Band Fundraiser

Tonight Andy had to "work" the band fundraiser. It was the band's "20th Annual Garage Sale". The different bands were scheduled to play at different times and band members helped customers carry merchandise to their cars. The garage sale brought in $13,700.

Happy Birthday Dad

Missing my dad on his birthday...

B-I-N-G-O

Andy and I went to a fundraising event at his school. The PTSO had a Community Bingo Night. You paid $5.00 at the door and were able to play for 3 hours. They gave away door prizes every 30 minutes. They also were selling raffle tickets for a flat screen tv, $200 spa treatment, motorized scooter, 2 ipods, prepaid cell phone, and several other things I can't remember.

Merry Christmas Dad

Merry Christmas Dad.....

The Christmas Eve Blizzard

Here it is Christmas Eve and we're in the middle of a blizzard. Hope Santa can find his way!

Andy's Holiday Photos

Here are various holiday photos of Andy.

Braden's Holiday Photos

Here are various holiday photos of Braden.

Scotlyn's Holiday Photos

Here are various holiday photos of Scotlyn.

Santa Pictures

The kids went to Bass Pro for their annual visit with Santa.

Andy's Winter Formal

Tonight was Andy's "Winter Formal" at his school.

Andy before going to the "Winter Formal".


Andy with his girlfriend, Kelsey, at the "Winter Formal".

The Plaza Lights

We took a drive over to Missouri tonight to check out the Kansas City Plaza Lights. The kids really enjoyed them and it's starting to get them excited about the Christmas season.

Andy's First Day of School

Summer Fun

Here are various pictures from our summer.

Braden trying on his sister's sunglasses.

Last Night With My "Chosen Few" Girls

Tonight I met some of my "Chosen Few" girls for a last get together before moving. It was great to see them one last time. They surprised me with going away cards and gifts. I will really miss living so close to them and being able to get together with them each month.

Packing Day

The movers arrived today to pack us up for our move to Kansas.

Andy's 11th Birthday

Andy celebrated his 11th birthday today. Andy decided he wanted to eat at a local Chinese restaurant and then go to DQ for a new Brownie Batter Blizzard. Later, Andy opened his presents...his own cell phone, professional binoculars, a mega water gun, inflatable gladiator sticks, and water balloons...and celebrated with streamers, balloons, and a chocolate birthday cake. 

"Chosen Few" Night Out

I had the opportunity to go out with my "chosen ones girls" group of friends tonight. We went to the Springfield Brewing Company for dinner and sat around talking (laughing) for several hours. I will miss these friends...hopefully they can rode trip up my way and I can head back to southwest MO for some more girls nights out. Thanks Linda, Jen, Tabby, Juli, Andrea, Missy, Sharon, Becky, Kristine, Angie, and Lorie for the different times this past year we were able to get together for dinner and fun.

The Week at Grandma & Grandpa's House

Andy, Braden, Scotlyn, and I headed up to Brookfield, MO on Monday, May 25th to spend the week with my parents. We enjoyed visiting family and were also able to play in Brookfield's parks several times, play badminton, and tour the Walt Disney Museum and Wishing Tree in Marceline, MO.

Andy Celebrates A Friend's Birthday

Andy was invited to his friend Jacob W's birthday party which included spending the night. Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Breakfast With Mom

Today Braden's preschool celebrated Mother's Day by having "Breakfast with Mom". I was able to quickly eat a few donuts with Braden. I wish I could have stayed longer, but extremely bad storms were moving into southwest Missouri and I knew I needed to leave for the drive to work. Unfortunately, our town was hit by an F2 tornado.

Dixie Stampede Field Trip

The fifth grade classes at Andy's school went on their big field trip to Dixie Stampede in Branson today. He loved it!!!

Andy's Curriculum Night

Tonight was Curriculum Night at Andy's school. Braden, Scotlyn, and I enjoyed seeing Andy's work on display in the hallway. We also attended the school's book fair where Braden wanted to buy every book he saw.

Library Day for Braden

Today Braden's preschool had "Library Day". The local county library came to the preschool and read books and talked about a library.

Scotlyn's Surgery

In February we discovered that Scotlyn had fluid in her ears and had 20% hearing. Today she had minor surgery to put tubes in her ears. Hopefully this will help improve her speech and help her balance better when she walks.

Easter Bunny Fun...????

The kids had the chance to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.

Just A Walking!

Scotlyn is officially a walker today!

Braden Starts Preschool!

Today Braden started preschool!

Braden's Drawing

This is Braden's drawing of a snowman.

~February 2, 2009~

Native American Artifact Museum

This year I had my students make Native American artifacts to wrap up our unit. The projects went on display in our "5th Grade Native American Artifact Museum". We invited parents and other classroom to tour our museum. The kids did a wonderful job.

The Museum Welcome Sign

Artifacts in the Desert Southwest Section of the Museum

Artifacts in the Great Plains Section of the Museum

Artifacts from the Woodlands Section of the Museum

Grandma's Christmas Cookies

Scotlyn had her first taste of Grandma's Christmas cookies...the best Christmas cookies in the world!!!

January 1, 2009

Brookfield, MO

Scotlyn reaching for a cookie.

"Yummy!!! I love this cookie!!!"

