Christmas

We had the most wonderful Christmas this year. The kids are good ages for all the Christmas fun. We had both sets of parents over and my brother-in-law and his family. Molly was incredibly thankful for each and every gift, and truly enjoyed being a giver and even delighted in Keely's joy over gifts. They loved everything they got, we had a birthday cake for Jesus, and kept busy all day and every day since with all the new toys and crafty things that have entered our house - between grandparents, uncles, great grandparents, and us they want for nothing. Molly's favorites were - American girl doll from grandma(it helps that she works for them) and Skateboard from Nana, we got her a scooter that hopefully she will enjoy more this summer. Keely seems to like it all - she got a bitty baby from grandma and her own computer from Nana and a power wheels 4wheeler(thanks to grandmas Mattel discount) from us. There was simply too much to list it all, it's a good thing we cleaned house before Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Molly's school program was Friday and on Sunday her Sunday school program. Here are a few pictures and one with their Christmas dresses from Grandma.

4-H

Molly has joined 4-H and for their December meeting the went to an assisted living place in Gleason, sang carols and decorated cookies and had a gift exchange

visiting santa

A couple of weeks ago I took the girls to see Santa or as my friend Karen calls him Satan Clause. Keely wouldn't go near him even when bribed with candy. Molly as always had no problems talking Santa up and asked for a puppy for keely since she would sit with him and for herself a cat(which my parents already said no to), an American girl doll and bendaroos(which I will tell you "santa" had a hard time finding since they are an informercial item, but at last thanks to Walgreens and a helpful manager who had them sent from another store for me - Santa will deliver the desired goods). Now I will disclose here that we have told Molly that Santa is a game we like to play at Christmas and we can all be Santa when we want to give annomonously just to see the joy of the recipient and that "santa" is probably someone she knows verry well. I think last year she really wanted to believe that this santa was the real deal despite me telling her this, but then she left pepsi for "santa" because her santa probably prefers this to milk lol.

a wonderful birthday

Just wanted to share what a wonderful birthday I had from all the birthday wishes to Jason and My friend Kim giving me a tasty birthday dinner of Fondue and Cold stone creamery cake!!!. I love that I was able to share my birthday with our good friends the Skiffs. Molly was so cute, she woke up and made me a birthday card in which she wrote. Hppy brth day, have a grat day. Oh and my hubby came home from work with a dozen roses. Today I received a gift in the mail from my friend Karen who has 8 kids and managed to remember my birthday, unfortunately I did not do the same for her.

I am truly blessed!

a wonderful busy weekend

Wow we had a busy but fun weekend. Friday evening the girls slept over at Nana's and Papa's while J and I went to his work Christmas party. It was really nice this year, held at Jefferson St. Inn in Wausau ( much fancier than the bowling Alley it was at the last 2 time we attended). I had a nice time catching up with some of the wives. Then after a wonderful nights sleep J picked up the girls after shoveling. We then made cookie dough for our cut out cookies and got the girls ready to cut down a tree. It was such an ordeal getting them ready that I was almost ready to say lets buy a fake tree. But once there we had a wonderful time traipsing through the snow to find the elusive perfect tree. Keely after being bundled with long johns and a snow suit slept in the truck and missed it all. Molly was able to take a horse drawn sleigh ride with Daddy and we all drank warm cider. Our tree is now up in our living room, but will have to wait a couple of days to be dressed. Home for lunch and nap time followed by a visit to Santa. Keely didn't want anything to do with him, but Molly asked for a puppy on behalf of little sis. Molly asked Santa for a cat, American girl doll and bendaroos. We will see what Santa actually brings. Then on to Johnson's gifts for craft time. Molly actually won a drawing for a large Christmas bear and made a bracelet, decorated a cookie and made a reindeer candy cane. Home again to rest and make hot chocolate and Meet J for the Parade. He ended up pulling our church float so our family was saved from freezing by riding in the cab of the truck. After the parade and a missing child scare we had friends over for chili waiting for us in the crock pot. Besides our usual Sunday school followed by church I had to set up for the Awana store. When I came home I was greeted by an ambitious husband who had decided to rearrange the whole living room and set up our tree. I then had to fulfill a promise to cut out cookies. Then we ended our weekend with at wonderful Christmas tradition since moving to Merrill, the Radloff's lighting of the lamps Christmas party. It was beautiful as always and we enjoyed some much need adult Christan fellowship. I even joined in signing Christmas carols. So that's the latest on us and if I get a chance I will add some pictures.

