Christmas Recap

Anita told me yesterday that she is still waiting to see some pictures from the sunday school program! I am a little behind I guess....today is really the first time I had a chance to sit down and even look at them! So here are some from the program, getting ready for Christmas, and Christmas day...
They always have preschool go up to the front and sing the first verse of Away in a Manger, then the conformation class joins them, reads the Christmas gospel, then they all finish the song together..Kierstyn was not at all nervous, and you could hear her loud and clear! I have had a few people tell me since then that we have a budding singer on our hands! Definately a kuoppala!:) Alyx was one of the lucky ones in her grade to read part of the story. This is the only picture I got of Lindsey. The back row was supposed to be standing on the step behind them. oh well. I love the sunday school program...I just wish that I could have sat through more of it than I did this year. Alanys was way too loud to sit in the church!
This is the first year that I did any Christmas baking! I actually had a lot of fun making cookies with the girls.... When Diane sent our box of gifts down, she had some gingersnap cookies in there for us from the Brainerd bake sale....I did not know before that, that those are Frans' favorite cookies! So we had to make those:) Kierstyn was just fired up to be helping me make them! Lindsey was at school, and the other girls were sleeping, so it was pretty neat. And to all you bakers, don't laugh at my small little bottle of vanilla in the picture!! It was all the store had left, but when I got home, I realised that I did have a big bottle afterall!
On Christmas Eve Lindsey would not let us forget that we had to leave some cookies for santa again....that is why we made the cookies in the first place:) And Santa didn't let us down, he left us a note again thanking us for them! He gets awful hungry on his route!
I went to church on Christmas Eve day for the first time. And I thought it was so neat....the morning was spent running around literally non stop...last minute shopping, cheesecake making, etc....then 2:30 rolls around, and it's off to church. It was great to relax and focus for a little while on what Christmas is all about. We get so caught up in the material things and the commercialism of the holiday, that we need to pause and remember what's most important to us...our faith, then our family and friends and our health. And be thankful for all that we are blessed with.
Christmas Day was a wonderful day spent with our kids...In years past we have always rushed to get somewhere for lunch, so this year we decided to start our own family tradition on Christmas day. We opened gifts, then lazed around while the kids played with their new toys until lunchtime. We didn't have a real big spread...ham, potatoes, corn, cranberries etc, but it was mighty good! Don't forget the cranberries for dad! And the best part.....Frans cooked everything:) All I did basically was put the tablecloth on the table! Late in the afternoon at about 5:00 we went to my mom and dad's for pie and coffee.

A picture of Kierstyn in the middle of the mess in her own little world playing with her new pollypockets, and Toni and Kierstyn playing with their new barbies. Christmas was all about the kids this year, and it was special!

Looking back on the last year, we have many reasons to be thankful! And we have many hopes and plans for the new year!

I will end my book now!! It is LATE....just realised that I have spent about 45 minutes putting in this post!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

p.s. Steven, you should be getting your gift any day! Sorry it was so late!

Debbie

i am out babysitting right now but the kids are in bed and i am tired of reading so i decided to jump on here for a little while, i don't know if any of you know darren and melissa hendrickson but that is who i am babysitting for. here is a picture of them, we decided to go outside for a little while before supper, they just had to get all there snow stuff on, so
we were only out there for like 5 min. what a waste oh well. i wish i wasn't in school so i could babysit more and get more money, that way i would be able to get a car and go places ;) not for awhile still :( i can't wait till im 16 so i can drive, it really bugs me that someone who is SHORTER!!!!!!!! then me can drive can you guess who that is, my mom, sorry mom i don't mean to be mean but it really doesn't make sense to me. well i am gonna run.

Who to look for on Baffin Island

Jake is my "muscle." He's the "wheel" dog and pulls closest to the sled. He loves running, is very independent and is up for anything, anytime....let's just get to it!" Wants to go, go, go!!!

Sonny is my talking dog. When he barks, he yells..."hubba, hubba, hubba." He is soooo funny. He is one of Nyla's puppies. : )

Carlos is a very smart guy and lover. He loves me and wants to be my best friend and gives me hugs to prove it. He is almost as tall as me on two legs. I may train him to be a leader, he is definitely smart enough. : )
Baby's original name was Brownie, she was born of Nyla. I think they've called her baby, cuz she literally "cries" to get running! She is really a big baby. The most submissive of the whole pack. She will try to instigate things with newcomers just to prove to her pack buddies she's worthy of staying in the pack.

Jimmy is my other lead dog. Very smart, also loves attention but doesn't want you to know that! Very aggressive and wants to put every other male dog in his place! : )

Nyla loves people and attention and is very submissive to people, but I believe
she is the true pack leader (the brains and one of my lead dogs!)

