Thanksgiving with John's Family

On Sunday evening, we had Thanksgiving at our house. This got pushed back because we had the flu. Fun times. We all had it (Gwyneth had just a touch of it, I think) and were feeling all healthy! We had a good time.

We had to round up all of the kids for a picture. There aren't that many, but this is no small feat!

And then, we had to take a picture of the big girls... and John and Nancy and Missy (we're waiting for James to come home soon!)

I found Andrea and Hutch up in the bunkbed reading books together. I told them to smile for a picture, and Hutch posed like this. They are like two peas in a pod!

Just a few random pictures of my kids

Hutch

Haydn

Gwyneth (playing with Vegas)

Pizza Preview

Haydn is playing Peewee Panther Basketball this year at Parkway. On Saturday, his team participated in a "Pizza Preview". This involves a day of all bball teams from peewee thru varsity scrimmaging in order to showcase what our teams look like this year. They also sell pizza, hence the name! The little guys get their 15 minutes (literally!) of fame. Haydn's league is K-2 grades, so he is young still. He loves it, and we're excited to see his skills develop! (:

After the "game", Haydn had to show Grandma Nancy the whole school, but especially his Panther Pride club picture that he workedd so hard daily to earn!
Can't find him?!!! He's in the bottom left pic w/ red shirt in the back row!!!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year. We are so blessed with such great family, and it was wonderful to spend the day with them! John, unfortunately, got called into the hospital in the morning, so the kids and I missed spending time with him putting around the house and watching the parade. On the bright side, he got done in time to meet us in New Bremen at Kevin and Connie's for lunch. We had quite the spread, with two turkeys (one smoked) and a huge table of just dessert/snack stuff. We were all rightfully stuffed, to say the least (: One thing that I remember from being little at Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd's was going outside after lunch with all of the men and playing a big game of two hand touch football in their side yard, which made the perfect football field! I always liked that the men let us in on the game, and I am so glad that the tradition continues. All of the guys and kids went outside for some football, and the women kicked back at the table and chatted (and maybe snacked, too, but who's counting?!) Normally, we also head outside for a nice walk, but for some reason that didn't happen this year-we ran out of time!

For supper, we headed over to Van Wert to Butch & Bobbie's for more delicious food and fun times. We always have a hoot with these guys! They have the biggest sectional couch in the world, ever- and we always are fighting over seats, wrestling, goofing off, or cuddling (as you'll see below!) on it! Korrey also played some guitar for us, which we always enjoy! This year, he and I collaborated and performed 'Guitar by The Sea', and I think I've convinced him to switch genres!!

John and Jim getting cozyGwyneth really liked Korrey

She likes Bobbie,too- but was trying to get down to play!

Dad-kickin' back

Charlene showing Zylee to Camdyn All in all, not a bad day!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you

in Christ Jesus.

Things I am thankful for today:

1. A wonderful, caring (hot-sorry, I couldn't resist!!) husband, who is also my best friend, and a wonderful father to our children!

2. Three precious, beautiful children, each with a unique spirit and personality, whom I love with all of my heart.

3. A loving and purpose-driven church family.

4. Family whom I love to spend time with, and whom I have been through much with-and we're still going strong! (;

5. Friends who like me for who I am, not something that I pretend to be.

6. A beautiful home, which I get to spend all of my days in.

7. Most importantly, a Savior who was willing to die on the cross for my sins, Who has given me an eternal home in heaven!

Enjoy your day, and don't forget to count your blessings!

Gwyneth's First Santa Claus Encounter

When we went to The Picture People yesterday, Santa Claus was hanging out in the store. While I was agonizing over which pictures to choose, (: Nancy handed her over to Mr. Claus. You can't tell it so much in this picture, but she LOVED him! She kept laughing and grabbing him. She even found out that, Yes!, his beard is real!! He ended up holding her and playing with her for about 5 minutes! She wouldn't go back to Nancy. Hope she enjoyed it! It probably won't happen again (I refuse to stand in line 2 hours for my kids to sit on Santa's lap!!!) am I a bad mom?

Gwyneth's 9 month pictures

Nancy and I took Gwyneth to get her pictures taken today. She had just waken up and was not too sure of the situation, but I think they turned out well!

I'm going to check to see if the rest of the session is on the web, and I'll post the link.

It's A Party!

Haydn's new passion is drawing and writing. His specialty is books, as he has written a couple, and is now collaborating with a boy from school on another! He writes pages all the time, and everywhere. He even writes pages in the van wherever we go. He has a rubbermaid tub that he has turned over for a desk, and off we go. These are non-fiction books, too. No stories, here. He is out to inform kindergarteners everywhere about the world. My personal favorite page comes from the book "Things Under The Sea". After giving facts about turtles, bass, and a myriad of others, he writes "Do you know that sea monsters are just a myth?!" How funny. Anyway, last weekend he made a clubhouse out of a train (you've seen it before with mom in it!) He wanted to make a party and this is the sign he hung outside... Let me interpret... Men (are allowed) . Women (are allowed). You can bring your cats and dogs (all of them). BUT, here's the catch. No Kissing (heart) and NO SMOKING!