Real Quick

I just wanted to say that surgery went well. He was in and out quickly, home wednesday afternoon of last week, and is healing nicely. He's in a neck brace and pretty bored! He hasn't needed much pain medicine the last two days and has a post op appt. in the morning. Afterwards we are leaving for his dad's house for Christmas. I have lots of pics from the last few weeks, I will try and do a nice update with pictures when we get back home. Please pray for our drive down and back, we have finally got the snow you all got in Wa! And I get to be the one driving........

Merry Christmas!

Be Blessed!

Quick Post

I just wanted to say I will probably be MIA until after Christmas. Paul will be going in for a cervical fusion in his neck on Tuesday morning. Paul's parents are coming to help out with the kids. He hopefully will be home by Wednesday evening, but depends on how well he does. I'm pretty much a complete mess, but with God's strength been holding all together and getting things that need to be done, done. I was disappointed to miss church this morning because of the snow, but the day turned into a very nice, unrushed day of family time. Thankyou Jesus for that Blessing!

I will try to update when he's out and I can get internet. If you are close family I'll call, I'll try to update my facebook and on myspace. Will probably check my email as I can.

Prayers for Paul and the surgeon, me, the kids, and my inlaws with the kids would be very much appreciated. His surgery will be at 7:45 am mountain time(if they are on schedule).

I was trying to gather my lesson plans for the kids into something grandma and papa could jump in and help with and just decided to scrap school this week! Christmas vacation is starting early in our house!!

Be Blessed!

Finishing up a birthday and a Christmas Program

Thankyou Grandpa and Cheryl for the gift card! Look at all my new books!

Birthday bowling.

Gift from Grandpa Terry and Grandma Debbie.

Abby in the Christmas program at church this morning. This was lining up to sing. My pictures all turned out bad this morning, so bear with me!

Abby had the part of the puppet pig!

Abby with her pig puppet.

Toys for Tots drop off. The kids thought the tank was cool!

Christmas tree pic! Except they just about hide the tree now! LOL

Be Blessed!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob and Grandpa Jim flying kites at the ocean. I think he's about 3 1/2 here.

Daddy reading to Jacob and Abby.

Daddy holding Jacob. This was at his 3rd birthday party.

Grandpa Jim and Jacob reading Winnie the Pooh.

Jacob helping Aunt Jessica with her homework.

Jacob and Santa at 1 year old. There is a pic of me the same age, same expression with Santa somewhere. I'll have to find it and scan it soon. LOL

One of Jacob's famous, goofy looks. He's about 6 months old here.

One of my favorite pics of Daddy and Jacob. Again I think he's about 6 months old.

Jacob at 3 1/2 weeks old.

Jacob, 5 days old with Santa at the mall. This was not planned! Paul had to be at church early for a rehearsal of the Christmas cantata he was singing in. So my mil and I dropped him off and went to the mall to kill time until church started. People couldn't believe I had a 5 day old baby at the mall! LOL

Jacob and Daddy only hours old.

Jacob with mommy, daddy, and grandma F. only a few minutes old!

Just thought I'd share some baby pics. I can't believe my baby is 13 now! Maybe next year I'll share pics from 3 years old up. I just didn't have a chance to finish going through them. I hope to make another post later today with pics from the last couple of days.

If you click on the picture it will bring it up in a new window and larger so it is easier to see.

Be Blessed!

Mama's Angel Anniversary

In loving memory of my mom, Nicki, February 26, 1952 - December 4, 1998.

The picture above is my mom and my younger sister. I'm not sure of the date, but I'm pretty sure it was within her last year.

This is my mom, my grandma, and my aunt. I think the baby my aunt is holding is one of my cousin's kids. Which would make this Easter of 1998, I think.

This is Jacob with my mom. He was probably about 2, so I think this was Christmas time of 1997.

Mom and Dad's wedding portrait. They were married August 22, 1970.

A family picture. There is no date, I'm guessing I was about 4 and my brother 2. So maybe 1976? It was before my sister was born.

My mom holding Abby. Sometime in 1998. The picture is kind of dark, but I don't have many of mom with her.

I think this one was Mother's day 1975. The picture on the back says I'm 2 1/2.

Dad was in the Army. I think this was a visitation day, the pic is dated October 1970.

There is no date on this picture either, but I believe my mom was pregnant with my sister, so that would make it sometime in 1978.