Reindeer Poop

Being as the girls theme this year was "housetop" many people turned to the notion of Reindeer poop. Here's a poem Laurie wrote and handed out for Christmas:

Up on my rooftop
one cold, winter day
I saw some weird droppings
Yes...to my dismay

I thought to myself
"What on earth could there be...
up on my rooftop
mid-winter lets see...

I gazed and I pondered
at this pile of poo
Left on my rooftop
by someone...but who?

He wears a red suit
and laughs from his belly
on my rooftop this year
he left something smelly

I walked up real close
and saw with my eyes
the poop of his reindeer
was my little prize.

The smell was quite sweet
not like typical poo
because his reindeer are magic,
it's edible too!

It's poo with an essence
of quite a sweet smell
of something like popcorn
drizzled with caramel.

You'll never look at caramel popcorn the same
hope you still want to eat it
and don't think this is lame.

From up on my rooftop,
carmel corn from a scoop
hope you like it and eat it
here's your "REINDEER POOP".

An Arizona Christmas

The Christmas tree is up.
The gifts they were all wrapped.









Tia hangs Christmas stockings. Still haven't finished the ones I am stitching. One day I was thinking of the 3,500+ miles I have to drive this summer and all the cross stitch floss I could use .... then I remembered that I need to DRIVE!



Aloe vera is ready to bloom in front of the house.


Christmas Eve we went to church for a 3:00 service. So enjoyable with good reminders about the many blessings we enjoy in life.




The freeway on the way home. We got in some good Christmas carol singing and laughing. If you have any questions about why we are pining for the "woods", check out the landscape in this picture. Smog covers the earth like a cotton blanket. Ugh.
Anna as we wait for dinner to finish cooking. We enjoyed scalloped potatoes with ham, ceasar salad, jello and dinner rolls. We missed you all at our table.

Tia investigates her new Easy Bake Oven.



Blayde with some of his treasures.










Alyx reads the Christmas message.



Brock holds down the couch.











The wonderful, fun, quite normal aftermath of paper.

We had a very happy and healthy Christmas. It has been quite a year for us. We have had plenty of laughs during good times and shed plenty of tears during losses of dear friends. We have struggled with decisions to move our family far away from here. Knowing that we will leave a life that is as close to us as the air we breathe. Knowing that we will terribly miss so many people here and so many parts of life that are such a large part of who we are. We hope that God will richly bless all of you and your paths in the coming year. We wish for you happiness, health and good fortune in 2007.

Jari & Anita & family

Sled Dog Adventure

http://www.globalwarming101.com/content/view/32/166/

The above link is the expedition my sleddogs are going on with
Will Steger and John Stetson. They came and picked them up
last night and will be gone for four months to Baffin Island to
combat global warming by help the native people of Baffin Island
to have a voice. Thought you might like to take a peak and track
my dogs while on their expedition. : ) Wish we could go with, but
I don't think I'm tough enough yet! : )

Sure miss my little fur friends! : ( LK.

crossword puzzle hints

mother gave us some hints at heather's and heather and i both finished the crossword.

don't read on yet if you aren't stuck.

note: there are no typos - she proofread it many times (we wanted to blame things on typos) - only 62 across could be a little more clear - he flew to get something, not what did he fly

2 across - "J" might be the first letter of someone's name (for those not there, four people pitched in)
20 across - lots of kids doing school work - left two of something behind
73 across - mother is not sad

8 down - it's not wayne - he'll show up in the next crossword
16 down - the woodshed gets in the way of this now
27 down - had to do with a hotel reservation

we had a splendid time - tho i'm still digesting all the reindeer poo.

e.

christmas business

Merry Christmas, wow i just had to find a spot to sit down after eating to the brim :) every where i look there are more kids playing with more presents. kathryn got lots of her own cooking dishes, and cleaning supplys, she is having tonz of fun, other then the every now and then bikkering over whos toys are whos we've been having a great christmas. 7 o'clock comes mighty early for mom and dad, they're threating to make the wake up time 8 o'clock :) i don't think that will sly very well. sarah got a new tea set and is already asking mom if she can have friends over to play with them ;) mom said she can invite fake people. pretty soon we will be cleaning up the toys for company. Randalls are coming for dessert, hope every ones christmas is going good, but i gotta run cause i told susan i would play her new ke-plunk game with her :) i will post pictures later ;) -debbie

Merry Christmas!

