measuring the number scroll
Monday, December 31, 2012
numbers 1 - 12150
In 1st grade, Jayden had to write down as many numbers as he could throughout the school year. He came home last June with this scroll of numbers between 1 and 12150. I wanted to stretch it out and measure it just to see how long it was - we came up with 695 inches and Jayden converted that to 57.9 feet of numbers. It stretched from our kitchen back to my bedroom!
measuring the number scroll
measuring the number scroll
Last Day of 2012!
we were very blessed in 2012. i am looking forward to what 2013 has to offer.
our own New Year's Eve toast!
Cheers!
Cheers!
a christmas miracle
it was a Christmas Miracle for sure that we actually made it to a church service on time!! we seem to arrive about 5 minutes into every church service :(
But that's not the only Christmas Miracle that happened on Christmas Eve... it was something that I didn't expect for sure ---- before church we went to a local nursing home for Graham, Jayden, and Ross to play a few Christmas Carols on the piano. we pulled up to the nursing home - got the kids out of the car and unloaded our keyboard. as we were waiting in the lobby for one of the nurses to guide us back to the gathering area where we were supposed to set up - a lady comes walking out of the nursing home putting on her hat, gloves, and winter coat (i suspect she was visiting a family member)..... she walks by and smiles.... helen and jayden (without being prompted by anyone) - smile, wave, and say "merry christmas!". she says merry christmas back to them and proceeds to walk out the front door of the nursing home. shortly after that, the nurse arrives to guide us back to our "concert area". we get there and get all set up - then turn around to find this same lady who greeted us with a merry christmas tapping on my shoulder. she came all the way back through the nursing home to say that helen's smile had made her christmas! tears filled my eyes. she said she walked all the way back just to tell us that helen had made her christmas and that she was filled with the joy from helen's smile. we invited her to stay for the "concert" - she said "no, i must get home - i'm in a hurry". then she proceeded to stay a few more minutes to tell us again (several times) how we had made her christmas. i invited her to stay again and she said no - i must go. then turned around - said merry christmas and thank you and walked away :)
here are a few pictures from our christmas eve and christmas day:
Graham playing some Christmas Carols at the nursing home
Jayden playing some Christmas Carols
Helen dancing
Ross playing some Christmas carols
reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Jayden decided to make his list on the AFTERNOON of Christmas Eve - ugh!
yum!
Christmas Day breakfast - Dutch pancakes
Christmas Morning
just a spoonful of sugar on the sugar cookie - by Jillian :)
But that's not the only Christmas Miracle that happened on Christmas Eve... it was something that I didn't expect for sure ---- before church we went to a local nursing home for Graham, Jayden, and Ross to play a few Christmas Carols on the piano. we pulled up to the nursing home - got the kids out of the car and unloaded our keyboard. as we were waiting in the lobby for one of the nurses to guide us back to the gathering area where we were supposed to set up - a lady comes walking out of the nursing home putting on her hat, gloves, and winter coat (i suspect she was visiting a family member)..... she walks by and smiles.... helen and jayden (without being prompted by anyone) - smile, wave, and say "merry christmas!". she says merry christmas back to them and proceeds to walk out the front door of the nursing home. shortly after that, the nurse arrives to guide us back to our "concert area". we get there and get all set up - then turn around to find this same lady who greeted us with a merry christmas tapping on my shoulder. she came all the way back through the nursing home to say that helen's smile had made her christmas! tears filled my eyes. she said she walked all the way back just to tell us that helen had made her christmas and that she was filled with the joy from helen's smile. we invited her to stay for the "concert" - she said "no, i must get home - i'm in a hurry". then she proceeded to stay a few more minutes to tell us again (several times) how we had made her christmas. i invited her to stay again and she said no - i must go. then turned around - said merry christmas and thank you and walked away :)
here are a few pictures from our christmas eve and christmas day:
Graham playing some Christmas Carols at the nursing home
Jayden playing some Christmas Carols
Helen dancing
Ross playing some Christmas carols
Merry Christmas!
my gift from Ross - a running diary - I LOVE it!
