Pastor Leaves ... February

We are so so sad, because Pastor Eric and Kristin are leaving us. They took a call down in Jeff City, Missouri. Words cannot express how bummed we are. He is the best pastor I've ever had. Change is never fun. But we wish them the very best.

National History Day ... January

We took a break between dinner and dessert on Gabriel's birthday and went up to Upton to see how Asher's National History Day project went. Last year, he made a movie about the sinking of the Eastland. This year, he did a documentary on the triumphs and tragedies in Major Taylor's life. He loves cycling, so this is a project that hit close to home. He and Nathan even traveled to the Major Taylor velodrome in Indiana, as well as Taylor's grave in Chicago .... to get footage. They had a great little road trip together. And Asher's project got picked to move on to districts in March. Wahoo!! We're so proud of him!

Gabriel's 17th Birthday ... January

Gabe is now 17! SEVENTEEN! I can hardly believe that. I feel like I was 17 yesterday, and now my firstborn has reached this milestone. WOW. He got an awesome new stereo for his car, as well as a lot other fun things, like a chair from Grandma and Papa and new Merrell shoes from us. Then it was lobster and rib eye for dinner and chocolate ganache cake! Mmmmmm!!!

Snow Play

This winter has been horribly snow-free. We had a snow day the day after Thanksgiving break .... but only flurries since then. But last night, we got about 5-6 inches. Wahoo!! It’s anout time! (Although it WOULD have been nice to get it on a school day, and get a snow day...we’ll take what we can get!) Asher invited his buddy Eli over, and Rhy and Gabe joined them outside to build a fort and just play around. Even mom went out and made a snow angel!

Mom’s snow angel

Every day I'm shoveling, shoveling, shoveling...

Gabe made a "dabbing" angel

Mom's angel

Asher and Eli

Asher's angel

CRAZY hair!!!

Asher and Eli making angels

Making snow forts

Duck Dinner ... January

Nate made the most ahhhh-mazing ginger glazed duck for dinner. While I was eating, I felt a set of eyes watching me intently... not that I can blame her, of course.

Book Worms ... January

I looked in the backseat on our way to church this morning, and all three kiddos had their noses buried in a book-by CHOICE!! It made me so happy!!! Rhylah is reading “Warriors”, Asher is reading “The Crimes of Grindewald” screenplay, and Gabriel is reading the “Monstrumologist.”

Grand Mere Hike ... January

"Come away, oh human child, to the waters and the wild." William Butler Yeats
Sometimes, you just have to get OUT! There's a little wooden sign over at Parable that I want to buy ... it says: "My heart lies in the woods." Besides the fact that this COULD sound a little creepy ... I absolutely LOVE it, because it's so true for me. I'm never happier than when I'm traipsing through a forest path with my family. Yesterday, Grandma, me, Rhy, Gabe and Asher all trooped out to Grand Mere to make good use of the 48 degree day. (We've had such odd, warmish weather so far this winter!!) The water was beautiful and a much needed boost to the system. We've been indoors much too much. So this was just what my soul needed! We even found some sea glass.

Ice Skating ... January

Grandma and Papa have been here for about a week ... that's the beauty of their new home! We've had lots of fun time to hang out, play Settlers of Catan and Chase the Ace, watch movies (such as "The Man who Invented Christmas") and have fun outings such as this one, at the ice rink. What a blast!!