Is this legal?

Are cigarettes a vice if you're reading your bible while you smoke?......Ok, they're candy ones out of the advent calendar!

A Day Off?

What do you do when school's called off because it's below freezing out and ice pellets are falling fast enough to pierce your eyeballs? Go sledding of course! Jacob met his friend Abe up at school and for awhile there weren't too many others there. It was pure ice - cool ! Jacob said. I thought it looked like torture. Funny the video goes along with the music that was playing on the radio in the car. Yes, I was in the car, I wasn't going out in that weather, even though Jay would have. Isn't it enough I drove them to school? They won't get to do this tomorrow at school when saner people are in charge. We did go to the library too, so see I am a responsible parent when I want to be.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from us and the ball tree. We always have to find the biggest tree we think we can get into the house. They always look smaller outside don't they? This one looks like a big ball! So if you got a Christmas card from us, it didn't have a picture in it so here we are! If you see us all the time, and didn't get a card, here we are too! We hope you have a great Christmas.

Double Trouble

A couple of weeks ago, Jacob came in and asked me if I heard him screaming outside. I said no, because all of the windows were shut. Well he and Shelby got this great idea to climb up in the apple tree in the backyard and try to knock the squirrel nest out of it. They had thrown apples at it first to scare any sleeping squirrel that might be in it. They took a really long stick (thank goodness) and pushed it up from the bottom and guess what - that squirrel finally came flying out of that nest and just missed Jacob's head before scrambling away.

Well I had the window cracked today because they were outside again after school and I felt bad about my child screaming before and not hearing him. So low an behold, I look outside the kitchen window and they were at it again. You can see the nest at the top. And this was after I had explained rabies shots the time before to Jacob. He said the stick got stuck in the tree this time. That poor squirrel should leave while the leavings good. I'm just glad we didn't have to make a trip to the ER with a broken arm.

Leftovers

Now don't think I'm crazy, I saw Emeril do this on TV. Take your leftover turkey, cranberries and dressing and make a panini or grilled sandwich out of it. It's pretty good. I was tempted to add the sourkraut, but I didn't.

Tradition

While I was writing about our Thanksgiving this year, I realized how many traditions we have, even though we went to Aunt Jan's this year instead of Grandma Struves. Here Aunt Mary and Aunt Helen and I took a break from cooking for a quick picture. Who knows what Aunt Betty was doing. I think Aunt Nancy was probably working hard and didn't take a break for the picture. Get the idea that there's lots of Aunts (and Uncles)? We usually all get together and then meet up with the Smiths later for pie, which we did again this year.

Here Jacob is explaining to Uncle LaVerne where the shoeboxes we collected will go around the world. Uncle LaVerne looks VERY interested.

Here we are in Aunt Jan and Uncle Marvin's basement. Blake got to answer all kinds of questions from Aunt Helen about college life.

Both Grandmas were with us for Thanksgiving. We were glad they could both make us with all that went all this fall. It was a good day. We had lots to eat, turkey, potatoes, cranberries, pie, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts, sourkraut, etc. Good stuff.

Jacob and cousin Philip played chess. It's a good thing they were together, cause they both are always looking for someone to play them. We were a few cousins short this year, but still had a good time with the ones that showed.

Jay was sitting on the couch, watching football when Milo and Bob (yes, Bob) climbed up on his lap. Thought I'd never see anything like this.

More football being watched with cousins Joe and Martin. They left the house with a shotgun for awhile earlier. Luckily they all came back alive. Kevin drove to Montana to be with Elise for Thanksgiving.

One of our main traditions is going out looking for extra pie to be eaten. We found a few extra pieces and took them over to the Smiths to eat with them. We can't tell you where we got them.




We ended the day on video on the computer with Laura, Adam, Alex, and Austin from their home in Boone, NC. They all got to be together and enjoy the day together. It was one way to be together. We'll see them all for Christmas.

Catching Up

After almost three months of both of our mothers being in and out of the hospital (Jay's mom with a broken hip, and mine with a nasty bacterial infection and something else going on with her muscles that we're stilling waiting for a diagnosis for) I am finally trying to catch up on our blog. Both moms are now home and finally recuperating! You don't want to see pictures of all that. :)

Here's a picture of Jacob's buddies from his birthday party in October. We've had a fun tradition for years of hiding paper bags across the street in the park with each name on it with their party favors in their bag. This year included cool sunglasses courtesy of Dad. They were a hit.

