End of Christmas Break

Recapping the end of our Break
We crammed in as much activity as possible before we all had to get back to school; even taking time to get sick. Logan got a double ear infection and is still taking antibiotics. Katherine got swollen glands and was in a lot of pain. I spent 24 hours feeling achy and had a fever. Brett's ear hurt and got a sore throat. I am thankful that if we had to get sick, it happened during our Break so none of us had to miss school or work.
New Year's Eve we went to Mount Olive's 6:30 P.M. service. Jim & I felt bad that we had nothing planned for a New Year's Eve celebration. We let the kids stay up late. We watched movies and played on the Wii. Katherine made it to 10:30! Jim & I watched the hoopla in NYC. I must say, I was not impressed with the coverage. We stayed up till about 1:00 A.M.
Happy New Year everyone!

After the New Year's Day service, we went to Daut & Sue's house. Lucy was invited, too, which was a nice treat. The first day of 2009 was spent relaxing our bodies (and brains). We watched "Psych" episodes, football, and played a kids Trivial Pursuit.

Friday, January 2nd, Katherine had three friends over for the day. Her friend, Mark, and Isabella (8 yrs.) and Liliana (4 yrs.). They are Americans living in Bolivia. Please don't ask me what their Mother does for a living. I never remember, but I can only tell you that she works for the US government. Their Father has a job at the embassy. They are in town for a month, so the girls are enrolled at Mount Olive. The 3rd graders are so happy to have Isabella back. She was in their class for a couple weeks two years ago. They are a wonderful family from church and we feel blessed to know them. Back to Katherine having friends over. They ran around the gymnasium at Mount Olive. They played on the Wii. They dressed Lucy like a girl. They built a fort out of blankets and chairs, made robots out of boxes, played out in the snow, and made a gingerbread house. I'm exhausted just thinking about all those kids did in one day.

Saturday, Jan. 2nd, we drove to Oshkosh to visit with Aunt Esther (Logan went to a friend's house). I played Rummy 500 with her. Brett wanted to play, but didn't quite get the concept of the game. Jim took over for a couple rounds, but he hates the game. So I stopped dealing him in. We wheeled Aunt Esther to the main dining room so Brett and Katherine could play the piano for her. We got her back in time for lunch. We stopped off at Redd's for lunch and then headed back to Milwaukee. Jim took Brett and Katherine to see Bolt. They all like the movie. Because I was not feeling well, I layed in bed watching Sleepless in Seattle. My James spent quite a few hours taking down the Christmas tree and decorations and making the living room and basement look fabulous. He is so wonderful and such a blessing to our family! I love him so much!

Sunday, January 3rd, we had the Buchmeyers and the Rupes over for a Mexican lunch. I am happy to say, even though Lisa & Ryan were concerned, that we managed quite nicely with 16 people in our house. After lunch the kids played on the Wii, while the adults +Amy and Anna played Imaginiff. This game is a lot of fun (with people you know). We would have been fine playing with the Rupes or with the Buchmeyers. All together didn't quite work that well. Apples to Apples is kind of the same way. You have to know the judge and how he/she would think. Maybe we'll play CatchPhrase next time! Anyway, everyone seemed to have a good time, and where was Kyle? In our bed, when he wasn't watching a DVD!

Anna, Sam, Logan, Amy, Brett, Bethany, Katherine, and Elijah (The Buchmeyer/Scheuer kids just before the Buchmeyers left for Mukwonago)

Today was back-to-school time for all of us. It's 9:40 P.M., and all is quiet. Katherine and Logan had lots of homework. Brett and I went out to get his Class C sheet music for his saxophone. He is still not feeling well. I pray he has a good night's rest. Brett has a basketball game tomorrow after school. Jim is not feeling well, either. He is already up in bed. Logan is practicing on his trumpet. There are tryouts next week in Band.

That's all for now. Have a great week!