The kids and I enjoyed looking back through the pictures. It was hard to find many with mom in them, I think she was the one taking everyone else's picture all the time. Spurred me to make sure to get in some pics even though I dislike having my picture taken!

10 years ago today, mom got to go to Heaven. I miss her very much and think of her each and every day. There are still days I want to pick up the phone and call her, it's hard having her missing out of my life. I can hardly believe it's been so long, it seems just like yesterday. So many changes in 10 years!

I miss and love you mama!

If you click on the pictures it will bring them up bigger in a new window, so you can see them better.

Be blessed!

Random Recent Pictures

Jacob opening an "early" bday card and gift card from Grandpa Jim and Cheryl.

Kids putting ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Jacob opening up his Ipod on Thanksgiving during an early bday celebration with his cousin Noah.

Jacob and his cousin Noah on Thanksgiving.

Abby's cookies. She saw the recipe in a Taste of Home magazine and had been bugging me to try them. They turned out yummy and she made sure the recipe went into her recipe box and not mom's. LOL

Abby painting. You will find her doing this often! She was painting winter scenes this particular time.

Hope you enjoyed the little peek into what we've been up to.

Be Blessed!

Still November

Guess I should blog some more. Really just haven't had anything to share. Just our normal day to day goings ons. Somehow we got a couple of weeks ahead in our schoolwork. I think that is a first! LOL Even with everyone being sick and such, maybe because we cut some of our outside activities so everyone could recuperate, we've had more time for school! The kids are loving the different Christmas movies from the past. We've watched Home Alone 2 and the Santa Clause this week. Hopefully, we can catch and record the others in the series. Paul and Jacob put up the Christmas lights on the house this past Friday. We still have the figures to put out in the yard, but since Paul had to work this weekend and we will be out of town next, he went ahead and did it. We had a bit of snow yesterday, but it eventually turned to rain and didn't stick around long. I got to see some of the Christmas program that Abby is participating in at church yesterday while they were practicing. It's really cute and Abby sounds so confident! (maybe because her part is a puppet and she can't be seen by the audience? LOL).

Abby has been busy working on some latchhooks. She finished a soccer ball that she received as a gift some time ago, and is just about done with a tropical fish one. Now I have to figure out how to help her turn them into pillows! She's also been busy painting and using the knitting looms. She's currently working on something for her American Girl doll. Besides being crafty, she's been reading quite alot. We've had to visit the library weekly(no complaints here!) between her and Jacob. We've yet to find a good used bookstore out here though. I really, really miss Half Price books! She's also been practicing her choir music, memorizing her lines for the Christmas Program and catching up some Bible reading for Missionettes(since she joined a little late in the game.) Jacob has been building, Legos, models(he just finished the last in his stash, I found a great deal on a few that I put away for Christmas!) and is wanting to try some of the paper models that Paul does. He's been reading, listening to lots of music, raking leaves, drawing Civil War battles, and helping me cook. He's also very much looking forward to his birthday. I can't believe he will be 13 in just a couple of weeks!

Paul has been working hard. He's also been sick, finally had to go to the dr. for a cold that settled into a sinus infection. He's had many dr. appts. lately trying to get physical therapy going for his neck, shoulder, disc issues and had to have new mri's and such. He's also visiting a sleep clinic for his snoring issues and suspected sleep apnea. He really does like his new unit and I'm grateful he doesn't come home from work each day all stressed out :) He's also been working on models and helping Jacob with some of his and helping out with Boy Scouts.

Me? I've just been trying to keep up the house, teaching, making some Christmas gifts, doing some baking, trying not to be sick anymore, and just those general day to day things. I went to my second meeting for the homeschool group out here and had a pretty good time. It was nice to get out and talk to other adults and we did a fun project learning about timelines.

I really should close, I'm up late charging up Jacob's new ipod(shhhhhhh!! it's a bday surprise! He'll get on Thanksgiving when we have a small joint party with one of his cousins) and then I'm going to bed. It's late! Sorry I don't have any pictures to share this time, I need to get them off the camera still.

Be Blessed!

Veteran's Day

Thankyou to all the Veteran's for your service to our Country!

I wanted to share a pic of my Veteran. This was taken a couple weeks ago in preparation for his promotion packet for the E8 board. Isn't he handsome?!
Be Blessed!

