Ok, NOW it's cold!!

I said brrrrr last post...I was wrong...it's FREEZING now! Ryan's cow waterer was frozen this morning and it hasn't frozen in all the 5 years we've been married, so you know it's cold! He wasn't too excited to get that fixed but he had to.

Not a lot has happened since my last post. Tuesday was coffee at our house. Usually, before our friends come over I have Drue put her blanket in a safe place, like on the steps going upstairs or on the laundry room counter. I didn't do that this week. When it came time to nap, we looked everywhere. I had already picked the house back up after the tornado of play group and didn't see it. So, I ran out to the Expedition to see if we left it there. I emptied out the toy boxes in the toy room, I went through all the laundry in the dryer thinking I accidently threw it in the wash, I even went through the garbage! Yeah, that's how important this blanket is! The whole time I was looking for it, I was getting sad thinking it was gone forever. I kept asking DD if she remembered where she had it last. She said, "Mom, just forget it, I'll get a new blankie!" I was shocked! I knew she couldn't possibly be serious, but she assured me she was. So, we picked out another blanket from our stock pile and she was content. Later that afternoon, we took our dog, Cash to the vet to be neutered. Well, Cash is DD's dog. The idea of him spending the night there did not go over well with her. When the nurse took his leash, Drue looked at me and just started crying. She sobbed...I mean SOBBED the entire way from Ackley to Eldora. Half way home I look back and she's asleep...then a whimper...then a full blast sob! I try comforting her, letting her know Cash is coming home, etc...then she yells ..."This blanket doesn't work in the car!!!" She was right! We got to Mom's and she was distracted by the toys and just a change of scenery so the blanket didn't come up again. When my mom got home DD wanted to go out and feed the dog with her, while she put her coat on she was jabbing about losing her blanket, the fun she had at play group, etc...then I hear an "UGGHHHHH!" I look up, she's smiling a big smile and holding up her little tattery blanket! He was in her coat pocket!!! PHEWWWW! All is good again!

Lane has had a cold the last 3 days. Runny nose and crabby. You can hear that his head is stuffed up. I'm sure it's terrible not being able to tell anyone what hurts. Plus, he can't eat well or nurse well because he has to hold his breath! He had fun Saturday morning playing with dog food on our back porch. He took it out of Cash's bowl, then lined it up on the floor and piled in on the toybox my dad built me when I was little, (we use it for outside toys and pop boxes) He sure was proud of his work. He didn't even try to eat it! Ryan's dad stopped over later that morning, I'm sure he wondered why we left spilled dog food all over...

I don't remember if I mentioned in the last post, but last Saturday, we showed the house again. It was to a couple who had been out twice before. Actually, the lady was the very first person to look at it back when we put it for sale. The showing went very well. It was very long, about 2 hours. Our realtor said she hasn't had a 2 hour showing for a long time...too bad for her, it was a very cold day! I guess they have some estimates to get, like siding and demolition of some out buildings and then they are going to get back to the realtor. Hopefully, they too, would put an offer on the house. All in good time. Actually, it wouldn't be bad if our house didn't sell until Ryan was home more to get some stuff cleaned up outdoors...It's all in God's hands.

Friday, Drue was an absolute angel! I am honest...I think it's the best day she's had since Dig was born. Maybe her bout with the terrible twos is coming to a close...no, she's not terrible, but yes...she's spoiled...how does that happen!?!?! :) She was just so good about saying please, thank you, being gentle with Dig, sharing...everything! Then Lane got feeling sick and after dinner I said, "you know, maybe it would be a good idea if, after our bath, we had some freezies." (you know...the snacks we'd buy at the pool...Mr. Freezes) Those are a huge hit year round in this house...Drue looked at me and said, "Mommy, I was talking to God that Digga's throat would be better and we'd get freezies!" I about melted! It's the first time she's mentioned talking to God privately. Such a great ending to a great day.

