Sledding & Shoveling

This winter has been so cold it has been hard to get out & enjoy the snow.  On Sunday, Jan. 19th, it was nice enough for J.T. & I to go outside  & do some sledding.  We also got out J.T.'s little shovel.  He had a grand time shoveling snow from the snowbank onto the driveway.  :)

Retirement Party for Martin

There was a retirement party for Martin on Dec. 19th.  I was very excited to be able to go and see all my friends from MindWare.

I cross-stitched this Brainy Guy for Martin & put it in a frame that everyone could sign.

May God bless your retirement, Martin!

It's A Wonderful Life - The Musical 2013

Our Christmas production was It's A Wonderful Life - The Musical again this year.  Todd was Potter's Goon and Sonja & J.T. were towns people.  Sonja also had a small speaking part as Mrs. Randall.  J.T. was a lamb in the nativity in the final scene this year.

Todd, Sonja, & J.T.

J.T. was very cute & quite popular in his fancy outfit & hat.  :)

J.T. in his coat & hat for the winter scenes.  Sonja's mom made this coat & all three of her brothers wore it when they were little.

Nana & J.T. the lamb.

J.T. & Grandma A looking at the Christmas tree.

Potter's Goon & Mr. Potter

Thanksgiving & Justin & Luke's Birthdays

We celebrated Justin's 14th Birthday & Evan's 4th birthday at our Lane Thanksgiving.

J.T. enjoying his dinner.

Maddie

Evan getting some food.

Mom & the grandchildren & great-grandchild:

Alex(5)

Tiffany(23), J.D.(16)

Brenden(11), Evan(10), Mom, Justin(14), Nicholas(12)

Luke(4), Maddie(5), Tyler(7), Andrew(5)

J.T.(2)

Luke & Justin with the birthday pumpkin pie.  :)

Nicholas, Brenden, Evan, Andrew, Maddie, Tyler, Tiffany, J.T., Luke, & Alex

Brenden is learning how to play the clarinet.

Joel & Linda's Wedding

We went to Sonja's cousin, Darnelda's son, Joel's wedding yesterday.  Joel & Linda's wedding was on their ranch in Ackley, IA.  It was so beautiful!

Linda & Joel incorporated a tree planting ceremony in their wedding ceremony to symbolize their new marriage & the nurturing that will be needed to make it grow strong through the year.  It was lovely & they will always have that tree in their back yard as a reminder.

Karen, Mousa, Linda, Joel, Jessica, Joshua, & Sara

Linda & Joel Saleh

J.T. had a great time on the ranch.  We saw turkeys that "talked" to him, chickens, a very large pig, goats & bison.

J.T. found it was difficult waiting for cake time........

......but in the end it was worth it.....yum!  :)

Joel & Linda cutting the cake.

Mr. & Mrs. Saleh's 1st dance.

Lunch Cruise on the St. Croix River in Stillwater

Last Sunday we went on a lunch cruise sponsored by our church.  We had a great time!

J.T. & Great Grandma A eating lunch.

J.T. enjoying his cookie.

Uncle Todd, Great Grandma A, Nana, & J.T.

J.T. liked waving to the people on another boat that went by.

Labor Day Weekend Family Party

We had a family party at Leonard & Denise's house on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend.  We picked apples so I could make some apple butter, played games, & celebrated Brenden, J.T., Nicholas, & Tyler's birthdays.

Uncle Todd & Maddie picking apples.

Nana & J.T. picking apples.

Luke picking apples.

Brenden, Andrew, Angela, Leonard, & Tiffany.......popcorn relay.

Kim, Jeremy, Maddie, Brenden, & Denise......popcorn relay.

Leonard (holding board), Angela, Justin, & Anthony.......water balloon toss.

Grandma A......water balloon toss.

Birthday boys....J.T. (2), Tyler (7), Nicholas (12), Brenden (11).