Catching up again

well it's been a crazy few weeks for us. First Keely was sick then I found out I had strep throat(Keely probably did too, but was already on an antibiotic). Then On Wednesday I found out my mother was in the hospital with a blocked artery and so we made a spontaneous trip to the Madison area where my parents live. Thanks to many prayers my mother is doing well after having a stint put in, several days in the hospital and an allergic reaction to medication. We have an awesome God and he hears our prayers!
While staying at my mothers we had a nice time of visiting and were able to help out with Thanksgiving. We even had time to take some pictures of Keely in an antique dress my mother has. We took pictures of Molly at 19 mos in this same dress.

Just a little catching up from the last couple of weeks, Keely has been sick and clingy and crank. J took her in last night and found out she has ear infections. I have put up pictures of the kids in their costumes for the party at Molly's school on Halloween.

Firerproof

J and I went to see the movie Fireproof last night. A double date with my brother-in-law and his wife. I loved it! Now when you first start watching it, you can tell it wasn't quite the big budget Hollywood movie you usual go to the theater to see, but once you get into it, you forget and really enjoy the movie. I would love for every married couple in America to see this movie. If you have ever taken your spouse for granted or ever felt like giving up on your marrage this movie is for you. Now some might say it's a chick flick, but ask J and he will tell you he is so glad we saw it together and it gave us a chance to have a great conversation afterwards.
http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/

Awana workers appreciation dinner

On Friday J and I hosted a dinner for all the people who help on Monday nights at Awana and their spouses. Christy from church helped with the planning and did the decorating. It was a great evening of fellowship and time spent praying for our club followed by games. We played Pictionary and catch phrase. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. We are thinking this must become a yearly event. Thanks to Christy Cindy and Jack for serving!

Fall color/crazy hat day

Molly has fall color/crazy hat day at school today and she had been planning for it all week. On Saturday she picked up this gold hat at St. Vincents and then on Tuesday night her and daddy decorated it. Then we came up with her fall colors. She was excited for school as they were also having build a Sunday in the afternoon and she chose to bring cherries as her topping.

Now that's a good daddy

Last night J played pet shop with the girls before bed and it was so cute to watch. Keely called every pet puppy no mater what it was. It's nice to see them all playing as a family and enjoying each other.

Monday evening at church after Awana Molly got sick, so she stayed home from school yesterday. It's amazing how resilient kids are. She seemed perfectly fine the whole day and really missed being at school. I know she likes school even more this year because last year she rejoiced to be sick and stay home.
I am working on our Awana leader appreciation dinner this Friday and have a list of things to do. I am excited because it seems like we will have a good attendance and a really nice evening. Jason and I are so appreciative of all the people who give of their time on Mondays for the Awana kids and this seems like a good way to show them our gratitude.

Catching up after almost a week without posting

Keely got sick Wednesday night, so I skipped moms group to be on the safe side - Keely is doing fine, must have been something she ate??? I stayed home and did some reading and finished the book 90 Minutes in Heaven a really good book about a man who was in a bad car accident and was dead for 90 minutes and his experience and recovery. I borrowed it from the library, I also finished up a book called cheap talk with frugal friends - lots of ideas on how to save money, picked up a few ideas, but nothing too exciting/

Thursday afternoon Papa watched Keely so Molly and I could attend a 4-H meeting. The kids painted gourds and mini pumpkins for an activity. Molly of course managed to get paint all over herself and ruin a perfectly good dress, while having a wonderful time. We may attend another club meeting before deciding to join, but Molly is excited about it.