Jay and Jacob and I got away on a sunny day for a canoe trip down the Maquoketa River by Monticello . It's a fun place to canoe, it took about three hours, the leaves were turning, and it's not very deep. Next year we would like to go with a bunch of families and stop and play in the water and cook out. Mark your calendars! Thanks for the canoe too Kains!








At the end of October we went to Hickory Hill Park to grill out. We didn't have long, the sun was setting quickly, but we found a nice spot to light the little weber and grill brats. It was one of those spontaneous moments that made a nice time.




Blake took advantage of Thanksgiving break to borrow a scooter from a friend of his going out of town. He goes back and forth to his dorm on it and can park it easier than a car. Jacob went with him one day holding on for dear life and Mom praying as they rode off down the street.

Once again this year, we helped run the relay center for Operation Christmas Child. The guys helped load the cartons that had the shoeboxes full of toys, school supplies, etc. onto the semis that go to Minneapolis the week of Thanksgiving. We collected about 1400 shoeboxes that will eventually be part of several million around the world to some of the most disadvantaged kids anywhere. Hopefully you got to be a part of it this year. Check out http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ for more about this great ministry.

Well, that's it. Hopefully the next posts won't take so long. I guess we did do quite a few things this fall, more than I realized.

Just Another Normal Day

Jacob and Shelby come to my work after school most days. Sometimes we are ready to go quickly and leave. Other times, like today, they have to entertain themselves for a while. I'm not sure what this is all about, but they were racing down the hall. They always find something to do.

Get Your Girls Checked

Remember to check yourself once a month, and if you're getting there, schedule your mammogram. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but really, shouldn't it be every month? I remind you because I care about you.

Why God Made Little Boys

Why God Made Little Boys

God made a world out of His dreams,

of magic mountains, oceans and streams,

Prairies and plains and wooded land.

Then paused and thought

I need someone to stand, on top of the mountains,

to conquer the seas, explore the plains

and climb the trees.

Someone to start out small and grow,

sturdy and strong like a tree and so

He created boys, full of spirit and fun

To explore and conquer, to romp and run

With dirty faces, and banged up chins

With courageous hearts and boyish grins.

And when He had completed the task He'd begun,

He surely said, "That's a job well done."

An Apple a Day

An apple is a simple thing really. A small round red fruit that many say keeps the doctor away, but boy it draws kids. There are many days after school that Jacob heads out to the back yard to grab an apple off of the tree to eat. If friends are over, it's such a popular thing to eat for those who think that going out to the yard to get something to eat off a tree is an unusual event. It tastes different depending on how you cut it. I'm just glad the kids are finally eating the peel! I like them baked in the microwave with cream on them. Or in the oven with cinnamons and carmels in the middle. You can hit them with a bat, or just watch the squirrels try to drag them up a tree, pretty funny. It's funny though how everyone disappears to help Dad pick them up when it's time to mow the lawn. Thank you God for the entertaining and delicious apple.

Happy Birthday Michael

Happy #50 to Michael Jackson. In honor of Michael's birthday, listen to ABC on the playlist at the bottom in honor of Michael. I liked him when he was on TV in the 60s and 70s. In fact, we're the same age.

Blake goes to College

We moved Blake into school last weekend. He lives in the same dorm Laura did her first year. But the furniture is all new and we didn't have to buy a loft for his bed which was really nice. We went dumpster diving at the beginning of August and got the futon Jay is sitting on. It went nicely in the room. His roomate brought a TV and a microwave and Blake had a fridge so they're good to go. Only the xbox is still at home for awhile yet.... He's having a great time so far, but we do miss him.

So we aren't quite empty nesters...see the other little guy in the chair? Oh well, he will keep us young. I have been praying though that God would introduce me maybe to some other women that have kids out of the home and he did less than a week later! I think that I should've been more specific maybe cause the first thing one of them asked me was if I sewed or gardened, and I referred her to the picture of my garden posted earlier on this blog. I laughed with God about it later and reminded him that I've become a little more urban than that. I did can some salsa though later (I didn't get the tomatoes from MY garden.) Only He knows what he's got planned for our future, I can hardly wait!

