Ice Fishing, Sledding, Fun Rides, and Birthdays!

We went to Michigan this past weekend to celebrate my grandma's 85th birthday with her. We got to see some of our family and the kids got to play with their cousins. Grandma got a lot of cards and many more visitors on her very special day.

We also got to see Uncle Lyle and Aunt Debbie with my dad. That was nice because we haven't seen them since my wedding 5 and a half years ago. The kids had a blast there! We had a long ride there so the kids got to spend some quality time talking to their Papa (my dad) and Jozie told him that she wanted him to take her ice fishing. He said he couldn't this time because he didn't have his gear but he would another time.

The drive up was pretty; it was nice to see the snow again (we don't get much of that here in N. IN) and to drive through some farm country that isn't flying by on the interstate!

When we got there the kids got to ride with Uncle Lyle to the house in his old military vehicle. Luke got pretty excited when he saw it and thought the army guys were coming to kill him...What an imagination! They went with him willingly, which surprised me because they were way too young the last time we saw him to remember who he was (Jozie was 18 months and Luke just 1 month!). I didn't think they were going to have much to do but I did bring their snow clothes just in case they got a chance to get out and play. But, how wrong I was! There was so much to do! (Thanks Uncle Lyle!) The got to ride in and drive the bobcat, go sledding down the hill behind the house out onto the ice, and go ice fishing! Plus Uncle Lyle was going to get the snowmobile out to take them for a ride! They came in to warm up with Aunt Debbie's hot apple cider (Thanks Aunt Debbie!) and have lunch then out for more sledding and the ice fishing. Jozie was so excited that she caught 2 fish (which she threw back to get bigger to catch the next time) and Luke claimed to get cold but only wanted to come back in to go sledding again. He went half way across the lake on one of those antique sleds with the metal runners! He was so thrilled the was hardly understandable when he talked! :)

We had a really nice weekend.

Thanks, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Stan, for letting us stay with you.
Thanks, Dad, for taking us to Uncle Lyle and Aunt Debbie's!
Thanks, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Lyle for having us and showing the kids such a great time! They can't wait to come back!

The Face of Utter Joy! :) That's my boy!

Luke, Papa, Jozie, and Uncle Lyle.


Luke on the Bobcat

What else is Papa good for? :)

Jozie on the Bobcat

Luke Sledding

Luke crossing the lake!

It was a LONG walk back! :)

Ice fishing!!!

Jozie and Jenae :)

Me, my Mom, Jozie, Grandma, and Luke (Katie is the cat).
Hey, that makes 4 generations!
(This is the first picture I am posting of me!)

My pictures are back! :)

Kristin

I have been thinking about my friend Kristin lately. I haven't spoken to her since her Birthday Party where we said we would be spending more time together but haven't. There are a lot of strange circumstances surrounding our estranged relationship - we were like sisters a few months ago and I miss her a lot.

Kris, if you read this, know I love and miss you lots and can't wait for the day where we can be friends again. This is for you:

Aly & AJ
"Never Far Behind"

I know this really isn't you
I Know your Heart Is Somewhere Else
And I'll Do Anything I Can
To Help You Break Out Of This Spell
I See You Following your Crowd
I Know You're Trying To Fit In
But If Your Gonna Find Yourself
You Gotta Start From Deep, Deep Within

Hold On To What You Believe

[Chorus]
I Will Always Be Your Friend
I Know Who You Are Inside
I Am With You Till The End
Never Far Behind
I am standing in the distance
You can take your time
And I will be there waiting
Never Far Behind
Yeah
Never Far Behind

I Am Sending You A Message
Don't ever Think That It's Too Late
When You Care About Someone
There is always room for change
you're allowed to make mistakes
it's a part of every life
I Don't See You very Different
The Truth Is Shining In Your Eyes

Hold On To What You Believe

[Chorus]
I Will Always Be Your Friend
I Know Who You Are Inside
I Am With You Till The End
Never Far Behind
I am standing in the distance
You can take your time
and I will be there waiting
Never Far Behind
Yeah
Never Far Behind

You Can Take Your Time
And I Know
From My Heart

I Will Always Be Your Friend
I Know Who You Are Inside
I Am With You Till The End
Never Far Behind
I am standing in the distance
You can take your time
and I will be here waiting
Waiting by my side God Is Never Far Behind

I Am Sending you a message

Which Peanuts Character are You?

I found this on Jamie's blog and thought I might try it...though I'm not quite sure how accurate it is...it does say that only 11% of the people who took this quiz were also Woodstock so I guess it is true in that I am unique... :)


You are Woodstock!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
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Still Looking

We have been pretty busy lately with our hs stuff and also looking for a house. We made an offer on one last week but they accepted someone else's. We are pretty disappointed but we know that God has something better for us somewhere. We just have to keep looking. The house was beautiful but it didn't have my big yard for the kids - there wasn't much of a year at all so I am glad that at least that is still an option now that we didn't get that particular house.

We are preparing for our Valentines party with our hs group next week. The kids each got a box of 48 valentines and at the rate they are going, we will definitely need every one, I think the last I heard the count was up to 41 kids! They are excited about going to see their friends and meet some new ones. I think our group is growing at the rate of about 1 family a week here lately. The kids are going to make cup cakes to take and they are also getting a lot of practice writing their names and "My Friend" on all those Valentines!

Luke has a special friend who is in our group, her name is Courtney and she's 5 years older than him. He is so cute - he follows her around whenever we do anything with them and now he wants to make her a special valentine. What a boy! I don't know if he really "likes her" likes her, I think he just admires her because she is older and she gives him attention. Although this wouldn't be the first crush he's had!