Chasing the Winter Blues Away

If you are looking for a fun afternoon activity in the middle of the winter, here's a fun one -thanks to the creativity of my sister-in-law, Heather:

1) Separate into two teams - Men vs. Women

2) Create a suprise scavenger hunt list of 10-15 items that would be difficult, unique or embarrassing for the members of the opposite sex to find in your local super store.


3) Drive to your local super store and set a time limit

4) Document all found items with a digital camera- all members of team must be present.







5) After all items have been documented on camera, be the first to call the home phone number and leave a voicemail as a team, singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Side notes: Strange glances, laughter, and smiles are to be expected.

Monday Musings

1) It's amusing to me that everyone brings out the flip flops and summer clothes as soon as it hits 45 degrees in Northern Indiana!

2) It takes me all day on Monday to get focused on the work week - by the time I hit my stride, it's time to go home.

3) Sometimes I wish I could get a sneak peek as to what life will be like when I'm 60 - am I making the right decisions now for the future? Would I change anything if the sneak peak wasn't what I was expecting?

4) I'm really out of shape - I played Wii tennis and boxing like a mad-woman on Saturday night with the neighbors and I could hardly raise my arms to get dressed yesterday morning.

5) The bathing suits on the front of the Target ad yesterday confirmed my thoughts that I am getting old - I prefered the "Mom" suit on the 2nd page with more coverage.

6) Next week, my little girl will be 3/4 of the way through Kindergarten - where has the time gone?

7) It makes me smile that my little boy loves to play with his sisters' Barbies - he's going to be a sensitive little jock!

8) It's nice to see my hubby's smile again - it was missing for a few months, but a new job brought it back to life.

Pop Culture!?!

Just now I overheard Avery playing with her Barbies.

One little Kelly doll was talking to another Kelly doll and said this:

"Sometimes I live with my Dad and sometimes I live with my Mom. But I like living with my Dad because he has a DS (as in Nintendo)."

So I stepped in and said:

"Avery, we all live together - why are you pretending that this little girls' Mommy and Daddy live apart?"

She responded:

"Well, Jon and Kate don't live together anymore."

Oh Boy! If you think they are not listening to the TV.....they ARE!

I remember a story that my Mom used to tell me about a time when she was not feeling well and she was lying on the floor. I believe I was four, but I was concerned for her and asked what was wrong. She told me that she was sick. I said, "that's okay Mom, Steve was sick too and he's all better now". Steve was a main character on the soap opera that she watched. I don't think she watched another episode after that comment.

GAME DAY!

We're excited today - it's the Super Bowl and the Colts are playing!

Jon has two autographed footballs that are very special to him and it's ironic that the two he has are signed by the two quarterbacks that are playing in today's game: Peyton Manning & Drew Brees. (For those that don't follow football: Peyton Manning plays for the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees plays for the New Orleans Saints, but he was an outstanding quarterback at Purdue.) We're proud of the former Boilermaker that is playing in the Super Bowl, but our loyalty remains with the COLTS - GO HORSE!

In honor of the game today, Avery and I and a couple of girlfriends had a girls' morning yesterday and had our toes done to show our support (actually stole the blue and white idea from my friend, The Blissfully Happy Housewife). Now we are literally dressed from head to toe in BLUE.

The last time the Colts were in the Super Bowl, they won and we're hopeful that today will be another big win! We're off to watch the game with the neighbors.

School Project

Avery chose to participate in the school's Mindscapes project. It was an optional science, history, and art fair that took place last week.

We decided to do a Family Tree project and it was a lot of fun.

We started several weeks ago collecting pictures of all of the relatives, and enjoyed looking at old pictures along the way.

Avery is becoming quite the little artist - I let her draw the tree and branches and she did a great job. We printed off an apple template from the internet and I helped her cut out several apples and leaves to put on the tree.

I wanted her to learn something by doing this project, so we came up with four questions for each person on our tree.

1) What color are your eyes?

2) What color is your hair?

3) What is your height?

4) What year where you born?

She called everyone on the phone to interview them and captured the answers on the tree. The grandparents helped answer the questions for the great grandparents that aren't with us anymore.

It was fun to see Avery's "wheels" working as she put everything together.

Last Thursday, we had the chance to go to the school for an ice cream social and to see everyone's projects. She was one of only two students from her class that entered a project. We're so proud of our little Kindergartner!

I thought it turned out really nice - now we just need to figure out where this huge project will occupy space in our home.