A Trip to the Fam

We went to see Adam and Laura in the middle of August, kind of at the last minute, so we drove 14 hours to get there. It was a really pretty drive. We had a great time. The first picture is of the sun setting at the top of the hill they live on. The time went quickly with lots of activity. We went on a five mile hike that took us about three hours. It wound along some small and bigger creeks with some big rocks. The boys tried to climb them all. We also managed to find time to play wiffleball, badmitton and sand volleyball. Wow, I really have an appreciation now for the olympic sand volleyball players, it's hard to get across that court quickly. We obviously slept hard (at least me) and ate good too. We had some great BBQ at a place that they like to frequent in the next town and some good home cooking too! We got to tour Samaritan's Purse too while we were there and learned more about how God is reaching people for Christ around the world. Anyway, the time went too fast and we were soon home again. We miss them already.

We're From Iowa

It's sweet corn time!

For a few short weeks we eat all the sweet corn we can. It's a little work to shuck it all, so if you can find a few friends to help you, that's even better. Add a couple of burgers, and you're all set!

Is it a garden or a jungle?

Weeds are also prevelant in Iowa this time of year. My garden got a little carried away from me this summer. There are some tomato plants in there somewhere, but it's pretty much a wash. Next year I'm planting wildflowers and am going to forget all the work of weeding. Too bad weeds don't taste good, we'd have plenty.

Hooverball

Hoover Fest in West Branch was last weekend, and Blake was on a team. If you've never seen it, check out the video. The leather ball weighs four pounds and the goal is to throw it over the net and make the other team not catch it. He has light shorts on and makes the diving catch.Needless to say he was a bit sore the next day, but like he says he is now in the top ten in the nation for Hooverball.

Jacob's baseball team spent a week in Burlington, Colorado at Regionals. They got 7th place, but Jacob played well (hit a triple in one game to bring in three runs) and we had fun, learned a lot, got better at ball and made some new friends.

All In The Family

First Adam worked at the baseball fields in Iowa City, then Blake did. Jacob finally got his chance to groom the field for the Kernels baseball team in Cedar Rapids. They drew his name after we were there another night and got chosen that night for a timed competition stacking tires. This day he got to groom the mound and path to home plate, paint the pitching rubber, the town logo and home plate, put in second base and water the field. It was lots of fun plus he got a Tshirt and hat and the rest of us got to watch. He even got on the megatron. Then we stayed to watch the game.

State Champs!

Jacob played city-rec baseball this summer. We got a whole 8 games in before the flood came and washed the fields away. Then Jay and a couple of other dads decided to coach the 10 and under all star team where a couple of kids from each team try out to play. With only 3 practices on fields begged, borrowed and stolen around town, the state tournament started. There were 8 teams there playing double elimination. Over the course of 5 days, we played 6 games. We lost to Manchester once, and then the last day had to beat them twice to win the tournament, and they did it! Many of these other teams also play club ball and have played like 40 games together this year. This was our first time together and they gelled well. Everyone did great, there was great sportsmanship and it was lots of fun to watch (and a little stressful). Now we go onto the regional tournament in Colorado where 10 other states will also be. We'll let you know what happens. If you're interested in helping send us, mail it to Iowa City Baseball. Thanks!

Fourth of July

Our annual fourth of July breakfast started early this year. About 7am we started cooking for about 40 people. It's always fun to see who will show up, it's different every year. It started about 20 years ago at Morrison Park. The most memorable thing from that year was Alex at 2 years of age rolling into the pond. After a breakfast of eggs, pancakes, juice, bacon and sausage, etc. (you get the idea), we moved about 50 feet to watch the parade. Tons of kiddos and candy. 143 floats later, we all chilled out for awhile. Then we met back again for supper on the football field. A few games of wiffleball and bocce ball got us ready for sparklers and fireworks. It's a fun tradition that should go on for many more years....We missed Adam, Laura, Blake (who was visiting them) and Alex this year, they were starting their own traditions, but they were here in spirit.