Howdy Peoples! After eating a bird, a pig, and couple more grocery carts worth, I barely have the energy to type! But the kids have all been out skateboarding in the snowless alley, building I'm not sure what, out of lego's and other gadgets. My toes have been run over more than I can count with remote controled doo-dads (even did it myself once or twice), so its now time to kick back, and take a nap!

Hmm I've never added pictures this way, hope it works

Charlie

Merry Christmas!!

I don't know how many people will be checking the blog over the weekend, but I just wanted to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Hope your weekend is feeled with love, joy, laughter, and good food!:) Our Forstie party was at the church last night and santa came and brought candy bags for the kids! We are going to Jari and Anita's tonight for a bbq with Paul and Kids, and Jeff and Mona and family....should be a lot of fun! And tomorrow night will be spent at my sister Lisa's house with all of our family. A full weekend! And I still have all my wrapping to do, and Cheesecake to make!!:) It is starting to really feel like Christmas!
Here are a few pictures of Paul and Kendra's little Caitlyn Julia....They finally decided on a middle name!:) She is such a doll! And Emmalee is the proud big sister who wants to do nothing but hold her all day!!
Jenny

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Can't wait to see pictures posted of kids opening presents, food, etc.

Heather and Shawn

Merry Christmas To All!

Hello all! It has been a long time since I posted, but I have been very busy at work. The week after Thanksgiving I got a new baby to take care of along with the two that I already have. A friend of my bosses had a baby girl and wanted to bring her to me if it would work. After a lot of discussion and planning, we descided it would be great. And it is, she is now four months old, her name is Paisley Pratt Andrews, and she is the cutest little thing. But I hardley have any time to check my email anymore, let along read the blog. Though today I have plenty of time. The two older girls and their parents are in Michigan now, so I only have baby Paisley, and she is sleeping right now!

Ivan went back to work today after two months of being laid-off. What timing! I have all next week off and was hoping to spend some time with him, but now he has to go back to work. Oh well, I think he was getting too used to sitting around the house all day, he needs to get out. We don't know how long he will be working, it may be just this house, or it may be more. We just have to wait and see. He finally did his christmas shopping yesterday!

Some more good news! Some of you might have heard that my parents moved out of their house in July and moved into the basement of my grandma while they found a new house. After many (too many) months of ups and downs, almost buys and losses, they have finally found a town house to rent for the next year and a half, then they will buy. We are all so happy that they will be in their new house for christmas. My mom was so upset that she would not be able to decorate for christmas. Now she is trying to decorate while unpacking!

I need your help with something for the wedding. I would like to make Trivial Persute card on the tables, for some fun entertainment, with questions about Ivan and myself. I would like to get some trivial facts about Ivan that he may not tell me. So, if you know of any fun facts about Ivan, and I know you do, could you please email them to me? Thanks for your help. If you know anything about me or our relationship these past five years, feel free to add those. I need all the help I can get.

Have a great holiday season!
~MISSI~

Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said, “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them, and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this”.

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, “Mother we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come”.

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.”

So the children climbed, and as they climbed, they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said,
“Mother, we would not have done it without you.”

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and then the mother grew old, and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day then the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children.”

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better then the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them.”

And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more then a memory. She is a living presence.”

Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of certain foods you remember…flowers you pick and perfume that she wore. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well…she’s your breath in the air on a cold winter’s day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep…the colors of a rainbow. She is Christmas morning.

Your mother lives inside your laughter. And she is crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion…happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow…and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She’s the place you came from, your first home, and she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy…but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space, not even death.

Santa's Sleigh Status

Well ... I am totally behind in the shipping department. My intentions were quite noble, the job list too long, worked these past 2 days, and patience was a bit short the day I tried the mailing place. Even sent Blayde to do the mailing one day. It was a bit confusing ... so told him to come back with the pile.

So.
Gifts will go out in the mail tomorrow for name exchanges.
They will most probably not be there in time for Christmas.
My thoughts and good wishes will be with you instead on Christmas Eve/Day.
And ...
I won't tell you who you are!

Surprise coming next week sometime!

Anita

Snow

well today we got our first REAL snow fall of the year 4 days before christmas!!! moms at work but i took the little girls outside to play in the snow as soon as i got home from school, at 3:00 an they are just coming in now!!! (5:00) record time for being out in the cold! =) they usualy come in complaining its to cold or theres nothing to do =) they came in because they were hungry this time, and supper is almost ready anyway so its not bad they're coming in. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, i gotta go supper is being puton the table. -Debbie

Happy Holidays!