Christmas in the City

After our Christmas celebration in Oak Park on Saturday, we were able to go downtown on Sunday with Jade & Andrew's family. We wanted to see the lights & decorations.

Millenium Park - it was COLD, with lots of snow!

The kids wanted to go ice-skating, but the line was really long and did I mention it was COLD. So we settled for watching them clear the snow off of the ice while listening to the music.

We walked along the magnificent mile - destination American Girl Place.

Avery was nearly running - she was pretty excited.

We made it - must have been white coat day! The boys hit the adidas store and legoland while we enjoyed all that American Girl had to offer. Avery currently has a bitty baby, so she and I will be coming back after she completes Kindergarten to celebrate with a new older doll. She needs to save her pennies until then, but this has given her an idea of what she would like to pick out during that trip.

There is so much energy in the air when you are walking along the mag mile - even though it was COLD out, the streets were packed. So glad we were able to see the city during this time of year.

Christmas 2009 in Pictures

Christmas 2009 has already come and gone, can you believe it? We are so fortunate and grateful for our families and are thankful that we were able to spend the last five days together with everyone!

We have several traditions that our family participates in annually during the Christmas season:

1) Baking cookies - 4 different types this year. We participated in a cookie exchange with our neighbors and have been enjoying more than our fair share of goodies in the last few days.

2) After our Christmas Eve Service at church (which we would recommend catching on line if you have the time), we came home to get ready for Santa's arrival. Avery wrote him a note and we left cookies and milk near the Christmas tree.

3) On Christmas Eve, we read two stories before bedtime. Twas the Night Before Christmas and also the story of Jesus' birth. Just a reminder that although there is lots of excitement about Santa, we want the kids to remember the true reason we celebrate at Christmas. This year, Avery actually read the story to us - here's a little sample.

4) Stockings are hung by the fireplace with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there - and he didn't disappoint. But I need tips on how to keep those little stocking holders in place for next year - we've had a few bumps and bruises on toes and heads after a little tugging at the stockings.

5) The kids actually get to thank the big guy and his Mrs. in person every year. This couple has been visiting Grandma's house for over 30 years and it's so much fun to look back at the pictures through the years of those that sit on these laps. Santa's lap has gotten smaller as the years go on! Little Miss Avery is asking too many questions for a six year old - the gig may be up sooner than we think.

6) The other tradition at Grandma's house is the re-enactment of the first Christmas. My cousins and I started this in 1978 with the same little outfits (on Mary & Joseph & the wisemen) and the same script. For the first time, Grandma actually participated too, as the angel.

Look at these sweet kids waiting patiently to exchange their gifts while the parents finish cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.

7) Cousins in matching jammies -

Sophia (3), Austin (3), Owen (almost 5), and Avery (6)


We suprised Grammie and Grandpa with treasured photos of their grandkids taken by our friend, Jamie. It has been so difficult to keep this secret over the last two months and as expected, they were more than thrilled with the gift.

Looking at the photobook again the next morning with all the kiddies.

There is so much anticipation leading up to Christmas and then once it's here, it goes by so quickly. Hope everyone had a magical Christmas!

Vacation 2009

Sunshine + Ocean + No Verizon Cell Service = PARADISE!

Jon and I recently traveled to St. Thomas to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We did a lot of nothing, which is just what the Doctor ordered.


We spent the better part of our days lying on these two chairs ocean-side. A few times I felt a little guilty about doing nothing except for lying there soaking up the sunshine, but that feeling very quickly passed.


We saw beautiful sunsets and had nice, quiet dinners together talking about life (past, present, and future).




We stayed at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort on Morningstar Beach. We were across the harbor from downtown Charlotte Amalie and enjoyed watching the cruise ships depart each evening right before sunset. The resort was wonderful and had so much to offer, so we didn't have to leave very often. We enjoyed breakfast on our balcony overlooking the harbor each morning.


We took a ferry into downtown Charlotte Amalie to do a little shopping in the duty-free capital of the world. We ate at fun places like the Giggling Gecko and the Fat Turtle.




We missed the kiddos, but enjoyed some much needed Jon and Jill time.


These iguanas were everywhere and they were HUGE! We found out that they were vegetarians, but still a little creepy when they were crawling around our beach chairs or on the pool deck. They were stubborn as well, didn't want to move on the sidewalk, so we stepped around them.



Just being silly in the airport:

So sad to have to leave our paradise.....

But happy that we knew the kiddos would be on the other end and we were ready and refreshed to be their Mommy and Daddy again!

The Music In Me

I am so motivated by music.

The right song can put me in a great mood, or send me down memory lane in a hurry!

