Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Pictures up to noon on Christmas Day

Christmas is over?

That's right, it has been here and has gone. I am still trying to figure out where the last week has gone. We were in Springfield,MO a week ago getting ready to finsih our drive to Wisconsin. We have been having lots of fun the last week, but it has been exhausting. Being sick and having one kid being sick doesn't help either. Both Maddie and I have been fighting colds for the last week. I guess my body has gotten used to the warm weather and isn't able to take the change as easily. We spent last week at Chad's parent's house- everyone was there and we had a good time. We didn't get too much game playing in, but we did get a round of Fact or Crap in on Christmas Eve. It was a fun game that Josh had gotten as a present. Maddie loves to open presents and she opened pretty much everyone's. She also crashed by about 8pm in the middle of the living room just completely exhausted. Christmas Day was with the Heffelfingers. Most of the presents were opened by adults because the kids just wanted to play with each other. We then headed to my aunt and uncle's house for the evening. Yesterday was a relaxing day. We did get to take our new wagon out for a spin. Maddie, Ben, Joel, and I took them to the playground and Ben and Maddie played for awhile. We ended the evening with us at the Chancery for dinner. We were going to go to Friday's Front Row, but no hot water. Today is a trip up to Germantown to see some of Chad's aunts, uncles, and cousins. We have a lazy day tomorrow and then Friday we will be getting ready to head home on Saturday morning. We are spending New Year's in Carrollton, so our drive is a little bit shorter than normal, so that is helpful. Now we will just have to see if all of our stuff can fit in the car. We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year is happy.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Our Christmas

A moment to relax

Okay, so I have about a half an hour before the Wilke's come over, so we can celebrate Christmas with them. I figured I should give a real update about us and the girls. The last few weeks have been just a whirlwind of time. I don't even know where most days go to. Okay, so Maddie has been getting over her double ear infection. She has been a real trooper about it. She has been more active everyday. We are getting into our "terrible twos" already. She is starting to throw mini-tantrums when she doesn't get her way. She is still as active as ever. She got to write the Christmas letter this year. This afternoon after church we had our Christmas here and she was just loving it. I can't wait to see what she is like when we are with everyone up north. We had to wait until Chad got back from school this afternoon and there were a few times where I caught her trying to open the presents on her own. We got her a train set and she loves it. She has been playing with it all afternoon.

Emma is still growing more and more. She is so ready to crawl and gets so mad that she can't move around. She has started growling at people. It is quite humorous to have her start growling in church. She likes to pull the paper off the presents, but has no idea what is going on.

I feel like we are closer to being ready to go than we were just a few hours ago. Tomrrow will be another story. Chad starts finals tomorrow. His final is actually on Wednesday, but he won't be there, so he had to get everything done and copied, so he is ready to go. We will hopefully have an uneventful trip and get to Wisconsin in a timely fashion. We get to stop in St. Louis and see Jamie and Greg and to meet their daughter Naomi on Wednesday for lunch.

In Memory

On Friday afternoon, Reverend Edwin Keiper was called home to the Lord. This is Isaac's grandpa and Paul's (the A.D. at CLHS) dad. Paul and Christa have been in Austin off and on since after Thanksgiving. The funeral is on Thursday here in Houston, but we will already be in Wisconsin. I know that some of you who read this blog, know Paul's brother Val from CUW- all of the siblings have been in Austin for the last few days. So we are praying for all the Keiper's.

We're Back

Well we are back up and running here at the house. I am hoping to actually post something to read tonight. We are frantically trying to get everything ready to leave on Tuesday. I have laundry going right now and so that means trying to get the girls started on packing. We will see if I can get something up later, if not I'll post once we get to Wisconsin and let you know all about our road trip.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Technical Difficulties

We are experiencing technical difficulties at our house with our internet, so I'm not completely sure when we will be back up and running, so I am posting from school. We are in the rush this week of trying to get everything done for the trip home. Everyone is doing fine. Maddie went to the doctor on Friday for her 18 month check up. She is great, except that she has a double ear infection. She hasn't been acting any different than normal. This would explain the extra clumsiness she has been experiencing the last week or so. So we will hopefully get some pics up when we are back up and running at the house, but for now, we will be getting ready for our trip home and will see a lot of you in the next few weeks.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Winter Weather is Welcome

I know, I know, all you northerners and your snow are probably saying to yourself that I am crazy for wanting winter weather. But you have to remember something, our winter weather is your spring weather without the snow. In the evenings it has been getting down to freezing and during the days it is anywhere from 50-60. By the end of the week we are suppose to be back into the high 60's, but then another front should move in. Now if you are still wondering why I want the winter weather, it is probably because I was born and raised up by you. I like having 4 seasons, not 2- comfortable and uncomfortable. Anyways, enough with the weather. As much as most of you don't like the snow, I am hoping that it will be there when we get there in a couple of weeks. Remember that Christmas is the only time Maddie will get the chance to have snow. There are kids at the high school who have never seen snow- I don't want Maddie to be like that.

This week-what a week. We were getting back into the swing of things from Thanksgiving break. Chad thought that his grades were due on Monday, but instead he had all the way until Friday to get them done, so that was some relief for him. Wednesday he got to take the day off and come home to help with the girls, as I seemed to had pulled something in my back. I was reaching in the cupboard for a bowl and then I couldn't move, it had been spasing for a little while, but then after they stopped, it was just real sore, so trying to pick up our two girls was a feat in itself. So he came home and helped. The weekend wasn't too much of anything. Friday he had to ref at one of the grade schools with Phill, so I went and picked up Christian from his basketball practice and then we had pizza with them at our place. Saturday I was set on getting some Christmas shopping done, but ended up with not too much. Sunday we ended up going to late church and then we just spent the day playing and watching football. I did get the tree and decorations up and Maddie is still a little curious about the tree. She hasn't taken any ornaments off, but has to go around and touch them all. She has tried to put the lights in her mouth.

This week looks pretty slow. Maddie has her 18month check up on Friday. I think that she has grown up, but I don't think she has grown out, we will see. This weekend is the faculty Christmas party. I'm not sure if we are both going or if I am just going to send Chad. We will see how the week goes.

We leave in two weeks from tomorrow and I am already trying to get things ready here. I have been trying to make a list of the things that we will need in the car and for the ride. I'm sure we will be getting ready up until the moment we leave. Have a great week.