Thursday, January 7, 2010

We love entertaining, and today it was with the Milhans Family. I have known Nathan since he was a little boy. He and his family joined us for supper. It was a crazy day, so it was a simple meal: rotisserie chicken, corn, broccoli, and rice pilaf. Brownies and a anniversary poundcake were for dessert. Nathan & Chrissy were celebrating their tenth year of marriage. Their son, Andrew had a lot of fun playing with Lucy and our children. He ran and ran and ran, and hopefully, was tired for the ride home!

*Andrew getting a ride from Logan

*Andrew watching how Logan plays the piano

*Andrew trying the piano all on his own

It was another wonderful evening with friends. We are so blessed!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

Friends were coming over for supper. I had everything all set: home-made pizza, tossed salad, fruit cups, and brownies with ice cream for dessert. I was nervous about cooking anything for JP. He has been a chef and knows how to make amazing food. I am proud to say that the meal was a success! The kids went downstairs to play while the adults talked at the table.
It was eight o'clock and time to say our good-byes. We pray they have a safe trip back to Bolivia.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

Back to school and back to work means getting up at an earlier time than of recent...ugh! Monday means Katherine had a piano lesson after school. I am glad she likes taking lessons. We have a metronome that was given to us by Heather, and we need to make sure Katherine is using it. Her rhythm is off many times. She does play every day and every chance she gets, so I know that helps. Brett had a last minute basketball practice from 3:15-4:45 P.M. Jim was able to get him on the way home.
Pastor came over for supper tonight, and then he and Jim went to Mount Olive's Church Council meeting.

The Tenth Day of Christmas

What is the easiest way to wake up three little girls? Have them lay in your bed and watch "Mr. Ed" on television. Then after giggling for a half hour at a silly, talking horse, they are ready to get moving. Liliana was the first one ready. She grabbed on to Logan, and he dragged her all the way to the bathroom entrance. Then she let go.

Jim took the boys early for church, because Brett was the acolyte. The girls spent time playing with Lucy while I was getting myself ready. I think they would have been happy taking Lucy back to Bolivia with them.


In the afternoon we went to visit my sister, Adile and her family. They live very close now, but I am ashamed to say that we have not been to their new house since they moved in three years ago. That will change. We had such a nice visit. My brother-in-law, Gezim is a big Packers fan. He and my guys watched the game. I stayed in the kitchen with Adile and my nieces talking and learning how to make rice pilaf. Another full but fun day!

The Ninth Day of Christmas

Katherine had a soccer game at 1:00 P.M. Her friends, Isabella and Liliana came to watch the game. Katherine was the goalie for the first half. Three goals got past her.

Either her new goalie gloves are too big, which is what her parents think or she has not gotten used to them just yet. In the second half the coach put her out in the field. The Shooting Stars won 8-6 with Katherine scoring 5 goals!

Our friends, Steve & Liz came over with their oldest son, Sam. Logan, Brett, and Sam played football outside and video games downstairs...long day with lots of fun. Jim went shopping with Steve & Liz while I took Katherine to the Pettit National Ice Center.
She met up with Isabella and Liliana. These are girls that are here visiting relatives. They currently live in Bolivia. Katherine can usually keep up with Isabella, who is a much better skater, but Katherine was wearing skates without long enough socks. She was so sore. I kept saying, "You'll be fine. Keep going." Yes, Rebecca, I do feel bad! Katherine saw a friend from school. They skated together for a while, too. After a couple hours it was time to go home.

Katherine and I brought Isabella and Liliana home with us for a sleepover. This would be Liliana's first sleepover ever. She is a five year old who is full of life.

The kids all scattered playing around the house, while the grown-ups worked on supper. Jim makes great guacamole! One of these days, we'll actually prove it to Lisa. After our Mexican meal, the Buchmeyer 3 left for home. The girls played games, watched a little bit of TV in our waterbed, and giggled. What a fun slumber party!

The Eighth Day of Christmas

Happy New Year...It is January 1, 2010! We started our new year by going to the New Year's Day worship service at Mount Olive. What a relaxing day! We watched an "old" movie with the kids. Brett got "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" from friends. Jim covered Katherine's eyes when Napoleon was bowling.

The Seventh Day of Christmas

*Charlie, a member of our walking club

After walking at church this morning, we decided it was time to see Aunt Esther. We haven't been to Oshkosh since her 99th birthday in August. It was so good seeing her
look so well. We took her for a walk to one of the game rooms. Katherine played the piano for her. Aunt Esther told us about when she and a friend would go to piano lessons together.

We spent most of our time in the large gathering area. The boys watched a football game on a big TV. Jim & I, Aunt Esther, and Katherine played Rummy 500. It was Katherine's first time playing with Aunt Esther. The two of them did very well!

We played until it was time to get Aunt Esther back for lunch.

In the evening we went to the New Year's Eve service at Mount Olive. Then we spent a few hours at Daut & Sue's house, eating and playing games. We all had a good time. We got home about 11:30 P.M. I didn't want to be on the streets after midnight, with drunks.

The Sixth Day of Christmas

The guys watched a movie at home. Katherine and I went out to find school pants for her. She is outgrowing all of her clothes. We stopped at two resale shops and Target. We left with two pairs of stretch pants and three pairs of school pants.
We were getting quite hungry (It was about 1:30 P.M.), so we tried the City Market on North Ave. The food was great! Katherine ordered a cheeseburger and waffle fries, and I had a tuna salad on a croissant and an oatmeal/raisin cookie. We split our sandwiches to share with one another and sat talking for a bit. It was a nice outing.
In the evening we drove to Menomonee Falls for a funeral. Our friend, Tom Librizzi was saying good-bye to his Dad...a very hard thing. Pastor Wangerin did a nice job with the service. We pray that the Lord would strengthen the Librizzi Family.

