Merry Christmas!!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since September but it has been really busy. My sister came to visit twice, once in August and once in November, with her cute little boy and her husband, Cary. We had so much fun together. Boy, I wish she lived closer:( We also have canned and froze a lot this year. I lost count on how many quarts of tomatoes, salsa, pumpkin pie filling, beans, peppers, etc.. we processed but we are stocked up for the winter and seeing the freezer and shelves full makes all the work worth it. We made Jalepeno poppers this year for the first time. They are delicious as long as you like them hot. I will need to take out more seeds next year. But if you have a sinus cold they are the ticket to feeling better. We started school and it has been going really well this year. Anthony decided he wanted to take a couple classes at the Vocation College this winter so we will see how it goes. He wants to go full-time next year, his Senior Year, for WindPower Techonology. I can't believe he will be a Senior next year. I am definitely not ready for it. We celebrated my 41st and Joe's 42nd Birthday. Mine in October and Joe's in December. Those definitely come very fast each year. Then Christmas came. I was so excited for Advent this year. I was going to enjoy the whole season but of course it got busier than I planned. We had fun making cookies which Christina decided she loved the taste of. We made Krumakaka, Lefse, Belgian cookies, cutouts (which Christina made sure had a lot of sugar on them), almond bark pretzels, star cookies, monster cookies, and Ginger cookies. I can't wait until the sugar is out of the house. We found out that sugar is like caffeine for Miss Princessa. She has been off the walls the whole month of December. But she sure enjoyed Christmas this year. It is so much fun watching them enjoy every aspect of the season which we lose with all the hussle and bussle of the season. Christmas Eve: We wish you a very Merry Christmas and may the New Year be filled with many blessings and keep you safe and healthy!!

Happy Birthday Maria

Maria was born on Mother Mary's Birthday so we knew we would name her after Mary but Joe and I had to decide on Mary or Maria. Maria fits her so well so Maria it was. She is my big helper expecially with her little sister. She knows how to patch clothes thanks to her Dad:) and she likes to dust and organize. She loves to play the piano. She always has a smile. You may not believe this but she is a talker. We have so much fun talking while we are canning or cooking together. She is a sweetheart through and through. She is such a blessing.

Maria wants to learn to sew other than patches so we will learn together.

When you don't have candles. Just make the number.

6 Years Old 7 Years Old

8 Years Old

9 Years Old

10 Years Old-Happy Birthday Maria Therese.

Summer 2009

Ok, so I am not the best poster during the summer. It has a been a busy summer with acitivities, canning, visitors, freezing, camp, canning, birthday and VBS....did I mention canning or freezing? We started out with Anthony leaving for most of the summer to work with Darren and Grandpa on the farm with a little hunting mixed in. Then Michael had baseball for the first time since he was little. He did great and had a lot of fun. Father's day we went to Mom and Dad's for the Saddle Horse holiday parade of which there were no pictures due to rain but fun was had by all especially at the gathering at Mom and Dad's for potluck. July 3rd we went to the Fireworks at the casino and it rained. Did you know they can shoot fireworks in the rain.... Look below how to enjoy fireworks in the rain. Then Maria went to her first camp at Schoenstatt in Sleepy Eye . She loved it. I was worried I would be getting a call to pick her up but her schedule was so full she didn't have time to miss us. Then came VBS...I was the preschool director and Maria attended. It was so much fun with 47 kids present with 15 being preschoolers. They learned to "Fear Not" for the Lord is with them in the Crocodile Dock in the Bayou. They built comfort critters to give to other children in need that said "God Care". Then littleMiss Christina Maria turned 3. She is full of love, charm, temper and kisses. She has turned into an excellent actress. She has learned how to fake cry and then can turn it off in a second and give you the biggest smile that will warm anyones heart. Then Carolee and Logan came from Florida for 10 glorious days. Logan finally was able to handle Christina being his mother by the last couple days. She was a mother hen. ...she was always trying to hold his hand or dance with him. I think he will be sick of girls for a long time. We miss them so much already. We are hoping they will come back soon. During all this I was crazy and decided to do Spring cleaning plus canning and freezing of the garden's produce, which as been producing so well. Here is our summer in pictures. Enjoy!!

Father's Day. What a wonderful Father and Husband.

Michael's all day Baseball Tournament. We left at 8:00 in the morning and didn't get home until 10:30PM. They placed 4th.

Having our picnic lunch under a shade tree. It brought back memories when I was in softball at the all day tournaments.

One of the rare over 90 degree days this summer. School's summer sizzler.

Watching Fireworks in the rain.... what an adventure.

VBS Christina turns 3. Our little baby is growing up.

These are the eyes we have a difficult time saying "No" to.

Christina teaching Logan what rocks are really good for.....putting in the lawn:)

Celebrating Logan's(May), Christina's(August), and Maria's(September) Birthday

Grandma, Grandpa and the grandkids with Carolee...Logan didn't want to let Mama go.

Family Picture of Cary, Carolee and Logan...since Daddy couldn't come.