2016 in review

We had such a wonderful 2016; too bad I did not think to log on here once in awhile to update and document some of our happenings! I had some time off this week and was able to get some pictures downloaded and backed up. Let me see if I can find some highlights to share with you...

Henrik turned 2 in March. He had difficulty blowing out his candles!! We had our usual crew to celebrate and had a fun evening. I can not remember what he got for gifts; I'm certain he was spoiled!

This Spring I was home every Monday and Wednesday afternoon and made a point to avoid taking any extra PRN jobs those days. This is because it was my last 1:1 time with Will. He was still half days in school, so I would pick him up those days, put Henrik down for his nap, and spent time with Will until Gabbie got home. This day was one of the very last before summer so we went fishing at the pond...and had no luck but lots of smiles!

OUR FIRST FAMILY VACATION!!! MY FAVORITE PART OF 2016

We took off with a broken A/C and wound up kids. First stop was at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD

Brice was not amused at Will's inconvenient timing to use the bathroom!

First night in a hotel! Mom lucked out. I was trying a new "app" on my phone where you can get discounts on hotels at the last minute (since they are just trying to fill up for the night). Well, I picked a bad night to try this but we got the last hotel I could find in Mitchell, SD!

Air & Space Museum. We had no itinerary, so just pulled off when we saw something interesting. This was the first sight we saw as we came into Rapid City, SD

Bear Country! 

Mount Rushmore...not a great place for a stroller :-)

The joke was this is my obituary picture! We asked Gabbie to take a picture of the 2 of us and she kept cutting off Brice's head!

Better...

The cabin we stayed in-the kids thought this was the best part!

On our way home we took a wrong turn and ended up going through the Badlands. Worked out perfect-really the whole trip went that way. We hit the busy spots at off times and found things we hadn't planned on.

Bin construction this summer; Brice also put up a shed for his bales

First 4-H entries at the Sac County Fair!

Buddies getting ready for Vacation Bible School this summer

First day of school 2016-2017 school year. Gabbie: 2nd Grade, Will: Pre-K

The yearly pose before getting on the bus!

And a couple days later-he turned 5

Angry birds was his choice for cakes

A bigger bike!

He loves to read, and nap

Clay County Fair time!

Henrik's half birthday-he got underwear, which has had little use

A pelican spent some time on our pond this fall

Gabbie had a birthday party at the pottery studio in Storm Lake

Halloween 2016

Chopping; Will is riding along

Gabbie's cake request was simple this year and that's OK with me!

The 40-something pound turkey that we are still trying to eat...

Will had his first school vocal program in December 2016

The kids with their Grandma's

With Grandma Shelley at her vocal concert

Christmas Eve church service

Christmas Eve stop at my Mom's house

Christmas Day church and Sunday School program

Loved his suit :-) or maybe it was the Thomas pants?

I think those were the main highlights for the year! We hit the bike trail often this summer-works well now that 2 of the kids ride their own bikes. I ran 5 half marathons...it didn't work out for me to have Brice or the kids be spectators so I don't have any pictures but this year I ran some faster than usual times and was happy with that. I hope it works to do another one sometime with my family at the finish line! The big news lately is the twins we are expecting in June. I *think* the kids are excited, and now that Brice and I are adjusted to the idea we are excited as well (still wish I had a snapshot of our faces when the doctor found "baby 2"). We've had 2 appointments and already they have been label "baby A and baby B"...so far "baby A" appears to be dominating the space but both of them look good. Currently there is a mild complication (for lack of a better word) with the placenta of "baby A" but the doctor expects this to be gone by mid-January. This is my first time being a "high-risk" pregnancy due to age & multiples but we keep praying and will see what transpires! 

Next week I venture back into the world of working full-time. I've been mostly part-time for about 2 years now; not sure what I will do without my day and half to be in my pajamas! If all goes well the extra benefits and vacation time will allow me to be home for 20 weeks with the new babies, possibly more. Also, I recently transitioned from inpatient therapy to outpatient therapy, and the extra time at work will be needed to readjust and learn the outpatient side again (if all of that makes sense to anyone).

Here's to a happy and health 2017 for all! 

2016...off to a great start!

A good chunk of the first couple of weeks of 2016 was spent helping my grandparents settle into their new apartment living. They moved away from the house they had lived in in Carroll for 25 years. I was always impressed at how simple my grandparents kept their house; I never thought it looked like they had a ton of stuff! Until it was time to settle into a smaller space. Then all of the sudden they had TONS of stuff! There are a few boxes in our basement...just checking daily to make sure there isn't water in the basement causing problems until I get a change to go through everything. My aunt has the task of getting rid of the furniture that was left...no small task!


Shortly after this move my uncle Don passed away, so I made the trip to the funeral in Omaha with a couple of my siblings. It was a beautiful service for a man who had been suffering with illness for several years.


Also in January I finally accomplished the first meeting of a "Make ahead meals" group. This had been on my goal list for 6 months. The basic goal was to get a group of busy ladies together to make freezer meals for our families on busy nights. I have found myself irritated with the lack of eating as families and the lack of teaching kids healthy choices, so this was my way of trying to contribute to healthy eating plus family time. Its the 'way of the world' now that most women work; but most of us still want to emphasize good family values and food. I was certain my goal would be a flop (I know, that's pretty negative thinking) but I was overwhelmed by the response! 6 people came throughout the day. I left with 15 meals made. I worked 3 weekends in the past month and never had to have a pre-bought frozen dinner or pizza ready for the baby-sitter thanks to freezer meals.


