Welcome Baby Aric!

We have a new little nephew! Jason's brother and his wife, Sarah, had their baby...

Aric Jude Rieth

7# 1oz. ~ 21"

January 21, 2008

Davin, the proud big brother

Jesse, the proud daddy, called us on Monday about an hour after Aric was born to tell us the news. Aric was screaming in the background, what a precious sound :-) We have talked to Sarah through e-mail and everything is going well. She says that Aric is a very good, quiet baby. Jesse is able to take two weeks off of work to help at home and Davin seems to be adjusting well. We are so happy for them!

Best Bear

Kory is Best Bear this week at school, which means that he gets to sit is a special chair and be the line leader. Benjamin Bear came home on Monday for a sleepover (Benjamin Bear is the classroom bear that goes from house to house throughout the year.) Then Benjamin has to write about his adventures in his journal. Or shall I say that I had to become one with the bear and write in his journal :-) Jason, Kyle and I visited Kory's class to tell them all about Kory and then read one of his favorite stories..."A Bad Case of Stripes". Kory was stoked to have us all there. The kids were quite interested in what Jason does for a living. They thought it was pretty cool that there are people that figure out how buildings stand up and don't cave in on us. We also had the privilege of having a "delicious" lunch with Kory...the school's finest BBQ on a bun and salad. Thankfully, it tasted better than it smelled! All-in-all Kory has had a great week as Best Bear.

What Boys Do When They Get A Hold of the Camera

CAHHHH-RAAAAAZY!

Well as I write this we are under a winter storm warning. It has already snowed about 4 inches and we are suppose to get about 4 more before it stops. The snow is fine, but the below zero temps that are coming with it...not so fun. I believe the high on Saturday is suppose to be -11 with about the same degree windchill. Also due to the weather the Pampered Chef party that I had scheduled for this evening has been cancelled, BUT a friend of ours is taking the boys snow tubing...so Jason and I have the evening to ourselves...what are we to do?!

Anyway, nothing else new. I hope you all are having splendid weeks.

Happy New Year!

Oh my goodness! It has been a month since I last posted...shame on me. Anyway, the month was filled with Christmas parties, Christmas, family visiting, sickness, New Years and a weekend in Green Bay with 3200 teenagers. Whew!

Christmas

This is how Jason and the boys spent a good portion of the day Christmas Eve...

We got around 10-12 inches of freshly fallen snow between Dec. 23 & 24, which made for a beautiful white Christmas.

After having to stare at the huge presents under the tree, the boys were finally able to rip into them at around 7pm on Christmas Eve and here are the results...

Kory and his drums

Kory has mastered the "We will rock you" beat quite well. He is still a closet drummer...he will not perform with anyone watching him. But, we are blessed with his "music" quite often. Little does he know that just because he is in his room with the door closed, we can still hear him :)

Kyle's new guitar

Kyle was pumped! Since neither Jason and I play the guitar or know anything about them, Kyle had to wait for Grandpa Harlan to come the next weekend to show him the basic chords. He has slowly been practicing learning the chords, but has decided he needs to find a way to toughen up his fingers, not realizing that if he just sticks with it, it will happen on its own. It's my job this week to get him lined up with lessons. Jason is also contemplating purchasing a guitar for himself and taking lessons with Kyle.

Christmas Day we did nothing but lie around. Well, Jason and I did. After receiving Star Wars Lego's, Epidoe II PS2 game from Uncle Jess and Aunt Sarah, they proceeded to play 10 hours straight. What horrible parents we are!

My dad and his wife visited on New Year's weekend. They intended on staying Friday through Sunday, but a nasty form of virus decided to invade my body and needless to say, I wasn't very hospitable. They left on Saturday night, but before leaving they, together with Jason were able to build walls in our storage room in the basement making one huge room into three smaller ones.

Like I said, I was in bed all day Saturday with 101 temp, body aches, head congestion, cough and to top it off, the virus decided to throw in the stomach flu with it. Outstanding! Thankfully, the stomach flu portion was very short-lived.

Sunday I was feeling much better so my mom and her husband decided to come for a visit. They got here Sunday afternoon and after being here for about an hour, my step-dad was in bed with the stomach flu. Could I possibly get anymore germs in my house?! However, between all of the sicknesses we were able to finish opening all of the presents and the boys were quite excited when one of the unwrappings revealed a Wii. So the rest of the day was filled with playing numerous games of bowling, baseball, tennis and boxing. Jason and I have discovered just how out of shape we are. I seriously pulled a muscle in my butt bowling...honestly...how ridiculous is that!