Jolly Ross :)
the Christmas aftermath
getting cookies ready for Santa
reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Jayden decided to make his list on the AFTERNOON of Christmas Eve - ugh!
yum!
Christmas Day breakfast - Dutch pancakes
Christmas Morning
Decorating sugar cookies
just a spoonful of sugar on the sugar cookie - by Jillian :)
Playing a new game
|
Sunday, December 23, 2012
two enginerds solve a problem!
about a month ago - i loaded the dishwasher (as it's done EVERY day at our house - sigh), put the soap in, and closed it to let it do it's thing. for some reason, i was not able to shut the dishwasher door completely. i opened up the dishwasher and thought maybe a cup or plate or piece of silverware was in the way... NOPE. i tried a bit of troubleshooting and then called in my better half to help me :) after some rearranging on his part - we still were not able to get the dishwasher door to close.
so, the 2 enginerds began their investigation to determine the root cause ---- after about an hour (or so), some power tools, and some fabulous engineering teamwork - we concluded that the door hinge part had failed. it was too late to report the repair. the next morning, i called immediately to get the repair scheduled. in the back of my mind, i had a sinking feeling that the warranty had JUST expired or was within DAYS of expiring since we purchased the dishwasher when we first moved to sturgis. as i reached the company on the phone - my heart sank - the warranty expired ON.THAT.DAY! great! i get to pay a service call and for the $2 part! luckily i was able to pull up my credit card statement that showed that my card was not charged until the NEXT day. so the $2 part and $xxx service call would be free! how lucky is that!
here's a picture of the part that failed. the little black, plastic switch in the center had a (probably) plastic spring inside that broke.
here's what our kitchen looked like for the next week while we waited for the part to come in. both ross and i had dishpan hands for sure!
so, the 2 enginerds began their investigation to determine the root cause ---- after about an hour (or so), some power tools, and some fabulous engineering teamwork - we concluded that the door hinge part had failed. it was too late to report the repair. the next morning, i called immediately to get the repair scheduled. in the back of my mind, i had a sinking feeling that the warranty had JUST expired or was within DAYS of expiring since we purchased the dishwasher when we first moved to sturgis. as i reached the company on the phone - my heart sank - the warranty expired ON.THAT.DAY! great! i get to pay a service call and for the $2 part! luckily i was able to pull up my credit card statement that showed that my card was not charged until the NEXT day. so the $2 part and $xxx service call would be free! how lucky is that!
here's a picture of the part that failed. the little black, plastic switch in the center had a (probably) plastic spring inside that broke.
here's what our kitchen looked like for the next week while we waited for the part to come in. both ross and i had dishpan hands for sure!
Friday, December 21, 2012
the 'no snow' snow day
today was supposed to be the last day of school before the christmas break - however yesterday afternoon when i went to pick up the kids from school, i was told that school was already cancelled for friday.... due to weather. i thought it was a bit strange to cancel school so far in advance, i mean this is MICHIGAN people! the kids were upset - jayden had a "cocoa caberet" concert to perform for us and the rest of the kids had some fun activities planned. i had 3 pounds of frosting prepared for graham's class to make gingerbread houses.
so instead - we went to walmart (so much fun with 4 kids and so much for that last minute christmas shopping i planned to do!) to get some groceries and then stopped at the local coffee shop for some hot chocolate on our way home. yes, there was a little bit of bribing on my part for good behavior in wal-mart. :) i think we counted 5 families that we recognized from school at walmart! and the big snow-storm! nada! maybe an inch by the end of the day today. we watched the Polar Express and built some houses with the frosting intended for graham's class.
here's some pictures from our own gingerbread (graham cracker) house building fun this afternoon.
jillian licks the frosting while the others begin building their houses
would you look at that - jillian is actually placing a piece of candy ON the house and not IN her mouth
haha! caught - putting another piece of candy in her mouth :)
jayden decided to make a rocket ship instead and jillian.... well, most of her decorations are in her tummy!