"Hey, that's my cookie...this is my chair! Gee, brothers can be annoying at times!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grandma's Christmas Cookies Recipe

(The Best in the World)

Ingredients for Cookies

• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions for Making Cookies

• Mix Ingredients
• Chill dough in refrigerator
• Roll dough out on floured area
• Cut with cookie cutters
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or so
• Let cookies cool
• Put icing and sprinkles on

Ingredients for Icing

• 1 cup powder sugar
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons milk

Directions for Making Icing

• Soften margarine by heating in pan on the stove burner
• Add sugar, vanilla, and milk
• Heat until it's consistency is that of frosting

The Family Christmas Extravaganza

The 1st Annual

"Family Christmas Extravaganza"

Another new tradition we added to our Christmas this year was "The Family Christmas Extravaganza". The kids sang songs and danced during a Christmas show.. Next year Scotlyn will add her own routine to the show. It's a wonderful idea that is memorable (and humorous). More importantly it's something we can all do together and it's practically free. I hope it's something we continue far into the future with daughter-in-laws, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Andy performing his song and dance routine for the show

Andy and Braden (look closely) performing in the show.

Braden doing his dance routine in the show.

Christmas Down on the Farm~2nd Santa Pictures

We attended the Rutledge-Wilson Farm's "Christmas Down on the Farm" event on Sunday, December 21st. The kids were able to get their pictures taken with Santa. You should have seen Santa's outfit. It was so beautiful! If you look closely you can see the Nativity scene on the lining.

Scotlyn's First Haircut

Scotlyn had her first haircut today...just a bang cut. She did not like it as you will see.

Before

The saddest face you'll ever see!

Snip, Snip!

It's over!
After

Extra Christmas Break

Due to the snow & ice, I was able to have almost another whole week off to make my Christmas break almost 3 weeks long! I did have to go back on Friday, December 19th. Gee, for one day!!! My class made origami snowflakes and watched a movie. Pretty rough day, don't you think?

Andy's Christmas Program

Tonight was Andy's Christmas program. This was probably my favorite program out of all he's ever had. The kids sang five Christmas songs making every student have equal parts, the kids were dressed in Sunday best clothes, and they did a little dancing while on the risers.

Winter decided to make itself known during the program. The sound of sleet could be heard hitting the rooftop of the auditorium. The sound added a special touch to the program and gave it more meaning.

Welcome winter!!!!

St. Nicholas Eve

Tonight is St. Nicholas Eve.

St. Nicholas was the patron Saint of children. Many years ago I wanted to find a way to honor my German heritage at Christmas since there are so many wonderful German Christmas customs. That's when I discovered Saint Nicholas Eve and Saint Nicholas Day. Our family adopted the tradition and it is enjoyed so much by the kids. Several years ago, I talked to my mom about Saint Nicholas Eve. She knew exactly what it was and told me she remembered it from when she was a little girl. Tomorrow we honor the generosity and kindness of Saint Nicholas.

Andy, Braden, and Scotlyn are fast asleep, but have left their shoes out on the porch with their Santa letters. Santa will come for a short visit during the night to get their letters and leave a special sweet treat.

The Christmas Tree Skirt

Any of you that know me well, know that I'm into starting family traditions. Several years back, I read about a way to make a family Christmas tree skirt. You buy a cloth table cover, dip your childrens' hands in seasonal fabric paint and press their hand prints on the table cover. Below the hand prints you add the year with the fabric paint.

We started this tradition back in 2004 and of course it was just Andy's hand prints that year. Then in 2005 and 2006, it was Andy's and Braden's. Our family grew again by "two feet" in 2007 and it was Andy's, Braden's, and Scotlyn's hand prints.

This year when we added the hand prints, we noticed that we've almost made our way around the first row of the skirt. Soon we'll be on the second row. The skirt will probably only allow three rows, then I guess we'll go to thumb prints on the ruffle.

Our Christmas tree skirt is very special and the kids anticipate adding their hand prints each year. Last year the skirt was "accidentally" vacuumed up and torn. Never fear though...Grandma to the rescue!!! We are so fortunate Grandma could fix it. The vacuum cleaner "scar" has added character to the skirt and so much more.

So along with the memories of adding the hand prints each year, the memories of Christmas pasts, we have the story about the year dad vacuumed it and tore it. We have the story of how Grandma was able to sew it back together. We have our appreciation and love for Grandma. We have the memory of how Grandma added her own special touch to our Christmas tree skirt.

Thank you mom.

Santa Pictures Take 1

Santa Pictures-Take 1

November 29, 2008

Scotlyn's 1st Birthday

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Scotlyn,

Happy birthday to you!"

Waiting for the birthday girl

Scotlyn in front of her cake. She doesn't seem real happy.

She really is not happy!

She's not getting any happier!


"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!!!"

She completely does not like this birthday cake deal!

Okay, so let's put a hat on her. That might make her happy....nope!

I think she's calming down.

Scotlyn with Andy and Braden. She finally tried her cake.

Andy and Braden helping Scotlyn eat her cake. Is that a smile?

Andy helping open a present.

Scotlyn looking at her boots.

Andy and Braden helping Scotlyn with her toys.

Andy watching Scotlyn look at his gift to her.