My mom and step-dad left in the afternoon on New Year's Eve and then we met up with some friends for dinner. After dinner we went and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. Then rang in the new year at their place.

Are you still with me? I am just about wrapped up with the month.

This last weekend Jason and I went with our youth group to Green Bay for Districts Youth Conference. 3200 youth filled 5 hotels in Green Bay for 3 days. It was an awesome, sleep-deprived weekend. By the Tree lead worship each day and God moved in powerful ways through our speaker, Jeff Kline.

So...here we are at the present. We are back into our routine and I am slowly getting through my Monday. So I must end this much overdue post so I can go get groceries so that we do not starve this week. It's bad when you don't even have eggs and bread left. And, I don't want to go through another morning of battling with Kory over which cereal he wants for breakfast, Cornflakes or Rice Krispies. This is the conversation I have had with him every morning since last Friday..."Kory do you want Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies?"..."I want toast."..."We don't have any bread...Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies?"..."But I don't like those cereals. I will have eggs"..."We don't have any eggs. Your choices are Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies"..."But I don't like them"..."Sorry, but that is all we have, you have to choose one"..."Oh, alright! I'll have Rice Krispies, but only with sugar on them." Then I have to sit and watch his pathetic attempts at eating the unwanted cereal. With each bite there comes a new facial expression emphasizing his disgust and displeasure of having to eat this horrible cereal! What drama--he should win an Oscar!

Well, have a great week. Oh, thanks to all of you who sent us Christmas cards, I love hearing about your lives and seeing the new pictures.

Ugh...Winter!

Winter has arrived much to my dismay. Yep, you got it, not a speck of green grass showing anywhere anymore. Oh how I hate winter...the cold and having to get bundled up just to step outside; adding snow pants, boots, hats and gloves into our morning routine and hoping no one forgets to throw their shoes in their backpacks and listening to Kory grumble because his hat is going to mess up his hair (what drama); finding places to hang all of the wet snow clothes to dry before another day begins; constantly mopping up wet floors which are left because little (and big) shoes carry in the snow...But, the boys are lovin' it.



The only good thing about the winter season is that it brings along with it Christmas. A wonderful time of year...families gathering together to share in the celebration of our Savior's birth. I love the Christmas light displays (some people are so creative, we are not among those people). Each house decorated in its own special way. I am not crazy about the hustle and bustle between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the anticipation of Christmas subsides the irritation.

We are starting a new "tradition" this year...we are going to cut down our own Christmas tree. I know that this is not a new thing, it's just one that we haven't done yet. The boys are so excited to go "hunt" for that perfect tree.

We have already begun the Christmas festivities as Jason's office had a party for the Big Brother/Big Sister program here in Wausau. The kids came up to the office where they met their mentors for the day and were able to do several activities (i.e. picture with Santa, crafts, cookie decorating). The best part of the day was sitting around the Christmas tree and letting all those kids rip into their pile of presents and seeing the joy on their faces and sending each family home with two laundry baskets full of food. What an honor it was to have a part in blessing these children and their families.

We are joining in the "hustle and bustle" of the season as we have a weekend packed with Christmas programs and parties. Starting with the boys' Christmas program on the 13th, one office party on the 14th (and Jason's birthday), another on the 15th and the youth groups' on the 16th (at our house). Whew! Speaking of parties...who ever came up with the "White Elephant" gift exchange? I am not a big fan. This is an event where you grab a present with high hopes it's not someone else's garbage and to either be elated that is not or left with the thought of "What in the world am I going to do with this?". And to throw a little wrench in the festivities, your "gift" can be stolen only for you to repeat the process again. Have I mentioned how much I dislike this "gift exchange"?

I apologize that this post doesn't warrant warm fuzzies, I am truly thankful for the blessing God has given to me and by family...winter just rubs me the wrong way!

Here's hoping that you and your families are staying warm and "enjoying" this winter season :)

Happy 10th Birthday, Kyle

Kyle William

November 13, 1997, at 2:00 p.m.

6# 11 oz. ~ 19" long

Now look at him!

We had a party with Kyle's friends on Sunday afternoon. Based on the noise they created, they had a good time. Let's just put it this way, the dart guns will never be the same!

It's hard to believe that my sweet boy is already 10. I think about how quickly 10 years went by and eight short years from now he will be graduating from high school. Six years he'll be driving. Now that is a scary thought...hopefully, his attention span will increase somewhat before then. He's so easily distracted. I don't know what's harder to come to grips with the fact that Kyle is approaching another stage in his life or that I am getting older...nearer and nearer to 40!

