A Gathering of Friends at a Fondue Party

I wish I had all the photos of the fondue party because some of my friend's pictures were quite hilarious. I didn't have a chance to get them from her before she left for vacation...aw shucks! Anyway, after we all were stuffed beyond capacity, we played a game of Catch Phrase. Then myself and two of the guys (Steve and Bryan) decided standing on our heads would be a fun thing to do. Okay, not so much! Although I was impressed that I could still do it, at 31 and many pounds heavier, one's head can't withstand the pressure for very long. Needless to say, I had a headache and my neck and back haven't been the same since. We also thought it was a good idea to do cartwheels...I think I pulled a hamstring :) Can you believe that all this was done without any alcohol in our systems? Oh, to explain the "Ouch, too much pineapple" picture. Felicity ate too much pineapple which caused her lips to swell and have the "chapped" feeling. The carrots were cooling them off. We all had a good time and are looking forward to the next party whenever and wherever it will be!

Kory's cold did not escape the family...Jason and Kyle came down with it; however, not as badly as Kory. I have yet to get it and I am crossing my fingers that it doesn't catch up with me! Kory has his first official school program on Thursday evening. I have no idea what they are singing, I just know that he is part of the drama section (how fitting), playing a gingerbread man. He is very excited. It should be pretty good, he has some characters in his class!

I have to apologize that my posts aren't very interesting or newsworthy...it's just that the winter months in Wisconsin get quite long and nobody really comes out of their houses, unless it's a necessity. And, if our family isn't out doing something, we are pretty much doing very mundane things within the confines of this house. I am hoping that as spring and summer approaches that more excitement will fill our lives and I will have more to report. However, for now, you'll have to endure the mundane and wait with anticipation for the excitement :)

Anyway, as Patsy Clairmont puts it in her book entitled, "The Shoe Box", "A flip-flop is like a slipper with it's top down. Their casual approach suggests ease and relaxation. The kicked-back pace of a flip-flop day or week allows us to contemplate our blessings." So, here's wishing you a flip-flop week!

A Night Out....At the Symphony

Jason and I broadened our horizons this past weekend by attending the Hamburg Symphony at the Grand Theater. A friend of ours had two extra tickets and invited us to join her. It was a wonderful evening out. A long overdue evening out! The music was beautiful and it was amazing to watch them master their instruments. However, by the third composer and 2nd movement of the piece, we were ready for it to be over. I don't know if they were playing to our unsophisication , but they ended with what we know as "Beef, it's what's for dinner". We laughed at the fact that that was the only piece we recognized. Anyway, I'm good for another year or two :) At least I was able to get dressed up and act sophisicated for an evening.

Kory came down with a bad cold so he has missed two days of school. I am hoping he gets over it quickly and none of the rest of us come down with it.

This weekend we are going to a fondue party at our friends' house. I hear the chocolate & strawberries calling my name...yum! Oh yeah, the steak and chicken should be good too.

Anyway, there isn't too much to report this week. We are all doing well (except for the cold) and looking forward to enjoying a very unscheduled, relaxing week. Take care and God bless.

Whew...what a Christmas!

CHRISTMAS #1

This Christmas we made the 3 hour trip to to my mom's house in Balsam Lake, WI. We left on Friday, December 22nd, right before the big storm hit Wausau. We missed the ice, 8 inches of snow and a 20-hour power outage!



Keeping up with tradition, the boys and Grandma baked sugar cookies (mom doesn't have the patience!). Grandma had already had so many goodies at her place that looking at another cookie was just too much. I think most of the sugar cookies were tossed. Mostly because no one could stand to eat them after the boys finished decorating them -- two inches of frosting and another 1/8 inch of sprinkles. We also baked a cake in honor of Jesus' birthday, which we did eat.

These were the edible ones!

The boys endured the time-honored tradition of having to wait to open gifts until after the evening Christmas Eve service and supper. At least this year's meal was a quick and easy clean-up...Turkey and Wild Rice Soup...yum, yum! It was a request from Grandpa. I'm really not sure why this tradition has stuck. I remember being a kid and having to wait the whole day before being able to rip off the wrapping paper to see what was inside. If I have to admit it, I really don't enjoy it as an adult!


Kyle was in charge of the camera for part of the gift opening. He did fairly well, only a few pictures that needed deleting. He said we needed a good picture of Jason and I so I think that this one will do :)

Grandma and her boys!

The boys were very excited when ripping off the wrapping paper revealed a PS2. Here they ALL are testing out the car racing game. Kyle and Jason didn't do so well using the steering wheel and foot pedals so Kory opted to not even try. Look at them, could we be any more zoned out?!

CHRISTMAS #2

On Christmas Day we went to my dad's house in Osceola, WI (20 minutes from mom's) and celebrated our second Christmas. It was a very relaxing day and there wasn't any waiting this time. We snacked vegetables (a welcomed addition to our diet), opened gifts, watched the movie "Cars" ( for about the 10th time). The boys got a tractor ride on Grandpa's tractor, played on the hay bails in the barn, and pet and fed the horses. They are anxiously awaiting summer when they can ride them. Later in the afternoon, we went to my aunt and uncle's house for ham, augratin potatoes, salads and too many scrumtious desserts to choose from.

After devoiding ourselves of all sanity for 10 minutes, we came back to reality which revealed two new monster trucks, a game of Perfection and roller blades. I now have monster trucks zooming across my kitchen floor and Kyle has even given his roller blades a whirl.

Grandpa Harlan and the boys

We came home on Wednesday, the 27th. Jason went back to work Thursday and Friday. The boys and I just relaxed and enjoyed not having an alarm clock to awaken us! We spent time with friends on Friday and Saturday evening and rang in New Year's by ourselves (barely made it until midnight)...watching the ball drop in Times Square. Jason spent New Year's Day watching football and bow hunting, I cleaned out closets, and the boys played playstation and enjoyed some time outside . I think all levels or episodes of the Legos Star Wars game have been conquered.

Nothing like an alarm clock to snap you back to reality...vacation is over and school is back in session. Today was brutal; however, I am hoping for sunshine and flowers tomorrow :)

I hope that you all had a safe and relaxing holiday season and that 2007 brings you many blessings.