So many wonderful memories were created this month...
Soccer season came to a close. Joden really has come a long ways from his very first season at the the age of 3!
Once I saw that Nebraska women were playing Duke this year I decided it was well worth making it work during a hectic work week! We decided to wear blue and red to support both teams because we love them both. Even though I wore Duke, I cheered on the Husker women the whole time:) They ended up upsetting Duke women-it was a lot of fun and well worth going!
The kids loved every minute of it! We are heading back for another game soon:)
Took this picture of Joden's eye because it was a mom moment where I told him he was fine when he came crying one day. A few days later it bruised up pretty good and I felt bad for telling him to toughen up:(
Every year some friends and I decorate Christmas cookies together. We have now been doing it for 7 years. It is a great tradition:)
Had one of my freshman basketball games in Lincoln and Tom Osborne was there. Someone mentioned he had a grandson playing for Lincoln East. Snapped a quick photo because I have never seen him in person:)
The same night I had a game in Lincoln I missed Joden's school Christmas program. Thanks to Mike though I got some pictures and also got to watch it on film the next day. Below he is pictured with 2 girls from our dinner group that also go to his school. I hope they can take a picture like this one when they graduate down the road. Friends for life!
We love doing things as a family on Saturdays! This particular Saturday we decided to eat brunch at Big Apple Bagel and then do some skating at Skate Island because we had never gone there before with the kids. Joden fell a lot, but kept on trying. Reeve really did not move:) It was a great time had by all!
Joden loves coming to the gym with me for basketball and this particular time he played hard if you can't tell:)
Since Joden was in a Christmas program for school this year, we decided he could probably handle the church program. In the past I was worried about him staying on the stage. He did great!
After the Christmas program we went to try and find Mike some work boots at a western store in town. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their 10 cent ride on the horse:)
I extremely enjoyed my extra week off from work. It helps so much to get caught up on things and to also have some time to relax. Life gets crazy and I do well with having some time to refocus:)
Time off also allowed me time to go color my hair for the first time in 8 years. Crazy, but I put my expenses for our children ahead of getting my hair colored. We still of course have kid expenses-thought I would splurge I guess:)
Thought Joden might of had strep due to what his throat looked like. Ran him to the doctor and they said his strep test was negative. He decided while we waited for his test he would be goofy!
The next perk to having some time off from work was being able to visit Joden's classroom. We spent time making a santa treat, making Elf's, reading books, and cleaning up their tables. I LOVED every minute that I got to be there with him! I know before long this will not be cool so I want to cherish every moment that he is excited for me to be around:)
Enjoying some wine in my new glass from my secret santa at work!
During my time off from work I took the kids with me to practice. They were definitely at times a distraction, but the girls all love having them around. Reeve loves to dribble-I do hope she is a baller some day:)
All dressed up for one of my co-workers wedding. We had a fun night!
Something about being in church lately causes Joden to fall asleep and crazy Reeve decided to take off her socks at the reception and stuff them in her dress:)
Taken by Reeve:)
So for a few years now I have been wanting some sort of coat rack with baskets for our multitude of items that we each have/need daily. I initially wanted an old door for the back piece, but through some processing with Mike we ended up with this. I think it turned out great and I appreciate his man skills!
Finished product...Love it!
This Christmas we spent with Mike's family so we exchanged kid gifts with cousins early. Joden was super pumped that he got a Transformer and Reeve got a fun little house to play with. Love having our cousins in town now!
My sister moved to Grand Island about a year ago. Her family finally got moved in August. So, with school out I got to have her girls during break. I am a true believer of keeping the kids entertained with fun things--especially free things! Our first stop was the library for story time.
Our second stop was some fun at a new building that was built for the State Fair this year. They invited educators and I was the only one to show up. The positive in that was we basically got a field trip all to ourselves, the not so exciting thing was the news lady asked me to interview for her. I did not mind the interview, but for my one time debut on TV I was disappointed that I did not do anything with myself that day:)
Our third activity was going to Happy Brush here in Grand Island. The kids were super excited and did pretty darn good:) The worst part was Delayna accidentally dropped her mermaid right before we took our final picture:( I felt really bad for her, but she was so positive about it! We will have to go back some time!
Reeve thought sandals in December to go outside was a great choice!
Nothing like waiting until the 23rd to go see Santa! Joden and Reeve did great, but did sort of freeze up when it came time to tell Santa what they wanted.
Due to heading out for Sidney on the 24th, we spent the 23rd opening our gifts to the kids. It was really great to do so as a family of 4. When you get everyone together it gets hard to appreciate the gifts and not be overwhelmed by too many gifts!
To dad from Joden and Reeve-he got a wallet:) Cute story about this is about a month ago Joden told Mike we had to go on a date to shop for a wallet for dad:) Oops!
Christmas Eve-off to Sidney to celebrate with the Schumachers!
Getting ready for church on Christmas Eve!
Love these two so very much!
Special picture with Papa Schu and Great-Grandma Schumacher! What an amazing woman she is:)
Mike's beautiful sister Heather with her 3 beautiful children. My how they have grown up way too fast! Love you guys!
Words can't even begin to explain how much Joden LOVES his cousin Grant. He looks up to him so much and follows him everywhere every time they are together. What I LOVE about it is Grant did the exact same thing to his Uncle Mike and Dan when he was little:)
Time for gifts-can you tell she is excited?
Of course she picked the blue ring pop:) Joden setting out snacks and letters for Santa!
Christmas morning! What did Santa bring?
Joden was pretty pumped about his bow and he played with it all day long:)
Santa did not forget me this year:)
I think they were pretty darn excited about what Santa brought them:)
We stayed at Mike's brothers house! Thanks Dan and Lisa for everything-we thoroughly enjoyed staying with you guys:)
Mike thinks he needs to give Papa Schu a large candy bar each year now:)
Brothers!
Shooting the bow before the snow storm!
Gift time with Mike's whole family:)
Now that Kati is a big girl she gets an iron and an ironing board:)
Christmas dinner!
Reeve thought it would be fun to take some goofy pictures!
We took advantage of having the opportunity to go out with Mike's siblings. Shannon was gone and we missed her lots! While out we decided it would be fun to dress Dan up:)
The extended Schumacher Christmas. There were 66 of us!
We decided to head home after the Schumacher Christmas and my co-pilot just couldn't hang!
Home! Time to relax:)
Joden got to go to a 3 day basketball tournament with me. He had way too much fun and entertained everyone:) I love that he gets to be a part of these experiences with me!
On day 3 on the way home he was literally so exhausted that he fell asleep on the floor of the bus and then in my arms!
A writing lesson Joden decided to do all by himself-I love it!
Finally, New Years Eve was spent at the Kastens house. They are our dinner group friends. We hung out in sweats and played Headbands. Good times!
Again, like I said December was filled with many memories! So thankful for the many opportunities we have been blessed with and for our family and friends. What a great ending to 2014. 2015 here we come!
January has been a wonderful start to 2015 and we look forward to the many wonderful memories that lie ahead. As always we are so thankful for the blessings we have and pray that we are always reminded of God's presence each and every day!
