Rachel now likes doing her spelling on the windows with window markers - a lot more fun I guess

Abbie, Rachel and Grant being elves at Oma and Pop's today to get their presents to the basement to open next week.

Rachel and Grant had one more dress rehearsal tonight for the Christmas play on Christmas Eve. They got to try on their costumes tonight. I sure have some cute shepherds - don't I?

Highlights of the week ending 12-20-09

Abbie had her first band concert this week and did an outstanding job playing her clarinet.

Jacob had his first swim meet and also did very well.

Abbie and Rachel got to visit Snickers and Peanut this week at Dana's. Not sure who was more scared - the dogs or the girls.

Abbie had a baton performance and Iowa Men's Basketball game on Saturday night.

Rachel and Grant getting ready for rehearsal at church. They will be in the Childern's Christmas play on Christmas Eve. They both decided to be shepherds this year.

Here we are with our family we adopted for Christmas this year. It was nice to actually see the faces of the people that we helped this year. We had to give them each one clothing item, one gift and some food for the holidays. I felt like this was the best part of Christmas for our family - we saw the joy on another family that does not have as much as us.

Uncle Tim was home last week for a visit. He got to enjoy playing in the snow with the kids since they had 2 snow days. Tim and the kids were having fun sledding - Grant liked tackling Tim during a snowball fight - AND Jacob and Abbie are throwing snowballs out of Pop's truck. A lot of fun in the snow was had by all.

As you can tell I am going blog crazy BUT I wanted to get you all updated. Be sure to view older posts so can see all of the updates in a quick version since the computer crash in August.

Enjoy the pictures and I always LOVE to hear comments about them.

Daisy Christmas Party

I didn't get the memo to wear my "indoor" scarf for this party. My daisy Ellen is all about fashion and she is trying to educate me regarding scarfs - indoor vs. outdoor scarfs.

YES - our first family trophy we won at the Frosty Frenzy race in West Branch. It is sitting oh so proudly on our mantle.

Visited Santa and then he mailed us a letter too. Grant needs to stop pouting because I guess Santa really frowns on that. He is working on not pouting BUT he told me it can be hard sometimes you know.

While Greg was at the Iowa/Ohio State - Uncle Joel came to visit us. We decided to surprise Greg by decorating the outside of the house with Christmas lights. Jacob and Joel had a lot work ahead of them but they did it and Greg really liked it.

Grant wasn't to sure Uncle Joel was doing a good job so he was

being the job supervisor on the job site.

I was in charge of getting the lights in shape before they hit the roof.

Took Abbie and Rachel to the Carver Hawkeye Crap - oh I mean Craft show. See if you can
find my girls among the BEAUTIFUL vacuum covers that Oma Podhajsky
so much loves.

HALLOWEEN 2009

Once again we had our Halloween parties for the kids. I was dressed up as Cruella De Ville with my thugs - Horrace and Jasper. Rachel was Super Girl, Grant was FLASH and Abbie was a 50's waitress.

Joel, Nanny and Ompa Cram did the Run for the Schools with Greg, Jacob and Grant. I had to stay home with girls that were both having fevers of over 100 - oh the joys of the H1N1. We all made it through the flu - Grant was the only lucky one that didn't get the terrible fever.

Chicago Marathon 2009

I decided to do the Chicago Marathon this past October. I never ran a day in my life but my wonderful friend Heather asked if I would do it with her and I said ME? She said why not so I guess I did the dreaded training and made it through and LOVED IT!!!! Not sure I will do another marathon anytime soon but maybe some half marathons our in my future.

Training for a half marathon doesn't require getting up at 3:30AM - or at least I hope not. I was oh so very proud of myself and can't believe with determination and friend support what a person can really do. Thanks Heather for getting me into running even though you won't run with me anymore.

Everyone that did the walk with

us.

No words need to be said for this photo