Lions vs Packers (12/28/08)

Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions

On Saturday morning, I found out that Dad got me tickets to the game. I was so happy, because I had wanted this gift more than anything. I was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan more than 11 years ago. I started being a Lions fan to annoy Logan. It worked! But then I started really liking the team. I figure since I was born in MI, I am allowed to be a Lions fan. Anyway, Dad and I got up early Sunday morning to leave for Green Bay. I complained because of all the layers of clothes Mom made me wear. There was a lot of traffic, and the weather was not good. We got to church late. Whenever we are in Green Bay, we go to Pilgrim Lutheran Church. It is sort of across the street from Lambeau Field. My parents know one of the pastors, Pastor Malme. He used to be the Pastor at their church in Rockford, IL. After church, we went to Lambeau Field to get our tickets. We had really good seats...Section 125, Row 51, Seat 10. We were on the Lions side! I stood up and cheered loudly when the Lions were introduced, while everybody else booed. Dad wouldn't let me boo when the Packers were introduced. I gotta say that I did not like the smokers, the fans chanting bad things about the Detroit Lions, and of course, the Lions losing. I did like being there with my Dad. Besides our feet freezing, we were totally warm. After the game we went to Old Country Buffet. We did not like the food there. We should have gone anywhere but there. Then we stopped off at Shopko's so Dad could look at the Christmas stuff. By the time we got home, it was about 8:15 P.M.

Sledding at Currie Park (12/26/08)

The day after Christmas, we spent time at Curry Park sledding. I am proud to say that I did not hit a tree! It was a Scheuer Outing: Peter, Sarah, Ryan, Stephen, Heather, Isaiah, Ben, Elsiana, Adam, Jill, and Ellie joined the five of us. It was a new experience for little Ellie. She was fine going down a couple times on the sled, but preferred to walk down instead. Elsiana had the smallest tube I have ever seen. Katherine almost made the big jump. Brett went on it two times and had lots of fun!

Jill's Surprise Birthday Party (12/27/08)

Jill's Surprise Birthday Party

Jill's 30th birthday is not until January 12th, but Adam and Jill's Parents, Terry & Dorothy, planned a surprise party for her over Christmas Break. The party was on a rainy winter day, at Club Garabaldi on the South side of town. Besides for the smoke, it was a wonderful place to hold all Jill's friends and relatives. There was great "snacky" foods, good conversations, and games. Happy Birthday, Jill! May God bless you with good health (for you and Peanut) and good memories.

Merry Christmas! (12/2508)

Christmas Day

When Jim & I were kids, we would get up early to look under the Christmas tree. This morning, our children were in bed sleeping. We were all up quite late last night, but it's Christmas Day! When they got up, we went down and sat on the sofa. Jim read the Christmas Story from the book of Luke. Then we, from the youngest to the oldest, opened gifts. Katherine's big gift was a autographed picture of Mia Hamm. Brett got a Detroit Lions fleece sweatshirt and necktie. Logan got the Iron Man DVD. Jim big gift was a very soft bathrobe, and I got a Wii Fit. We went to Mount Olive's Christmas Day Worship Service.

After taking Lucy out, we drove out to Oconomowoc. We spent the day with the Scheuers. The big surprise gift for Bill & Bobbie was a 42" TV.


Felicia, Ryan, Sarah, and Peter


Jill, Ellie, and Adam











After a very long Christmas Day, Brett and Katherine slept all the way home!

Christmas Eve Wednesday (12/24/08)

Christmas Eve

The Children's Choir sang at the 6:30 P.M. service. After church, we had a Gaba Gathering at our house. Jim made his famous chili. I made desserts. Bedull, Daut & Sue, and Latif & Ruth brought appetizers. The cousins played on the Wii, while we sat upstairs quoting lines from "It's a Wonderful Life." We were laughing so hard. We all have that classic movie memorized! Afterwards we went down to play on the Wii and take a group picture. It was a nice night with family.

Illinois Trip (12/22/08)

This is the 3rd year that Jim, Pastor, and I spent the day in Illinois. We changed things up a bit. With the bitter cold and biting wind, we decided to skip walking around downtown Chicago. Yes, we missed going to the Christmas Market, but we did still have fun. We drove to Glencoe and went to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Wow...it was beautiful! It was not as big as Milwaukee's Mitchell Park Domes, but the tropical flowers and trees were so nice. We walked through the Winter Wonderland: trains all around Chicago landmarks made of natural products (acorns,bark, twigs, trees, etc.).

Shedd Aquarium

Old Soldier Field

We shopped at North Brook Court. Jim and Pastor helped pick out a Christmas dress for Katherine at Hanna Andersson. We grabbed a late "lunch"...bagels at Max's Delicatessen.

We drove past some incredibly huge houses and walked around in Lake Forest. What a quaint little town! After shopping at another mall, we drove to Gurnee and had supper at Giordano's.