Schaurer Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with the Schaurer's on the 12th of December. I am hoping those who were unable to be here will enjoy a few pictures. For the first time we held Christmas at a location other than Mom and Dad's. Rod and Jer (and family) hosted and they did a wonderful job. The building was cozy with a little carpet and a roaring fire. You can tell from the pictures that some played games, some conversed, and some stayed warm by the fire. Thanks for hosting, Rod and Jer!

Dad always read the Christmas story before we opened gifts. This year he told the story and held the childrens' attention quite well.

Merry Christmas to all the Ralph and Lois Schaure clan who were unable to make it. We love you and missed you. Merry Christmas!!

Fun in the Snow

We woke up to a little snow this morning. It was very wet and was melting as it snowed, but it was still fun to play in. Ken went to town this morning to get a sled for the kids to ride on behind his new big toy! They waited patiently till after lunch and then wanted to go play. They built a small snowman and then it was off to sled ride!

They were having such a fun time riding.

Oops! Where did they go?

Wow! They are big enough to shake their own sled off.

And then go at it again!

Till they came in they were both wet to the underwear, but they had a great time and we are trying to get them warmed up now.

The Creation Museum

The long awaited trip to the Creation Museum took place yesterday. Ken and I had went with the Dennis Schaurer family last August and our children had begged to go ever since, but we just had not gotten it done. At Christmas they put on a live nativity so we decided to make the trip. We had a wonderful day; although, we spent very little time reading the info posted everywhere. The day was for the kids so we sped through the parts that did not interest them and spent our time on the kid friendly stuff!

Brett and Bri in the Garden of Eden!

The photo spot.

They had built a small replica of a Jewish marketplace outside. We visited
there and bought a little hot chocolate. Then went on to see Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and hear a little info on the lifestyle back then.

Bri enjoyed the animals and petting the sheep.

Visitors

The week before Thanksgiving, we entertained visitors from Washington, The Dallas Flory clan. Actually, I am not sure if we entertained them or they entertained us, but it doesn't matter we had a great time! It was fun for the children to renew friendships and us to catch up. One evening we had company in for them. It was super fun to get together with so many and catch up with one another.


The family's that came all brought shoeboxes to donate to Operation Christmas Child. We had a great time decorating the boxes and putting little notes in them. Thank you to all who donated. This project is so close to my heart.




Boy, have we grown. When I got the invitation ready and realized that we only had 2 children under the age of two coming, I thought, "Wow! We are getting old." We also had a few "children" that showed up late after they had left young folks. That really tells the story. Sorry, to walk down memory lane a little, but it has been 10 years since Ken and I started dating and these childrens' faces are either new or have changed a lot in that time.

Updating

I have been extremely lax at keeping this updated. It is not because there has been nothing to post, I just haven't done it. So I will attempt to get this updated; however, I should really be cleaning. Ugh!
On one of the days Ken had at home this fall, we raked up our leaves. Usually we just let them blow away, but this year we raked.

Brett enjoyed getting wheelbarrow rides from Dad!
Brett and Bri working on their "Laura Ingalls log cabin." We are back to trying to finish up the set. I was thinking we should finish when they were older, but they wanted to read them. So... we are reading about her teaching school and her courtship. Bri said one day, "I used to understand what we were reading and now I just don't get it." I guess I am glad she is not "getting" everything.
One day in the fall Andre' came to visit. We love for him to come. We could us a little one in the house. My two really need to learn to get along with a younger one, but I rest in the knowledge that God knows this too. Anyway, he loves to play with Briana's "girly" stuff and she is not so thrilled. I am so thankful that he comes to visit and loves Brett and Bri. (I think he loves me too!) If his big sister, Camille, loves to mother he will be used to it from Bri. God is so good at preparing us for what he has in store for us.


These pictures are a little late, but ... They were thrilled to receive their new readers and now as of yesterday we have finished them. Yippee!! The second nine weeks of school did not go quite as well, but I think we all learned. We are now into the third nine weeks and I am hoping for better from this one. We will see. I think our issues have a lot to do with Mom wanting to get the work done and I just don't include enough fun stuff. I need to remedy that! Hopefully, I can catch up a little and plan some fun stuff over Christmas break.

Nine Weeks Later

We are all still sane, all still love each other, and all a whole lot smarter (I think)! We are also a quarter of the way done with school (for this year)! Wow!!
We have traveled from Ancient Egypt back to Creation and then forward through the wilderness. It has been an interesting trip and we have learned a lot.
We have also learned about dimes, pennies, and dollars. We are working on mastering the days of the week and the calendar. Number recognition has been a big thing. With a little help from Dad, they are recognizing lots of numbers and Mom is still sane. (I wondered there for a few days.) We have finished the first grade primer and are working on mastering the difference between long and short vowel sounds. Most of all they have developed a love for reading! Yippee!! This morning to congratulate them I gave them their new readers. I had to remind myself that I wanted them to love to read when they were trying to get ready for town walking around reading their readers! (I just hope it lasts.)
We have had ups and downs; good days and bad days, but we have seen the hand of God work as we learn to work together in a whole new realm.

Yes, Brett does like to goof off in school.

These are a few pictures of the one art project we pulled off this nine weeks. I should have did many more and I planned to, but somehow it just did not happen. We will have to try harder next time. Bri made an Egyptian doll and Brett made an Egyptian serpent headed throwing stick. The best part for them was the painting and I realized why I don't get the paint out very often.

Our First Day of School

And I really do mean, our's! I, too, am learning and will continue to learn a lot! (It won't all be "book learning" either!) Ken took Brett and Bri out for breakfast on Monday morning, August 3rd to celebrate and "kick off" their first day of school. I think they had a great time and I had an enjoyable time preparing at home.

We finished day 4 today and I can honestly say that it is going well!
Praise God for that!

Here are a few pics.

Yes, we did wake Brett up! Needless to say, I think he would have rather stayed in bed. No such luck for him!

I think their favorite part of the day was decorating their folders!

Brett's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Brett! You are six!

We celebrated Brett's Birthday the week that my cousins, Melvin & Sara Peters, were here. Melvin came to "help" Ken on our deck that we have been anticipating for about 4 years. Actually, Ken helped Melvin build the deck! They arrived in the night on Thursday. That Saturday was Brett's Birthday so my family came in for a Family Day and Birthday on Saturday. The men stayed and worked on the deck while the woman explored Ikea. I think everyone had a fun day except maybe Dad and Mom Riffey! Please, Dad, stay awake next time you're keeping Jasmine. (Hmmm! Dad woke up and Jasmine was out of bed and all the other kids were now awake!) They were our babysitters with a little help from the Dads. The girls had a great time shopping at Ikea and eating at Red Robin. Sara was even able to purchase some dining room chairs.
We picked up pizzas on the way home and celebrated Brett's birthday that evening. He of course was very excited and had anticipated that there would be "lots of people." He is becoming more and more our little social bug! Thanks to everyone who made his birthday special! Here is a few pic to enjoy!

Mel says she overheard Ty saying, "Dude, those are REAL!"

Cole really enjoyed his icing covered doughnut Saturday morning!

Cole.Andre.Cameron

The "older" folks!

It rained all day Wednesday. Ken and Melvin busied themselves with other pursuits in the morning and then decided to just get wet. It was a beautiful rain that we needed, slow and steady, but it did not help the deck get built!

Jasmine and Briana enjoyed playing dolls and reading books together!