Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Ice!......

What a month December has been. Seems like it has snowed about every other day and everything was covered in ice for a while. Sure was beautiful and didn't slow us down much, life still went on for us. That is when we weren't shoveling to get out so we could.

We risked life and limb (passed about 10 times accidents actually) to get to Des Moines to watch Blake wrestle. He had a pretty good day actually with 2 pins. His main problem is keeping his weight up. He doesn't graze and eat like some of the rest of us, wish I had that problem!

Blake, and under the blanket is Jacob. My boys like to lay over the heating ducts in the living room to get warm. They used to fit over them, now they have really overgrown them and have a hard time fitting over them!

Blake did not hesitate when I asked him to help Grandma bring in the presents from her car when she arrived for Christmas, he went out in robe and slippers!












Laura graduated from Bethel University in Minneapolis December 19th so we took the grandparents and headed up. We are so proud of all she has accomplished. Jacob stayed for a few extra days with her and Adam and had a blast! They played lots of games, whiffle ball on the ice rink, and made gingerbread houses with some friends, they are great siblings! Our house seemed rather small this Christmas, when did all these guys grow up, seems like yesterday they were just children.....




well maybe I spoke too soon! But we love them all. Surely God can use a bunch of hams who belong to Him. It was a fun Christmas. We hope yours was too, Happy New Year 2008 also!

O Christmas Tree.....

We always go cut a tree for Christmas. This year we ended up in Solon on the coldest day of the year and came home with a lovely tree. We had to let it thaw out overnight before we could decorate it. Mom always gets to do the lights.
Blake wanted to make sure that Montana ornament got hung with care, and Jacob's already started in on the hot cho. We try to pick up an ornament whenever we travel and sometimes we even remember to do it. We also have a couple from the Czech Museum in CR cause we are part Czech and then we usually stop at the bakery there for kolaches after. Mom keeps trying to make them, but just hasn't gotten it right yet, maybe this year. We forgot to give Laura all of her ornaments so we get to enjoy them for one more year, then she and Adam can have them to fill their tree next year. We wish you all a memorable Christmas season. Take some time to step away from the busyness and connect with the author of the season. ...and enjoy some cookies too!

Feathered Friends

Blake took this picture the other day of a redtailed hawk in the front yard of our house! It was poking the ground with it's talons (hopefully there aren't mice in
our yard). He said he got really close to it,it must have been really hungry.Isn't it beautiful? You can see it in the yard in the next picture.

We also have milk jug bird feeders on the back deck. There was a female cardinal
eating and actually a male in the other one next to it, but I didn't see it when I took the picture. We have all kinds of birds, finches, sparrows, nuthatches(I learned all these names from Jay, Mr.Ornathologist). It's been lots of fun to sit at the table and watch them come if we don't move too fast. There's usually lots more
when I come home for lunch and peek out the window.