivia: "Well, I love you this much." (She opens her arms as wide as they can reach.)
Rich: "I love you that much....and more!"

So very precious. I'm glad I was eavesdropping!

Our Evening

After baths tonight Olivia watched a movie on our bed....

Rich cleaned pheasants......(Rich is at my parents for the weekend hunting again. This picture was taken last weekend but is an accurate description of his day again except that he got one more bird today. The limit increased by one on December 1st.)

Joey admired the Christmas tree......
and I chased after Joey as I tried to keep him away from the Christmas tree. (A losing battle, that's for sure!)

The Big Buck X 2

It was a successful hunt for the guys this weekend. Rich got lucky and shot an 11 point buck with his bow and my Dad shot a 10 point buck with a rifle! They both got their deer about the same time Saturday a.m. So ends another hunting season, although a short one for my Dad. I'm just thrilled that Rich has his deer and therefore we will see more of him. He put in a lot of time after this big one so I'm glad the buck finally cooperated and let himself get shot!

Rich and his 11 point buck

My Dad and his 10 point buck

Not to be outdone, Olivia sported the latest deer hunting fashion in this gorgeous orange vest and cap. (We don't dare let her play outside this time of the year without wearing orange! ) She was so excited to see the snow yesterday morning and even more excited to see those two big bucks that the guys brought home. She has been saying lately that she wants to go hunting with her Daddy. If I have anything to say about that, she will be waiting a few more years before joining Rich in the deer stand.

The Cutest Trick-or-Treaters

If I had entered my kids in a Halloween costume contest, I'm pretty sure they would have won! (Of course, I am not biased at all!) They were so cute dressed up for Halloween! Joseph was a puppy and Olivia was a ladybug. We don't make a huge deal out of Halloween but do dress the kids up and go to the neighbors, who would be so disappointed if we didn't come! And they wouldn't have been the only ones disappointed. Olivia was thoroughly disappointed that we "only went to four houses".

The first words out of Olivia's mouth Friday morning were, "It's Halloween!" Yesterday's first words were, "Halloween's over!" She thinks we should be able to go trick-or-treating every night, not just once per year. I wonder what the neighbors would think of that....

Joseph Turns One Year Old!

Happy Birthday to our precious son, Joseph! I can hardly believe that a year has past since he was born! We celebrated the big event this afternoon with friends. These toys were on the cake....

Joseph only had one boy at his party. The rest were girls. Here the girls are opening his presents for him.

After having Olivia I vowed that if I ever had another baby, I would truly cherish every moment of babyhood as I knew how fast it went with her. Even knowing this, this year flew by, BUT, I feel I did cherish every moment. (Okay, maybe not every moment. Like the third feeding in the night and him crying and not being able to soothe him. Or the endless amounts of messes he creates and things he breaks. Did I mention that he loves to unplug everything?) But I love him anyway. I guess that is what being a Mom is all about and I wouldn't trade of any of it. (Okay, maybe I would trade those nighttime feedings......)

My Two Pumpkins

I had a couple of extra days off for MEA so took the kids to a pumpkin patch on Thursday afternoon. We enjoyed a tractor ride through the woods and playing on their playground. A special treat was holding a baby bunny. It was so soft! Joseph thought so too and tried to pully the bunnies leg off. Thankfully I was right there and able to get his iron clad grip off the poor thing.

Old Friends/New Friends

Yes, it has been awhile since I've blogged. What have I been up to you may ask? Well, the usual.....kids, family, work, and cleaning house. I was fortunate to have my old college "roomie", Anna, and her family up last weekend though. It was so fun to connect with her again! There are just some people that even though you don't see them for awhile the minute you see one another again, it's like no time has passed at all. That is what it is like with Anna. In fact, I felt like we talked so much Friday night that my voice became hoarse. This picture is of Olivia and Anna's daughter, Greta, who is the same age as Olivia, playing dress-up. They, and Greta's brother Louie, had lots of fun playing together. There is just something satisfying about seeing your child play with an old friend's children and seeing them connect in that way that you had.

The Kids

Olivia is 4 1/2

Joseph is 11 months old

Enjoying Fall

The kids spend a lot of time on our swing set.