Last year I also had the goal of completing 'No One Dies Alone' training at work, and was able to complete that in January. I have not been called yet for this, which is a good thing :) It is basically a ministry to provide relief to families whose loved one is dying in the hospital. It gives the family a chance to go eat or run errands without feeling like they are leaving their loved one alone. Or, it provides someone to sit with their loved one while they are still traveling to be with them.


Because there wasn't enough to do, the opportunity to take "Annie's project" through the ISU extension came to Sac County in January. 6 Thursday nights of training; only 1 left now! Hopefully I can contribute more to the farm bookwork this way, we'll see :) I always have good intentions of helping with books but it rarely happens.


This month I have started to crochet my first 'prayer shawl' for the hospital Auxillary. I had the option to assist with baby blankets or the shawls, and decided on the shawls. I did one row today...hoping it works out!


Have to post a 'funny' until I can get them in my written journal. Gabbie called me yesterday when she got home from school after finding one of the pictures she'd colored in the garbage. "You can't throw things away that your daughter makes you, those are special!!" I tried to explain that we can't keep everything, but in typical Gabbie fashion I was informed "this house is huge, what are you talking about?"


What else...the major thing in our house right now is the beginning of our Lenten journey. I grew up Catholic and we typically sacrificed something during the 40 days and nights of Lent, usually candy or pop. One year I went to mass daily instead of 'giving something up'. I want this tradition for me to continue through my family. I made the decision of what we were going to sacrifice. For me, I have given up Facebook to spend the time I would spend on that focusing on my family, reading an actual newspaper or book, or working on a prayer shawl. I also gave up online shopping, though I do have to admit I purchased all of the kids Easter clothing on an online consignment store yesterday. I couldn't help it...its just so much easier! For the kids, it has been no Ipad other than to listen to music, and no TV unless we are watching as a family. Do you know how many times I've already heard "Can I play the Ipad" and "Can I watch TV"? Its easily surpassed 20 in 2 days. It might  be a long 40 days, but we are going to do it! We have become too relaxed during the long winter months and have occupied our minds with mindless things. Time to form some new habits!


Here are some pictures since Christmas...

The last picture I have of my Grandparent's home. Grandpa was making his final inspection before the buyers 'walk through'

Fun in the snow!

Always after someone's hat and someone to read to him

This is a common site for these 2. Henrik loves to watch videos with Gabbie, or bring her books to read to him.

Sneaking a few licks of chocolate I'm sure...

Henrik is sure a helper when it comes to rearranging furniture!

Finally, after a year, playing with my camera's special effects

Will found a cozy spot on a windy day!

What a wonderful Big Sister!

The night before school Valentine's parties. Gabbie was so creative and did all homemade Valentine's for her class!

Hopefully Blue loves hugs and kisses :) He gets a few from Henrik. This picture was taken today

Gabbie's birthday and Christmas 2015

I feel like I shorted Gabbie's birthday post, so here are a few additional pictures :)

 

As always, its hard to believe Christmas is over!

This was going to be the year I was on top of everything. I had the day after Thanksgiving off and we made Christmas cookies, wrapped a few gifts, and decorated the house. I even did some "Small Business Saturday" shopping and had Christmas outfits for the kids, crafts and games for the kids' school parties, and even a craft idea for home. That was about the extent of it! All of the sudden the week was here, and I had to get food ready for Will's school party and plan Gabbie's party, get our annual 'goodie' plate ready for the bus drivers and mailman, get gifts and food ready for the dance/gymnastics party, and get our annual 'Wurstbrot' dinner figured out. Not to mention the letters to Santa, and the goody plate for his reindeer!

I worked for the 10 days leading up to Christmas due to a shortage of people at work and a busy caseload. So we took it half a day at a time! We successfully got the kids up to Santa's Castle, got gifts bought for dance/school parties, the bus drivers loved their treats, and Santa made it to our house. It was fairly low key...the kids got simple gifts that they will enjoy, and that won't take up tons of space in our currently crowded house...pictures of that situation to follow in another post...

Now, to get the Christmas cards sent out!

Overall, we had a very blessed Christmas and hope you all did as well.

The annual Christmas ornament for each child...

On the way to Santa's Castle...they appear excited, don't they?

"I want a red James Thomas!"

"I want a diary with a fuzzy cover with a G on the front and an H on the back"

I love the classic kid crying at Santa pic!

Elfie made an appearance again this year, only this year he sent his cousin, Olivia :)

Aunt Mindy got tickets for Mannheim Steamroller in Omaha. Gabbie was very excited and had been listening to their music for a few weeks prior. I, on the other hand, fell asleep. Sorry Mindy :(

On Christmas Eve each of the kids got to open their gift from myself. Gabbie got "Stuart Little" and some leggings, Will got the train book pictured below, and Henrik got a "Noisy Train" book

Gotta feed the reindeer!

Time out still exists on Christmas if you fight over the toys!

Christmas morning

Kennedy and Will!

Sure, after I'm done with Christmas cards they take a good picture!

Cheese!!

Spending a few minutes with Mindy before she headed back to CA

Halloween to Christmas

Little Miss Muffet, Percy, and Elmo

Gabbie got her ears pierced for her birthday!

I was so excited I had crafts ready for a snow day at home!

School Christmas concert. Gabbie had fun!