Collages

I can't believe how fun and easy these collages were to create.

I think it's the adorable kids that made them turn out so well.

Games...Games....Games

I love to play games with family and friends. Every year Grandma Valerie adds to the collection of games at Christmas. This year she added a few the kids like to play. First Zingo- It's a lot like Bingo and the kids love it. Stare!!! I have to admit Madi is much better at it than I am. It's a memory game and can be a lot of fun.

Stack is a great dice game. This game is not new this year, but is still one I'm adding to the list to share with you. If you haven't played it or heard of it, you should consider giving it a try.

Qwirkle is definitely a favorite.

The last on the list - Blokus. For some reason, this game I really like. You may think it's a little pathetic, but I even play it by myself.

Meal Planning

It's time to be responsible adults. Let's see - for 10 1/2 years Mike and I have been arguing about what's for dinner. It's over......... We are planning a menu. This week was a success and life was much simpler. This is what we had: Monday - Spaghetti and Salad Tuesday - Parmesan Fish, Asparagus, Corn Wednesday: Chicken Casserole, Broccoli, Rice Thursday: Steak, Potatoes, Green Beans Friday: Pork Chops, Applesauce, Rice, Corn We love the corn we froze from our garden last fall. It's amazing.

Hockey Practice

Madi is now using her hockey stick. It looks awkward, and I'm sure feels just as awkward as it looks, but Madi thinks it's pretty neat. She even spent 10 minutes or so hitting a puck around.

At the end of practice when they open the "gate" to the ice, the kids pile out. Madi is a veeerrrrrryyyyy slow skater, but she is so excited to be doing everything herself. All of the kids were piling out the "gate" and she was still in the middle of the rink. I could see the panic in her face and tears start to come on. One of the coaches stopped to help her, but she insisted she skate by herself. I had my suspicions as to what was going on. Mike thought she had been hit by a puck. Sure enough, when she came off the ice, I asked her. Her response: "I thought I was too late." The poor thing thought the Zamboni was going to run her over. The Zamboni spreads a new sheet of ice after practice. We assured her that no one would let her be run over by the Zamboni and told her the Zamboni driver would even watch out so no one would be run over.

Gabe likes hockey practice too. He climbs up and down the bleachers and tries to run around the rink; but his favorite part about hockey practice.....RING POPS. It's the only thing that keeps him under control.

He also likes to play with his BFF Tyson.

Tyson likes ring pops too.

Paperwork

I'm up to my eyeballs in paperwork. This is the product of the justice system.

Yesterday was Great Grandma Johnson's 80th birthday and they celebrated last Saturday. Mike and Grandma Valerie and Grandpa Noal took the kids to Utah for the party. (I would have taken more pictures of Gabe, but he was too anxious to get in the car)

Madi was really excited for the trip - she loves birthdays and parties. So when you put a birthday and a party together, look out Madi's good for the ride.

I missed Mike and the kids but I'm so glad they were able to go and spend a little bit of time with Grandma Johnson. I had some responsibilities at home so wasn't able to join them.

HAPPY 80th Birthday.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Curtis and Rusty -- They're expecting a girl and I can't wait to see what she looks like.

Madi wants to see the baby and says it is too many days until her arrival date.