Halloween, a Birthday and catching up

Jacob making dinner. Tacos were on the menu that night. He really loves to cook!

Trick or Treating on Halloween and my nephew, Jordan's, 11th birthday. We have left to right, one of his friends as a fisherman, Jordan as a soldier, Abby the cat holding Noah the chicken, another friend as a cowboy, Jacob as a soldier, little Levi as Spiderman, and Aaron as a rodeo clown. I loved Aaron's costume!

Jordan got a new bike from his mom and dad!

Abby went to Missionettes this past wednesday, since soccer is finally over. She got put into a drawing on sunday and won this! She was pretty excited!

Yesterday was a busy day with the Boy Scouts, Scouting for Food and Abby had practice at church for the Christmas program. When everyone was home the boys got our their toys, here I happened upon Abby trying to sneak up on her brother.

My Thanksgiving Turkey in the front yard. I love Thanksgiving, I think it is my absolute Favorite holiday behind Easter!

We've had a busy week. Abby and I have been sick and Paul woke up sick this morning. Since 3 of the 4 of us were coughing, sneezing, sniffeling and such, we stayed home from church. Decided not to share our germs with everybody. It's been a dreary, dark, rainy day. The kids have read and played Wii. Paul has slept, I gave myself another sewing lesson. Paul has tomorrow and Tuesday off for Veteran's day, hopefully he'll be feeling better by Wednesday. Well, it's about time to work on preparing dinner.

Be Blessed!

Sharing an election thought...

I saw this on a blog earlier today and wanted to share it here. Sums it up well doesn't it? I'm disappointed in the outcome of the presidential election, but I'm not disappointed in my God! He is my hope still and forever!

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election…
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise and worship to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
Isn’t it great to know the ONE who is really in control?

I hope to do a family update soon, until then.......

Be Blessed!

Corn maze and Soccer ending

Abby dressed up as a cat for the party.

With her soccer trophy.

Coach talking about her and presenting her trophy, Abby scowling cause she didn't want me taking pictures for some reason.

Being silly in the corn maze.

Two military men trying to read the map. LOL

Jacob in the corn maze.

Jacob, Abby and Paul at the beginning of the maze.

Just thought I would share some recent pics...We went to the Corn Maze with Jacob's Boy Scout troop. That was alot of fun. I was sad last week about how fast the kids are growing up, but then when we went to do the maze Friday night and had so much fun, I felt much better. There are things we can do as a family now, that would have been difficult to do when they were younger! Saturday was Abby's last soccer game of the season(they won!) and her team pizza party. Sunday was church and then in the afternoon a new friend was having a party. We had a very nice time. Abby had a blast with the other children there. Anyways here are some pics from the weekend. I didn't have my camera at the party, it was left in my purse, on the counter at home!

Be Blessed!

36 Years

Yesterday was my birthday! It was a pretty normal day, though lots of phone calls :) I told Paul not to spend money on a bday present because of the ring he bought be for our anniversary :) He did good, but he did take the kids shopping and they remembered a cookbook I'd seen at Costco but didn't buy because it wasn't on my list. Jacob even said he was willing to help cook some of the recipes. LOL Anyways I woke up in the morning, made breakfast, showered, then went to the schoolroom to get the kids started on their schoolwork, this little note was what I found. Paul never does little things like that, but I love, love, love them and sometimes will put one in his pocket or his lunch and such. This note is simple, but is the most precious thing I could have received on my birthday! :) I even told him I took a picture and was going to put it on the blog :) Abby had her last soccer practice, so afterwards we went to Red Robin for dinner.

With Jacob doing 7th grade this year, the writing has really stepped up in his school work. This is his least favorite thing to do. But I am so proud of him this week. He had ALOT of writing in most every subject this week, especially his science. He spent 2 hours the other day just working on his science, and I didn't hear one complaint, sigh, or rolling of the eyes. :) He got it done and he did a very good job. His handwriting has improved sooo much, especially when he slows down abit and takes his time. Great job Jacob! He has come soooo far!

Today was a co-op day, so we had an early start. Jacob is really enjoying his civil war class. Abby got her rehearsal schedule for choir, between that and her schedule for the church Christmas play, we are going to by very busy! Good thing we will be on a break from sports!

Well, I've got to get to history now.

Be Blessed!