Lent

I'm trying a new thing this Lent.  So far it is going OK and I think is making me think a little more every day than just giving up one thing.  I have done that before, namely chocolate, and after about a week, I don't really miss it or think about it much anymore.  But just like coffee when I was pregnant, the minute Lent was over, I was back to chocolate as it is one of my best friends and I just like it.

So I have cut up slips of paper and put them in a Tupperware and draw out one each day.  I have two chapters of the Bible in 2-3 chapter chunks, sending cards or notes, calling friends and family, giving up FaceBook and Twitter, no chocolate, snacks, meat, etc.  Whatever I pull out is what I do for the day.  Last week was all Bible readings.  This week has been everything but that.  I draw first thing in the morning because one of them is to not have cereal that day.  Seems like a little thing, but I like my routine!

Also, enjoy the new family pictures.  I haven't been very good about my blog, but I love the pictures that Jamie Bloom took in November.  Check out her web page, infullbloomphotography.com. 

Happy Birthday, Abby!

The birthday girl in 1992.  I know we didn't do hats every year, so not sure if she insisted or if it was Paige's idea.

Twenty years later - It's going to be a big year!

Happy Birthday, Kyle

I know I have been remiss in my updates, and I don't really have an excuse, just lazy I guess, but today is a special day.  Happy Birthday, Kyle!  It is amazing how you look pretty much the same as you did at 28.  Blake and Paige have changed a little bit, and there was no Abby for that picture.  Kyle is in St. Louis on business so won't be home for his birthday.   Have a great day!

Christmas #2

Christmas at my parents always includes a birthday celebration for my mom as she has a Christmas Eve birthday. 

Neelly got to eat in the old Neelly high chair.  It is fun to see these family treasures used for the next generation.

We changed our gift openings to late afternoon after naps so the little ones would be in better moods and so that the people who were leaving that evening could get an earlier start. 

And two more of my favorite subjects.

Christmas #1

This was Christmas at our house on Dec. 22.  The kids all came in the evening for dinner and opening presents.

It is impossible to get everyone looking in the same direction!

Braden ate his dinner from his Great-grandfather Bauer's high chair.  It collapses into a stroller too.

Neelly got a Tiger hat.  Purrfect!

This boy is on the go.

Blake is ready for duck hunting in his new waders.

Braden is sitting for just a minute.

Whew!  A fun, fast evening.

Snow Day

Paige, Neelly, Abby, and I decorated cookies this afternoon. Actually, I made the cookies and Paige and Abby did most of the decorating. I told them to find some of their favorites for the blog.  I know you can all see it, but the one on the right is a Powercat.

Here we have a United Methodist cross and flame, a tree, and the Star of David.  We are an eclectic group.

The poor snowman on the left met the neighborhood dog.  Drats!

And this girl would not nap!  But she was pretty happy in the jumper.

Congratulations

This post is a week late, but we celebrated Tamara receiving her masters degree at KSU last Friday.  She had some small ones at her graduation.

The kids did very well considering it was rather lengthy. 

Tamara crossing the stage.  The doctoral candidates took longer because they each received their hoods.  The masters degrees walked across the stage in the same way the bachelor degree people do.  This was the first grad school graduation I had been to.

"Hello.  Yes my flower doubles as an umbrella."

"And my hello wave is like a fist pump."

The graduate's family.  I didn't get one of Tamara with her family, but her parents were there and her sister, Tiffany.  Then we went to So Long Saloon in Aggieville to have a bite to eat. 

Now we have our third masters degree in the family.  Congratulations Tamara!