Dig received a Baby Hawkeye movie from Aunt Trudi at Christmas. It's like a Baby Einstein, but about sports played at U of I, yellow and black, numbers, marching band music, you get the picture...anyway, Lane LOVES it! I ask,"Dig, do you want to watch Dora or Go Hawks?" His reply is always, "hawk hawks!" Sounds a little like a pig oink, but I know what he means! Then he goes and gets the DVD case. He does the cutest, silliest dance when he hears the fight song and he screams like a girl when he sees I'm putting the movie in. Drue also loves the movie. She knows her ABC's so it's very fun for her to do the I-O-W-A ...Fight Hawks Fight cheer. Her Mommy and her like to pretend we're cheerleaders when we watch it! :)

Ryan and I went birthday shopping Sat. night. We found a Diego bike at KMart in Cedar Falls. She knew she was getting a bike but didn't know what kind. Ryan decided to give it to her today since he'd be gone on her b-day. He went out to the truck to get it after breakfast this morning. She didn't know what he was doing and was jabbering at me then turned around and saw the box and just froze...then came and held my leg, like she was scared of it. It's a little big, but Ryan chose the bigger one so she can grow into it this spring and summer. I also found Diego plates and napkins, she has no idea about them. Her party is Saturday, she'll probably be ticked at us for actually USING them...God forbid we get them dirty, or worse yet...throw them away! :)

Today, Drue helped me make potato soup and while I was doing something, she was standing on a chair up to the counter and took a bunch of the spices out from the cupboard and pretended to put them in a cup and stir them. She was talking to herself about what she was putting in, how much needed to go in "a half a cup of this it says," ...I hope not...it was garlic powder!...then she looked at me and said, "Mom, 'tend I'm Rachael Ray." She loves that girl! She'll sit and watch her some mornings and tell me she's pretty, Grandma thinks she's funny, etc... So, we pretended she was Rachael Ray. What a girl we have!

I caught myself just smiling today. ( I told you that's why I have these new wrinkles...or maybe I just grew dimples!) I was picking up pieces of sausage and toast off the floor from breakfast and just thought, "what a great life I have." I mean...Today, for example, it's cold outside, there's snow on the ground, inside, our home is nice and cozy, we had a warm breakfast, coffee was in the pot, the kids are (relatively) healthy, the house is clean, kids are playing, everyone was home, nothing major on calendar to do, nothing to complain about, no major worries.

Life is good. Praise God!

BBBBRRRRRRRrrrrrr

For you folks reading this who do not live in the Midwest...it's FREEZING here! Literally. I think it was about 10 or 11 degrees yesterday. Windchills made it feel like negative , oh, I don't know...40!! Ok, that may be an exaggeration, but whooo...y! COLD. I'm sure the people in town think I'm nuts, because I still let the kids play outside a couple of days ago. It was just for a few minutes, we probably spent more time bundling up with snowpants, boots, mits, hats, and coats, than we actually spent outside. The kids loved it though. Then it's always great coming in and having some hot cocoa. Definitely feels like winter here.

The kids have had a great week. Must be the snow. Drue has been singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Jesus Loves Me" all by her self. She is so stinkin cute. Santa got Dig a rug that you drive your cars on, looks like a little town, with roads, etc... Drue likes to drive to the church. We sing the above named songs and she says a prayer...always..."God and Jesus, thank you for my food, Amen." That's the prayer I grew up saying at meals. My mom actually made it up when she was just a little girl, probably not much older than DD, if any. Lane also folds his hands and "prays" aloud. He does this anytime we sit at the table, whether it's to play play-dough, color or actually eat...too cute!

Lane is also saying more words. He says, "Nah-Nah" for Nanny, "boo-boo" for fish...This one took me a while to figure out. I finally had to ask his interpretor...DD. She told me what he meant and she was right... As usual, Dig continues to have several bumps and bruises. He is always speeding. He is a dare devil and nothing scares him. He reminds me so much of my brother, Steve, from the cute little grin, to the temper tantrums, right down to the 'flux capacitor' running down the middle of his forehead! :)