I havn't posted anything here for a while, so I just thought I'd drop a line to say howdy! Even though I havn't been posting, I still check it out to read, and look at pictures. With as often as I get out to see everyone, its awfully nice to see the pictures. If it wasn't for some of these pictures, with as much as some of these kids have grown up, I never would have even recognized many on the street. Kinda sad eh?

Keep on posting... Keep on posting pictures! I promise to get some taken over the holidays :-)

Charlie

Baby Lindula

Paul and Kendra have a new baby girl. She was born yesterday. When Paul called they still hadn't had a name picked out.

Anita and all

Life is just a tad bit too busy. Any ideas on how to slow it down? I haven't posted for quite a while ... told Debbie today that I would. So, here I am.

Christmas shopping is DONE! (except for a few little things) I manged to hit the post office today with things that were wrapped. Went to the UPS Store with the ones I want them to wrap and the line was out to the parking lot. Decided that it could wait. The end of November I was so pumped. Things were moving right along and I felt I was on top of things. All of a sudden it was December 2nd ... then December 12th ... and I started getting that stress thing going on. Jari & I were making up a song about the stress of the season as we were driving around earlier ... now I can't remember any of that either.


The bright part of today is that our youngest turned what she calls "double digits". Tia celebrated ten years old with family at home. She has been wanting a skateboard for several years now ... and finally got one! (I'm going for frequent visitor miles at the emergency room.)


Alyx started working somewhere in the last 4 weeks. She found a job at Fiddlesticks Family Fun Park. She works hard, enjoys it most of the time ... and has shoe shopping money. One day she and Brock were having some good laughs out in the backyard. The wheelchair is somthing we bought at Savers a while ago. Great entertainment. There wasn't enough challenge with the front wheels on the chair, so they had to come off. Now it appears that it is double decker kids on a wheelchair with only two wheels. They've gotten more entertainment out of this goofy chair ... you wouldn't believe it.

The weekend before this past one I went to California to complete my allergy elimination treatment training. Now I have a problem. Y'all know that "shoe makers kids never have shoes, roofers house always needs a roof ...." well, now it is the allergy thing here. I imagine that after this week is over and done I'll have a few more available moments in a day. We can always hope.
While I was at the seminar I got a call from Jari that started something like this, "where are the insurance cards?" That never means anything good. Brock was at a friend's house, wiped out on a bicycle and landed on his noggin. Poor guy couldn't stand without vomiting ... off to the CT scan ... couldn't make it thru there either without the same result. Ended up being a concussion, all is well. He was tired for a few days ... recovered well. I came home to another surprise. He looked at me and said "mom ....." I KNOW THAT LOOK! I got the flashlight out ... went out to the shed ... and brought in the level. You see, I refuse to believe that a child of mine is actually taller than I am unless a level is used in the judging. Am afraid I was the one to lose in the "1/2 a bubble off" department. Child #3 has passed me up. He's quite proud of the fact. (so am i)



Tuesday of last week our roof was finished. BIG Project #___ is done. One more to go ... and my hubby does not want to tackle that one. The roof looks so neat! Things that make a person nearly jump for joy.

This past weekend was another fun one. I worked Friday & Saturday, and had the foolish notion that I hadn't passed that "getting older" mark yet. Jari & I went to a wonderful Christmas party on Friday night and stayed out much too late. Saturday it was quite a challenge to keep the lids open and focused. Was worth it tho'. Saturday nite I was rather exhausted. Sunday was the Sunday School program in the evening. Jari & a few other guys took boys & toys out to the desert bright and early in the morning. I puttered around home ... 'til that blasted phone rang at about 9:30. Brock was hurt, broken arm this time by nose diving into a wash. They were about 4-5 miles back out in the desert and had to get out by quad/bike. We have such incredibly wonderful friends. An ambulance was waiting for him when they got out where vehicles could make it. Nate & Vanessa Skoog had gone out to try & find them after being called. Don't know how far away from their house the guys were, but I would have never found them. Vanessa is a pediatric emergency room nurse and she rode into the hospital with Brock. There were some issues with the setting of 2 broken bones just above his left wrist. Shucks! He is right handed. He got out of the Sunday School program and going up on stage, but doesn't get out of school work. He won't let me post a picture here of him, perhaps he'll let me get away with this one. I'll know tomorrow. So, keep the fingers crossed that the bones stay where they are supposed to be and it doesn't require surgery. He is already complaining of itching beneath the cast ... but has been a wonderful trooper!

More sometime soon!

christmas program pictures debbie

here are a feq pictures from the christmas program... i took denise and michelle's christmas picture, they decided on 2, one sepia tone and the other this one :) they will be sending them out also so you don't have to copy them off here. after the program kathryn was running on the stage so i took a picture of her.