Well off to finish up our crazy, busy week.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Man!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY!

Kory Douglas came into this world Friday, November 9, 2001 at 5:55 a.m. It's hard to believe that six years have gone by already. My sweet boy is growing up too fast. He came into this world in his own sweet time and still does everything by his schedule. However, he is still full of mercy, joy, determination, humor and spunk.

He came walking into the kitchen yesterday morning with the biggest smile on his face saying, "I'm 6 today!" In my opinion, he is the cutest six year old around, but I am a little bias :)

He had his first "official" birthday party -- 5 of his friends over for games, pizza, cake and ice cream. I think I must have been delirious when I said, "yes" to having 5 additional 6-year olds in my house. All-in-all it went very well and all the boys had fun. After all the boys left, we cleaned up the house before Grandma and Grandpa Olson arrived. Then Kory wanted to watch "Spiderman 3". However, only Kyle and I made it to the end, the rest were watching the insides of the their eyelids.

Today we are celebrating with Grandma and Grandpa, which I'm not sure how much longer Kory will stand looking at the present sitting in the living room. He had to double-check with me this morning to make sure he can open that present today. And also had to clarify one thing... "We can open presents, but you don't have to sing Happy Birthday to me because I'm already six and it's not really my birthday anymore". We must have sounded horrible last night!

Well, one birthday down, one more to go...Kyle's party on Sunday and actual birthday on Tuesday.

Can you say "Yee-haw?"

Last night all of us youth leaders got together for a meal at Texas Roadhouse (new restaurant in town). Some thought it would be fun to go dressed in western wear (I was not one) so here we all are in our gidup! Some went all the way and some, like myself, went with the fashionable cowboy.

Here I am, sporting my cowgirl attire :)

Steve

Ali

Emily (what a nut!)

Gus, nice banana

Jerrick, he's the new sheriff in town!

Rachel

Unfortunately, I did not get everyone's individual picture. Anyway, the food was delicious. In fact, I just finished eating my leftovers...yum! After dinner, most of the gang went onto a local bar to ride the mechanical bull. Jas and I decided to opt out of that one. I haven't spoken to anyone yet today to see how that went :)

The boys stayed with some friends of ours who took them to The Pizza Factory for dinner. They played their share of arcade games and had a blast. When we went to pick them up, they were hard at work painting piggy banks. Well, they were up early today to finish them; however, they ended up recruiting me in this process to finish them up. Here are the finished products.

Kory's

Kyle's

Today we are enjoying a lazy Saturday...we haven't had one of those for awhile. Enjoy your weekend and week to come. Drop us a line if you have a chance.

Oh my goodness....so behind!

Hey everyone ~ I am so behind. I can't believe my last post was a month ago. We have been so busy, I can barely see straight! October started with a whirlwind trip to Valley City, North Dakota for Jason's cousin's wedding. We were able to drop the boys off at Grandma and Grandpa's and have the weekend to ourselves. It was great. The wedding was beautiful and it was wonderful catching up with the family. The boys had a blast with G & G. Here's few pic's of their time spent there.

We had a week at home and then off to Valley City again for pheasant hunting. We met up with Jason's dad and brother and aunt, uncle and cousins. Unfortunately our friend, Dan, from KC was unable to make it this year....bummer! He was truly missed. We had a good time, but it wasn't the same without him. We were up and at 'em at 5:45 a.m on Saturday; breakfast at the Hilltop Cafe at 6:30 (yum...do you hear my sarcasm?...those of you who know me well, know I hate breakfast); trampling through CRP, soybean and corn fields by 8 a.m. It was a bit harder hunting this year because of all the rain and all the crops being unharvested. Most of our spots for hunting with either filled with water or covered with crops. Nothing like chasing pheasant through a corn field :) We had a good time though and lots of exercise. It was just nice to be able to be outside all day with no responsibilities! Everyone but us left on Sunday afternoon so it was just Jas and I on Monday. Which turned out to be the best day for hunting. We would have filled out by 11 am, if we could have found 3 of the 6 pheasants we (well Jason) shot. Jason did awesome! He got his first triple (3 shots, 3 birds). Maybe some day, I too, will be that good. He was 9 for 11 on Monday. All-in-all we were able to bring home 9 birds.

Us and the boys with the last day's limit

The boys were exhausted by the end of each day. The ride back to the farm pretty much looked like this everyday.