Drue has been waking up the last week, whispering, "mommy, is today my birfday?" I don't know if she's looking forward to the party or if she's worried because I informed her that when she's three, she no longer needs her plug. We received a letter informing us we can register her for preschool at our church, but we are waiting until she's 4. She definitely doesn't NEED to go. She's brilliant, (I know, I'm her Mom...) plus, we go to play group and do other activities where she interacts with children, and I'm a teacher for Pete's sake...she's not just sitting around chewing bubble gum and watching tv...ok, she is chewing a lot of gum! :) I told her that she can go to preschool if she wants, she kind of fussed about it and asked some questions, then I assured her she wouldn't be going until she was 4...a moment of silence, then she pipes in, "Or maybe...SIX!" :) She will once again go to Sunday school this winter, then start going to the 3 year class after the 'orientation' classes are done. She sooo enjoyed it last year, and I think her boyfriend, Gus, (real name...Angus!....for REAL!) will be there again.

We had some exciting happenings on January 10th. Our realtor called and told me we had an offer on our house. Ryan and I countered and the couple accepted it the next day. However, this in NO way means our house is sold. We are not getting our hopes up because the couple has to sell their home first and the market comes to a screeching hault in the winter. The good news...we know we have an interested buyer, if their house takes longer than the contracted 90 days, it's no biggy. They're still interested and they know what we want for it. Another thing that could happen is another couple offering cash would make and offer and we'd null the first one. For now we're just spreading the word that their house is for sale and hoping they have some luck. We had a huge dumpster brought out to clean out the machine shed. That's Ryan's job and since none of the buildings were cleaned when we purchased the acreage or even when Ryan's dad purchased it...there is a lot of JUNK! Ryan wants to get it done so if/when our house does sell, he can spend his weekends working on our new home instead of cleaning here. So that's what we'll be up to the next few months.

Last Friday, Drue had Campbell over to play. Then we had her parents and sisters join us for supper. I made hamburger soup, beer bread and apple crisp...felt pretty Amish, I did! :) Tomorrow night, I'm going to a movie with Pam and Cam...it's been forever since I've seen an adult movie...it's a chick flick to boot!! :)

Would love to hear from some of you...Stay cozy! ~kabl

Happy Birthday, Ryan Dean...

Yesterday was Ry's 32nd birthday...a guy at work thought he was 42 and thought for sure Ryan was joking with him when he told him how old he was...I think it's time he shaves that beard if it's making him look THAT old! :) Yes, I love everything Amish...but this is a little different! I think I would be the first Amish woman to demand my husband shaves his beard and has a goatee...I've never seen Ryan without facial hair, well in pictures, but not personally, and I honestly, don't ever want him not to have his goatee. I miss it though, this Canadian Lumberjacker look is a bit much...BUT, I don't let him tell me what to do with my hair, so for his birthday, we got him a beardtrimmer... He's so cute when he shaves (leaving the goatee) ughhhh.....I love that! Guess I have to wait til spring...

Well...Since it's 2007, means I haven't written since LAST year! I'll be succinct about what has been happening around here lately...

