Photo Time

Life is crazy, but we think about you (Oma & Tante) often. Here are a few photos to get you through your day...

Stefan caught me reading... ouch... I'm looking a little tired.
Emmi & I on a dog walk... it started to snow on us.

Baking cookies...

Emmi hanging with Jeep.

Joe making another fire in the pellet stove.

6th Picture in 6th Folder

This is a funny little game... here are the rules:

THE RULES

1.Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

2.Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.

3.Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

4.If you want to play, please do.

This is our buddy 'H' and was taken during Christmas break during one of our many afternoons eating ... P.I.Z.Z.A!

the "German" kids

Bernhardt (sp) gave me this hat in 1995, I believe, when he was here visiting. It lives on. Every once in awhile it surfaces... pretty cute little Germans!

#14 vs #14 -- Stefan plays again!

What a fun surprise to show up at Stefan's game and have him playing against an old friend from preschool. Even better, she's a girl AND they were matched up... so, Stefan had to guard her. He did a great job. What a fun game... Stefan played well and ended with 7 points on the night.

Basketball - Joey

I took my camera along to Joey's basketball game. It was a good game and fun for me as he played against a friend from high schools son. Hard to believe that we both have kids old enough to play against each other!

Emmi

Exciting times for Miss Emmi... first she lost a tooth and the tooth fairy came, then she lost another tooth and the tooth fairy came again... she is now showing off her big hole in her mouth and drinking out of a straw (through the hole, of course!).

(Yes, she has a black eye in the photo... she picked up her 2 big horses and knocked herself in the eye. She never cried, never even told me until I said, "Why is your eye black?" She replied with, "I guess I gave myself a black eye... just like Joey.")

This was a HUGE week at music class... she received her very own glockenspiel (just like Stefan). She is so excited... she's 'practiced' everyday!

(I'm going to pretend that I'm embarrassed, but really I love showing off!)

Dear Tante,

Hi Tante can you write me a letter? Thank you for the presents. I have to go to school.

Love Stefan

Stefan

Has anyone seen Stefan and his pumpkin football? He has a stuffed pumpkin that has become a football ever since mama made the 'NO BALLS IN THE HOUSE' rule... believe me, it was necessary! He plays catch with himself, runs plays and lets Joey in on the fun as well. Tonight I about lost it laughing when I saw that pumpkin was in bed with him. Oh, how he loves his football!
This picture doesn't do his pumpkin justice... I will have to take a picture of our pumpkin, but right now it's sleeping with Stefan!

FedX Arrives... finally

Oma & Tante send a FedX package to arrive Tuesday before Christmas... It finally arrived Thursday after Christmas... wow... that was some weather and backlog. It worked out well for us as the kids got an extra package and were able to really enjoy it.


Emmi received a wonderful chest from Tante and a beautiful necklace, a music box and a new red scarf that she cherishes. The chest has become her desk... very cute. She also received two books that she has read and reread. And... $20 from Oma... she was so excited. We headed out together to Punky Doodlebugs a local children's boutique to spend her money. She found her treasure in 2.3 seconds... a notebook purse with colored pencils and a pad of paper. It's perfect for taking to basketball games.

Stefan & Joey received football cards, football card notebook with protective holders for the cards. They each got new books... Artemis Fowl for Joey and Frog and Toad for Stefan. Perfect. They also each received $20 from Oma. They were very excited and decided to pool their money so that they could buy an new game for the Wii. I don't know if this is the exact game... but you get the point.

The tin of cookies and the nostalgic Packers puzzle were also a huge hit!

Happy New Year!

We had a fun-filled evening with Raising Russels. The new oven turned off while the prime rib was in, so it was undercooked... better than overcooked I say. It was still delicious. The kids played, the adults had great conversation and laughs... it can't get much better.


Jeep strikes again...

All of the kids watching Billy Blaze (?)... they were watching a cartoon, but I caught them intrigued with this infomercial.
He did it... he threatened and he did it... a handstand against the wall. We missed the first photo, but just keep scrolling down...

A self portrait... not so great...

Ah, much better. Velma stepped in to help out...
And... Joe... in all his glory...

Happy 2009!