On Friday my parents came to visit and brought little buckets of goodies for the kids - a pumpkin flash light, books, M&Ms, smarties and for Molly a nail kit. The Kids just love it when they visit. Keely even called dad "Gran pa pa". They babysat for us Friday night while J and I went to Bible study. The next day made liver for us for lunch (a favorite of Molly and I), Jason had to leave the house so he would not have to smell it lol. Saturday night my parent took us out to eat.

On Sunday after church we had a Baptism at a hotel and the kids could swim afterwards. Several people were baptised including Molly's young friend Zane. It was encouraging to see these people being obedient to the Lord and growing in their faith and relationship with Jesus.

pumpkin time

The girls and I carved a pumpkin on Monday for me to use at Awana for an object lesson with the kids. Molly even told me I was "the best mom in the world" because I let her carve one of the eyes out with a pumpkin cutter (then I finished the cutting as I got scared). I used the book The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs / Thomas Nelson and the help of this site http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/christianobjectlesson-pumpkin.html. I think the kids really enjoyed the lesson and then I gave out candy pumpkins (like candy corn), I just wanted an excuse to by them YUM.

It was also Pajama night at Awana which for some reason is one of the kids favorite theme nights.

childhood friends

Isn't it great to see these kids growing up together! This picture is from church on Sunday between Sunday school and Church. I was looking around for my girls and found them all in the preschool room playing school. No body told them to do this, they just all play so well together and love to see each other. I hope they all continue to be friends as they grow up and love coming together as a Church body.

scrapbooking!

Finally after about 10 months I was able to scrapbook. Linda, a friend from church and myself have started a scrapbooking fellowship that will meet every few months. We held our first one on Saturday and had 7 ladies total and a couple of visiting men lol. I was able to get 7 pages done. Nothing fancy, but just to get back into doing it. We are meeting at Ott's Garage (the youth center) in Merrill. I was able to share a short devotion with the ladies, you can find it here if you are interested http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/scrapbookdev.html

The pages are for Keely's scrapbook.

Yesterday was Thursday and I just love Thursdays! I have MOMS (mothers of many stages). We are a group of women all different ages who come together for fellowship and bible study once a week while the pre school age kids play and do a craft. We are currently doing a study called Captivating. It's all about the hurts we have as women and who we are as women made in the image of Christ. The thing that got me thinking yesterday was the lies we tell ourselves as women - I'm not this or that, I'm too this or that and how that is not of God - we need to stop believing these lies and start believe what God thinks about us, after all we are made in His image and he would not make something that was not good and wonderful!

Little Red School House

Molly had a field trip yesterday to the Little Red School House in Wausau. The kids all dressed up and spent the day learning the way kids learned in 1905. Molly said she got to wear the dunce hat and practice cursive writing and for recess they learned a game "a tisket a tasket" which she sang all evening long.

Last night we had Awana and it is my turn this month to give the Sparky council time message. I did an object lesson using a penny, sharing with the kids how even a penny can be a reminder of where our trust is. My message went a little short so I let the kids take turns sharing their memory verses for the night. It is fun to see how much these kids are learning and how excited they get to share with everyone. Molly shared her verse Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with what you have, because God has said never will I leave you never will I forsake you." I will now add that one to my list of teaching verses - the next time Molly is having a hard time being content.

Camping

Our last camping trip of the year. We camped at council grounds the state park in Merrill with the Wyland Family and the Skiff family. The weather was a little on the cool side, but we kept the campfire going! The kids built a fort in the woods and pretended they were lost.

Abby's baby shower

Friday evening Molly and I attended a baby shower for a woman at our church who recently had her first baby - baby Madeline. I almost didn't bring Molly with, but a friend said the kids were not only invited but would have a great time. Boy am I glad I brought her! The theme was Peter Rabbit and Abby's family went all out! There was a real rabbit in a garden in the center of the room and a tool shed, fantastic food and decorations.

Molly's field trip

On Friday Molly had a class field trip to the apple orchard and we tagged along as a family.

Last Friday before the weather turned so cool we went to Rib Mountain state park and climbed the tower to see the view, the colors weren't peak yet but it was a nice warm day and the kids loved it.