The one song that will put a smile on my face no matter what...

CELEBRATION, by Kool and the Gang.

I just heard it on the radio and immediately started chair dancing here in my office. Even amidst the pile of things I have to get done before the end of the week.

Everything's gonna be all right.....let's celebrate!

What's YOUR song??

I Love Fall!

I love the colors, watching college football, warming up the home with the fall decorations, homemade soups and baking. I think it's my favorite season! The only downside is knowing what comes next (WINTER!!!)



It's such a cliche' phrase, but we've been so busy. I sure wish the work week was only two days long and the weekends were five days. Wouldn't that be nice? It just seems that we have had something planned every weekend for as long as I can remember.

The only thing we had planned last Saturday was to hit a pumpkin patch with the kids. We had offered to take our neighbor along with us since her parents were going to be out of town. When we woke up on Saturday, it was cool and rainy and I just wasn't in the mood to do the pumpkin thing. But when I walked over to tell little Avah that we wouldn't be going...her attitude was contagious. She was smiling from ear to ear and was dressed in her pumpkin-best!

So we changed out of our jammies and jumped in the car and sped off to get some pumpkins. I'm so glad we went. The sun even came out for a few minutes while we were there. A good time had by all!

Sweet #6

Happy 6th Birthday to our sweet little Avery.

She looks so grown up now, no longer our baby girl.

We celebrated with a fun Hawaiian Luau over the weekend and I'm headed out to meet her for lunch at her elementary school.

Mommy and Daddy and brother love you so much!

10 Years of Wedded Bliss!

Jonny~
You are the Love of My Life. Thank you for sharing the last ten years with me on this journey. We've accomplished much and I'm so proud to be your wife.

Can't wait to see what the next ten years may bring.

Love you!

Birthday Milestone!

Yesterday was my Grandma's birthday.

I'm going to refrain from stating her age because she may get upset with me (wink)when she reads this, as she doesn't like all of the attention.

She looks fantastic and you'd never guess anyway.

So what did she do to celebrate this birthday milestone?



She took a ride on a Harley!

In honor of her birthday, I've decided to list my top 10 favorite things about her.

10) Family is, and always has been priority. She and Grandpa were so involved in all of our activities then and now.
9) She volunteers her time to help others.
8) She golfs (and tried to teach me many years ago-wish I would have paid attention).
7) She's competitive and stubborn (both strong family traits that are well-suited for game nights)
6) Hot fudge sundaes, homemade pizza, butter cookies, and buckeyes!
5) All of my memories from spending days & nights at her house growing up (swimming, gardening, cards, playing with Tara's barbies, watching cars go by on CR 8, walking to Krider Gardens, the list goes on and on)
4) Traditions (Easter egg hunts, Pumpkin farm trips, nativity plays at Christmas, Cubs games just to name a few)
3) She loves the Cubs (even after all of these years of waiting and wishing).
2) I love to watch her love on my kids. They call her G.G.
1) I admire her for the way she has lived her life and raised her family with Christ at the center.

Hope you had a fun birthday yesterday Grandma! Glad we could celebrate with you.

Kindergarten

And you're off...

You got on the school bus for the first time this morning and as the bus drove away, I had tears in my eyes.

You were confident and anxious. It helped that 5 others from the street got on at the same time (3 in your class).



In a few minutes you'll be settling down in your class getting ready for the day. I can't help but be nervous that you will get to all the places that you are supposed to go today without any trouble. The teachers assured us yesterday at Orientation that they've never lost a child. The system works, but this is my first experience, so forgive me if I'm a little nervous for the first few days. I'll probably tell you 100 times to follow the teacher and listen with open ears. Just bear with me, I'm your Mama, so you'll hear that a lot from me.

We've taught you about how to be a well behaved young lady, but now you're on your own. I'm so anxious to hear how the first day goes and to watch you develop over this next year.



Enjoy your first whole day! The hours can't go fast enough until I get to pick you up and hear all about it.

I love you,

Mommy

Annual Applesauce Activities

It's that time of year...Homemade Applesauce!
A few weeks ago, we gathered our transparent apples and set up shop in the kitchen. It was a family affair.

The kids helped wash the apples and Avery and Jon were a big help throughout the whole process (until they bailed on me a few hours into it to go hang out with the neighbors)

Avery is such a big helper and wants to be involved. Austin is our official taste tester...trying to sneak in a taste at any opportunity!

Last year, our applesauce supply lasted us through February. We made twice as much this year, so that will hopefully get us through to next summer. Though we've already finished two of the containers!