Our lives have been pretty chaotic since returning home and I am still trying to catch up. The next few weeks are filled to capacity...maybe by February we'll be able to slow down. We are looking forward to the boys' birthdays. We have two parties planned this year (I can't get away with having them together anymore) and Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit too! I think we are going to check out "The Bee Movie".

I hope that all of you are doing well...have a great week and God bless.

Church Ladies go...Paintballing

On Saturday I had the one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life...paintball! Dressed in full camo armed with a gun full of ammo, we headed out to the first course. We divided into teams, formed a strategy and the game began. We took off with the goal to capture the orange teams' flag. Our strategy didn't quite work, the orange team conquered us. Alison, Jessica and me

There were several courses, but I would have to say that the "Gates of Hell" was my favorite. I was down in the trenches defending our territory. People were getting hit left and right, but I was advancing. I made it to an opening and hit the ground, crawling on my belly to accomplish our goal...the flag. I had paintballs flying over my head and I was shooting back until I ran out of ammo. I ditched the gun and began crawling like a mad woman. I made it within 6 feet of the flag and then the whistle blew, the game was done...ahhh...so close!

Pretty hard core, wouldn't you say?

The last course we did was pretty much charge and unload. Awesome! This time I did capture the flag!

I made it through the day with only a few bruises. The biggest ones being from when I was running through the woods, tripped and fell flat on my face. I'm sure I looked ridiculous. The whole group made it through the day without too many horrible bruises...there were only a couple neck and face shots...ouch! All-in-all it was a great day. Who knew shooting your friends could be such fun!

We have a crazy busy week; however, today I have the day to myself. I think I'll relax and prepare myself for the remainder of the week. I hope you all have a wonderful week.

A Miscellaneous Week....

We'll begin with Kyle's field trip to the Little Red School House last Thursday. They wanted the kids to experience this day as authentically as possible and thereby had to dress accordingly. Here is Kyle is his get-up.

There was the option to roll his jeans to the knees and wear long dark socks, but Kyle wouldn't go quite that far. In fact, he only put the hat on for the picture. He brought home a "lunch pail" the night before and we had to pack it with an 'olden days lunch (a jelly sandwich, an orange, a brownie and water in a jar with no ice). The boys had to enter in one door and the girls the other. They had reading, writing (which they did with pen and ink, all in cursive), and math. When I picked him up from school and asked how the day went, his reply was "It was alright, just kind of boring. I am glad that we don't have school like that anymore".

On Saturday we went over to our friends, the Bretl's. Jason and Brad were working on pouring a concrete pad for their LP tank. Well while they were doing that Jessica and I decided to take a little adventure to an old abandoned house. And an adventure it was...our first attempt was fouled by people being at the house, which we thought were hunters, but apparently were not because when we returned 10 minutes later, they were still there. I guess the third try was the charm. No one was around and we entered. The house was pretty much trashed and the walls and ceilings were crumbling, but we were able to make it through to the upstairs. Once upstairs we found some old furniture in amazing condition, jewelry, year books and a box of photos.


This is the back door and view of the outside of the house.

One of the interior doors and this wedding dress was hanging in one of the closets









Anyway, we also found a marriage certificate of the previous owners, which peeked our curiosity. Jessica got the pictures of the house she wanted and then we headed to the barn. And...while we were walking back to the car, someone pulls up behind our car! Jessica and I book it back to the car and totally out of breath, scared to death and probably looking as guilty as could be spoke with the lady that OWNED THE LAND! She was very nice and didn't seem to care that we were there, but talk about awkward. Well, we went home and did some investigating and discovered that the original owners are still living, but sold the land to the lady we encountered in the driveway who is marrying what we believe to be a son of the original owners this weekend. How bizarre, but very exciting! Oh, Jason and Brad did a fine job with the concrete pad. Jason, I and the boys went home and Brad and Jessica came over a little later for pizza and a movie, "Fracture", which I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Sunday we had Sunday School and church then came home watched the Packers trounce the Giants, took a nap and then brought Kory to a friend's birthday party. We ate supper by the campfire and then sacked out of the couch for the remainder of the evening.

So today brought with it laundry and cleaning. But I was also able to finally complete my and Jason's bedroom, which began with repainting and ordering fabric for the window panels in July. Which, by the way took almost 8 weeks to arrive. The panels were made in August...more fabric was purchased for a valence and pillows and they were finished this weekend. Some miscellaneous decorations hung on the wall and finally, it's done!

Tomorrow's back to work with a doctor's appointment and a few meeting mixed into the remainder of the week. Have a wonderful week.