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.