Oktoberfest Part II - The Beer Tasting Contest

Those of you that know me very well will be very surprised to learn that I was one of seven finalists in the Oktoberfest Beer Tasting Contest last weekend! Before I brag too much I should tell you that the first round is a written quiz that everyone takes. The quiz consists of beer and Oktoberfest trivia in the form of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank questions. It's really amazing that I was not only a finalist this year but two years ago too! And, this comes from someone who knows absolutely NOTHING about beer! Honestly, I just guessed correctly on a lot of the questions (and had a little bit of help from my sister and brother-in-law!) I was so proud (and astonished) when my name was called and I got to stand amongst the seasoned beer drinkers on the porch before phase II of the contest began. The tasting phase of the contest. There were six different beers that we had to taste and appropriately try to match up.

Me and the other finalists - do Pat and I look deep in thought or what?

I might as well just have guessed without tasting for all I know about beer but I wanted to give it all I had in hopes of winning the coveted t-shirt with my name on the back of it. Also, the winner receives a beer stein (what would I do with that?) and a beer belt! Rich is amazed that I would want to win anything for drinking beer but he shouldn't be surprised because he knows how competetive I can be and how I love to win anything! Needless to say, I didn't make it to the next phase of the contest - I guessed only one beer correctly. And that it what it was, a GUESS! Oh well, there is always next year. I may just do some studying for next year's contest!

Oktoberfest 2008

Every September my sister's in-laws host an Oktoberfest on their farm near my home-town. They bless us with an invitation and it is a blast! They make the best German food and usually have live entertainment too. It is loads of fun and I look forward to it every year. My brother Tom was such a great help to me over the weekend with the kids. It is always nice to have an extra set of hands and Olivia and Joseph just love him. Thanks so much, Tom!

Enjoying my favorite part of Oktoberfest...the meal!

My sister, Beth, and her husband Ryan. Aren't they cute? Ryan's getting ready to run his first marathon.....Good luck Ryan!

Demolition Expert

"Demolition Expert" is what my Dad appropriately calls Joseph. Rich often says we should have named him Dennis and call him, "Dennis the Menace". Why? He is one busy boy! I don't think Olivia was ever quite this busy - or maybe a person just forgets. Anyway, he is into everything - opening drawers and cupboards, pulling things apart, trying to climb up the stairs, putting everything and anything in his mouth....and the list goes on and on. He is just so cute though and we love him anyway!

A Great Hand-Me-Down!

Our friends' kids out-grew this battery operated car (thank you Wade's) and gave it to Olivia and Joseph! What a nice hand-me-down! Rich and I have been wanting to buy one of these for the kids but couldn't justify spending the money. Olivia is having so much fun driving it all around the yard. Actually it is the second car given to us this month. Our friends Monica and Alexis (Thanks you two) gave us Alexis' old Barbie Jeep except Olivia can't drive it yet as it needs a new battery and the Gator battery is not compatible with it. We will have to buy one that works for the Barbie Jeep. Talk about a lucky girl! Two cars! I would have loved to have had something like this as a child....

David Update

Many of my blogging friends have asked for an update on my nephew, David. I am happy to report that he is making huge gains every day! He has to relearn most everything from walking to talking to even swallowing again but he is determined to regain his full self back and is working very hard to get there. On Monday he was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital, Emanual, that specializes in working with children with problems like his. We are happy he is there and getting the physical, occupational, and speech therapy he needs. It is difficult for all of us mid-westerners in the family to be so far away. I wish he was closer so that we could visit. As for now, we are tentatively hoping for a trip out there next summer and have to be thankful for the daily updates we get from my brother and his wife. Thanks again for all that have been praying. God is faithful!

Olivia's First Day of Pre-School

Olivia had her first day of preschool today. She is going up to Blackduck with me two days a week to an all day preschool a few blocks from my school. After some tears last night about going and a few more this morning when she first woke up, she got dressed and put her new Barbie backpack on and was then eager to be off. When dropping Joey off at day-care she sounded just like me as she told Joey that he 'd be OK and that we'd pick him up at the end of the day. At the end of her day, Olivia's teacher said, "Olivia was a tiny bit reserved - just taking in all the new kids and activities - but seemed to enjoy everything we did. She worked hard, followed directions, and played with many of the kids." That was so good to hear and it was nice to see her at the end of the day with a big smile on her face and ready to go back in two more days. Uff dah, but all these "firsts" are such big milestones in her life..... and in our lives!