The Fifth Day of Christmas

Our nine year old friend from Mount Olive came over for the day. Mark had a great time playing video games with the boys. Another nine year old, Isabella, came over, too.

I took Brett, Katherine, Isabella, and Mark to Currie Park for more sledding and snowboarding.

Mark went down the hill twice, in the beginning and before we left. The rest of the time he spent "sharpening" the snowboard, saucers, and sled.

I was dressed warmer, so we stayed out longer than yesterday.

Jim went to see Sherlock Holmes at Bayshore's IPIC. After Mark and Isabella went home, I dropped Logan off at a friend's house and took Brett and Katherine to meet Jim at Panera's for supper. It was a Christmas gift from a friend of ours. Then it was off to Barnes & Noble to use the gift cards. Katherine found two soccer books, and Brett found a book: Deeper. It was a successful outing.

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Even though we got home late last night, Katherine and Bethany were up early. They went downstairs to play on the Wii. I heard them trying to be quiet and got up to make breakfast. I left to go walking at church, which I do five days a week. Then it was time for a field trip to the Domes. Monday is the Free Day for Milwaukee County residents. It is a wonderful place to visit, especially in the winter months. Jim & I took Brett, Katherine, Bethany, and Ella Rupe.

In the Tropic Dome

In the Arid Dome

In the Show Dome

When we got home the girls played a Raggedy Anne game while I worked on lunch. We dropped Ella off on our way to Currie Park for some fun out in the cold. Did I say fun? I was freezing! I lasted about 45 minutes and said we were leaving.

When we got home to thaw out the children went down to play more video games until it was time for Bethany to go home with her Dad.

The Third Day of Christmas

Sunday we went to Mount Olive's 8:30 A.M. worship service. Pastor sat with us during the sermon (our friend, Ryan Rupe was preaching). We were to have the Buchmeyers over for brunch, but three of their children were sick. It was very disappointing. It's so nice when our families get together. Jim & decided to pack up the kids and go to their house in Mukwonago. Steve & Liz graciously opened their home to the six of us (Lucy included). We talked, ate, played a game of Pop Culture Trivial Pursuit and discovered that we are not "of this world" families (Team One won),

*Team One: Steve and Jim

*Team Two: Anna, Brett, Amy

*Team Three: Sam and Logan

*Team Four: Liz and Fatime

and watched "The Sound of Music." It will never be the same again. Jim and Steve were making jokes the whole time. We did a lot of laughing that night. It was a wonderful night with great friends!

We arrived with six and left with seven. We took Bethany home with us.

The Second Day of Christmas

There were no alarms set for this morning and no plans. We had a leisurely start to our Saturday. Katherine got to play with Isabella, while her mother, Rebecca, and I went shopping at Kohls. I love shopping for other people and had fun picking out clothes for Rebecca. We went out to Red Lobster for lunch. The waiter was amazing, giving us lots of cheddar bay biscuits. The boys and Jim played video games and did some cleaning.
Our evening was spent playing games together.

Christmas Day

Let me first say that our Advent was not great. There were no devotions, lots of running around, and hurrying here and there. It was very stressful! Consequently, Jim & I plan to change the way we do things next year. Our Christmas Day was wonderful! Our growing teenager could have slept a lot longer had we let him. The rest of us were quite anxious to get down to the living room. Once we were all up, we sat down listening to Jim read the Christmas Story from the book of Luke. Then it was time to open gifts and get ready for church. Pastor Wangerin had a nice sermon and the music was great. After taking a few pictures, we went home to take Lucy out and headed to Oconomowoc.

I was in charge of the fruit salad, and I brought my struessel-topped pumpkin pie. Our noon dinner was sooo good...prime rib, baked potatoes with toppings, steamed veggies, fruit salad, and Stephen-made croissants. The Grandma-made cookies and my pie wasn't until after we opened gifts. Brett and Logan opened their gift from Grandma & Grandpa. They truly thought they had gotten a box of Christmas cards. "OK (long pause), thank you. Jim told them to open the box and there was Ultimate Alliance II for the Nintendo Wii. As the picture shows, they were very excited.

Jim had been waiting for his special gift for a long time. You see, one day in Spring, Jim printed a copy of the Dr. Who scarf pattern (from Season 16) and asked his Mother to make it for him. She said yes not knowing exactly what she was getting herself in to. This scarf was made with lots of love as well as many hours of precious time!

Then we were all off in different directions playing games or napping.

On our way home we stopped by Daut & Sue's house. We ate and visited for a while before heading back home to our Lucy. There was one more quick stop to the Rupes' house. I ran upstairs to wish Lisa a Merry Christmas. I am so glad her family is here, even for a short while.

We had a wonderful day celebrating our Lord's Birth with our church family and relatives. We pray you, too, had a special day with family and/or friends.

Christmas Eve

We went to the 6:30 P.M. worship service at Mount Olive...Brett was singing with the Jr. Choir. After church, we hosted a Christmas get-together with some of my relatives...Daut, Sue, and Cyrus, Bedull and Ali, and Ruth. We ate, opened gifts, and watched, "It's a Wonderful Life." It was a late night but a lot of fun.