It seems that everyone has made New Year resolutions, some small or large, some simple and many resolutions with greater purposes in mind. Many of you fellow blogger/scrappers have been inspired to take on the challenge of Project 365. I read about enjoying the processes of life and/or projects here and here, and felt inspired. And then.... I read a cousins blog about her plan for the new year: My "aha" moment came when this thought popped into my mind: Give each day a purpose. I don't want life to just happen, waiting for Jesse to return so I can continue living. I want to be productive, having daily goals engaged in service for others or even for myself. Some days, my only purposeful action may be to get dressed with make-up on. Other days, my purpose might be to take the kids to the zoo or indoor pool or nearby park to make memories with them. Some days, my purpose might be to make a healthy dinner, even if I know I might be the only one eating it. While on other days, I'll want to do family service projects with my young kidlings to teach them how much more there is to life. I think I may come back to this idea of giving each and every day a purpose when life starts to snowball out of control and I want that control back. It gives me focus with flexibility, and I'm really excited and curious to see what I can make of 2009!!! ........................................................................................................... Boy was I inspired. So this year I hope to combine all three. I know Project 365 is out of my reach and not likely attainable, but I can make every effort to participate in the concept and make it a point to celebrate the everyday happenings by documenting what goes on daily in our lives. I always enjoy the process of cooking, crafting, scrapbooking and I sure as heck enjoy the beginning processes of the laundry better then the putting away step. This year, I want to try and include the processes when documenting my families life. I hope by doing this, it will help accentuate the purpose of family, love, friendship and making a home.

First step - TAKE PICTURES - I get in such a bad habit of leaving the camera put away. In fact, I pulled it out of the closet on Thursday for the first time since Christmas.

In these pictures, Gabe and Madi are eating a quick morning snack before we head out the door. Poppy seed muffins - lately it's been a peanut butter and honey or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sometimes Madi will through in the ever faithful bagel with strawberry jam. Of course, Gabe has been loving bananas, and the banana would certainly be his number one choice. I can't keep them in stock.

The reason they are not looking at the camera you ask.....watching cartoons.

Christmas Recap

Christmas was magical this year. It started the day after Thanksgiving. The kids began watching Christmas movies and reading Christmas stories. It was a daily routine, the pretend Grinch (cartoon version) or the Polar Express. Madi asked her dad almost everyday to tell her a story about Christmas when he was a little kid - and she was specific. She wanted the story of when he set back all the clocks in the house so they could open all their presents earlier - or the story of when he unwrapped one of his presents early and had it taken away because he lied about where he got it. Gabe was excited about the presents. He would pick one of his (I think Madi told him which ones were his) and just "hold the present". He promised he wouldn't open them, he just wanted to hold them.

Madi made up crazy Christmas Wish Lists that included anything from a light for her room, a picture (nothing specific), a huge pillow, a bouncy ball and the list went on from there. Gabe he just wanted presents.

The kids enjoyed looking at the beautiful Christmas lights, especially the singing lights, Santa's that went up and down, and grinches. Madi said Santa couldn't come to our house unless we had lights in our front window. Needless to say, we added lights to our front window on Christmas Eve.

Grandma Valerie made all of the Messick grand kids matching pajamas. The kids talked to their Messick cousins in Arkansas over the web cam so that everyone could get their jammies at the same time.

Madi was very insistent that her stocking was hung on the front door. I even tried to move it a time or two, but it always made its way back to the front door.

A few cute stories: Dad took the kids Christmas shopping with him. They each got to pick out what they wanted to give Mom for Christmas. When they got home they sent Mom to her room so they could wrap presents downstairs. Mom deviated from her room and was found in the kitchen when Madi came upstairs with her gift to Mom. Madi was very upset and told Mom to get back in her room so that they could wrap presents. She was sure to tell Mom that "It is a secret, and you have to be in your room." Later Mom thanked Madi for getting her a present and Madi spouted "It's a spatula". The best part was the look on her face. She put her hands to her face and gasped. She had just spoiled the surprise. The secret was broken. She still says she is not very good at keeping secrets.

Madi woke up several mornings and had to check her stocking to see if anything was left for her. Many nights she checked outside to see if she could spot Rudolph.

Broken Promises

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Nor can I believe that Christmas has come and gone. I really had the best of intentions when I promised recipes and a post all about Gabe, but unfortunately time got the best of me. I actually took time to enjoy the holidays and to spend time with my family and at the last minute a cleanup from a flooded basement. And now.....we are back to work and of course I am making up for the time I took off, but it was worth it to be with my family. So, with that said, I plan on posting those recipes and compiling a post all about Gabe plus so much more in the year to come.