the other day, i decided to pull out the "santa is watching card" on jillian. i told her that santa was watching her and that she better behave if she wants him to visit next week. she looks around the room, pauses, and says to me "MOM, santa is NOT watching me because he is not is this room now! i do not see him so he is NOT watching me right now!" smart girl!
so instead - we went to walmart (so much fun with 4 kids and so much for that last minute christmas shopping i planned to do!) to get some groceries and then stopped at the local coffee shop for some hot chocolate on our way home. yes, there was a little bit of bribing on my part for good behavior in wal-mart. :) i think we counted 5 families that we recognized from school at walmart! and the big snow-storm! nada! maybe an inch by the end of the day today. we watched the Polar Express and built some houses with the frosting intended for graham's class.
here's some pictures from our own gingerbread (graham cracker) house building fun this afternoon.
jillian licks the frosting while the others begin building their houses
would you look at that - jillian is actually placing a piece of candy ON the house and not IN her mouth
haha! caught - putting another piece of candy in her mouth :)
jayden decided to make a rocket ship instead and jillian.... well, most of her decorations are in her tummy!
the other day, i decided to pull out the "santa is watching card" on jillian. i told her that santa was watching her and that she better behave if she wants him to visit next week. she looks around the room, pauses, and says to me "MOM, santa is NOT watching me because he is not is this room now! i do not see him so he is NOT watching me right now!" smart girl!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Elkhart Swim Meet - December 2012
Helen participated in her first "away" swim meet this season in Elkhart, IN.
helen warming up with the big kids! (purple swim cap near the edge of the pool)
graham swimming butterfly - he's too fast for me to capture a shot of him swimming freestyle
jayden gives his sister a high five after she swam a personal best time
jayden swimming breast stroke
http://youtu.be/hKceg8JvePI
a video of helen swimming the 50 freestyle. you will notice on the 2nd 25 she seems to "lose" her left arm under the water :) she's made amazing strides in her swimming since joining the swim team late last summer.
i love how you can hear her teamates cheering in the background. at the swim meet - i noticed at least 10 older kids that came up to the little ones to wish them good luck before each of their races. giving them a high five and telling them to swim their best. made my heart melt.
helen warming up with the big kids! (purple swim cap near the edge of the pool)
graham swimming butterfly - he's too fast for me to capture a shot of him swimming freestyle
jayden gives his sister a high five after she swam a personal best time
jayden swimming breast stroke
http://youtu.be/hKceg8JvePI
a video of helen swimming the 50 freestyle. you will notice on the 2nd 25 she seems to "lose" her left arm under the water :) she's made amazing strides in her swimming since joining the swim team late last summer.
i love how you can hear her teamates cheering in the background. at the swim meet - i noticed at least 10 older kids that came up to the little ones to wish them good luck before each of their races. giving them a high five and telling them to swim their best. made my heart melt.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
instant christmas!
i have been dragging my feet in the Christmas decorating area - no specific reason - just preoccupied with other things. Last Thursday, Jillian and I decided we could get all the decorations done and presents wrapped in 1 day! and we did!
"jillian, smile nice for the picture"
"mommy, this is how i wanted to smile"
dancing with her Christmas toys
"someone" brought it to my attention that Jillian makes all the cookies with mommy --- so while Jillian was at dance class - Helen and I made some brownies together
Helping in Helen's class at school - somehow Jillian and mommy's back made it in the photo
some hilarous sentences from Graham's homework :)
getting our christmas tree on Sunday.
Jillian got these treats at her school today, I allowed her to have 1 chocolate and then we put the rest on the counter for later. Jillian went in the bathroom and got the stool and then said "Mom, I'm just going to stand here and watch my candy since you won' t let me have any more!" - Love that girl!
Jillian dancing to Gangnam - watch her hips move :)
http://youtu.be/16LeK18jLZs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)