Obvious big news was Christmas...We had several Christmases. Sat. the 23rd was at Ryan's parents'. We enjoyed watching DD open EVERYONE'S presents. Sunday, Drue and I made cookies, she frosted and sprinkled. Since we don't have a chimney, we hung an old skeleton key on a pretty ribbon and put it on the door knob. It's a magic key that Santa uses to get in when we're sleeping. Drue put out the cookies and her and Ryan's favorite drink...(Santa's too!) MILKNOG and then we went to Mom and Dad's. I took DD in, Ryan took Dig. He put Dig down, Mom took off his coat, I am taking off DD's and all of a sudden I hear a few "oooooohh's" Ryan walked back in from getting the presents from the car and I said, "While you were gone, Lane got the flu." So, we didn't go to church. I was worried the entire time that I was going to get the flu or Drue would...I don't do the flu at ALL. I haven't thrown up in 20 some years and am not going to start now. I freak out. I can't even believe I don't pass out when the kids get sick! :) Anyway, I also didn't get to eat any of Mom's prime rib, so I'm requesting we have it next year, too. I was too afraid to eat, in case it would be coming up later!??@@**&! We (Grandma & Grandpa Balvanz were there too) stayed home from church and opened presents earlier than normal. Lane was sick about 6 times, but only lasted about 3 or 4 hours and he was fine. He wasn't sick once we got home. The next day was Christmas, DD was so tired. She slept in and then opened her and Lane's presents. Lane felt much better so we decided to go to my granparents' in Dayton. But...before we left, Ryan showed Drue and Lane that there was reindeer poop on our deck!!! Along with a bunch of half eaten carrots that DD had left for Rudolph. He was kind of a messy eater! But, oh my...that sure made DD's Christmas. She had been religiously watching the old "Rudolph" movie...we're talking, a couple times a day...so this was big stuff knowing he had actually been at HER house! Since everyone was taking Christmas things down as soon as the day was over, we had to expalain to Drue that Christmas was over and they'd be back up next year, she chimed in, "no, Cimpus isn't over, still have to go to Gamma Mair's (Mary's)" We had Christmas with Balvanz's the Saturday before New Year's, so now, it's officially over...The kids (and Ryan and I ) received so many nice gifts. We sure missed Steve and Lisa though. Ryan likes beating Steve at our annual bowling night... Steve is sure to give him a good punch or two and there are usually some pretty good laughs...hope to see them soon!

We showed the house the Friday after Christmas and the following Thursday. I looked at a house for the first time. Ryan and I are going together to see a couple houses this weekend. We aren't going to do anything until our house sells, but thought we'd look to see what's out there...which isn't much. Hopefully, if/when our house sells, there will be more options. It's fun thinking of different paint colors, decorating ideas, etc...Even if our house doesn't sell, I think we'll be painting, Ry says he's ready for some different colors...which isn't really that 'manly' of a thing to say, so don't tell him I told you that!

We spent New Year's with some friends from my class...Chad and Syd, Curt and Carey, and Kosanke's. We went to a bar in Eldora, saw a hypnotist...hilarious! Oh my! So funny I about wet my pants several times...which maybe isn't a big deal, because I've had that problem alot since the kids were born!! My kegals are in poor shape!! No running or jumping (or sneezing or coughing...on and on...) for me!! :) Anyway, good time dancing and visiting with friends.

Monday we went in to Mom and Dad's about 10...we KNEW we had to be there relatively early because there was SNOW on the ground!!! We packed up the snow pants, mitts and hats and were met at the door by 2 very excited munchkins!! Drue just screamed...she was so glad we had thought to bring the snow pants. Ryan and I , the kids and my Dad all played outside while Mom cooked...(sorry, Mom) We pulled DD on a sled, Dig doesn't like it but he sure loved riding in the sleigh Dad built me for my birthday. He actually fell asleep in it. Dad was pulling him in the neigboring yard and he brought him over to me, I went to pick him up to take him to bed and he kicked and cried. He was so cozy and relaxed. I don't think he could bend his arms or legs with his big ol' coat, snowpants and snowboots. We have some really cute pics.

This week we had coffee at our house. Minus Caryn. She was due to have a baby April 2nd or 3rd and ended up having a C-section on Christmas Eve. Baby Gabe is doing well. He weighed 1 pound, 5 ounces. He is so tiny. His little head is smaller than a tennis ball. We're praying that things continue to go well and that God is with Clint, Caryn, Maddie, Trevor and Gabe as they endure many ups and downs in the days, weeks, months ahead. Gabe will be in Des Moines for at least 3 months, which means many struggles here at home and with traveling. Please keep the McMartins in your prayers.

After coffee, the kids and I ran to IA Falls to eat at McDonalds, they sure have fun even though both are too afraid to go up the big slide. Then we went and got Ry's birthday gift and make his cake. Drue decorated it with bright yellow frosting, sprinkles, sugar jungle animals and I wrote Daddy on it...our original idea was to have it be a Hawkeye cake but when DD saw the edible sugar tiger, panda and monkey heads...she made an executive decision...she does that alot! :)

Well...you're caught up...no one else ever got sick, we're all doing well, keeping busy and enjoying the giggles.

Happy New Year! ~Kristy