Thanksgiving

Hey...at least I've made it to November!

We only had one Thanksgiving get together this year, as some of the Luiken bunch headed to Kansas City to spend the holiday with Mike and Trudi.  We were all able to be together a few weeks later for Christmas. 

Back in Iowa, the Balvanz, Larson, Danielson and Luiken gang gathered for a day of giving thanks and enjoying great food and family. 



The Welcoming Committee! 
Even Baby Sammi had a vest & headress!

 The kids have a Thanksgiving tradition that they've done since they could walk, (I may have posted about this in previous years?)  The night before, they head over to Mom's and help set the table for Thanksgiving dinner.  They then eat grapes UNDER the table.  Don't know how it started, but it was something they'd done every year...until this one! There was no "eating-grapes-under-the-table" this year.  Mom was kind of sad thinking that the kids thought they were too big to do it this year. 

She really wasn't grumpy!

The kids also had fun making Indian head dresses and vests out of brown paper bags.  The Indians welcomed each guest as they arrived...even Nan and Pa dressed the part! 

Pa wearing what I think is part of Uncle Steve's Eagle Scout outfit. 

 Pa made this!

Instead of eating snacks under the table this year.

The weather was so nice...and Lane's "favorite-at-the-moment" football team, the Detroit Lions played that day, so he was in the mood to play football! He talked about making everyone play all week! 

The kids also always want to see Tom the Turkey before anyone cuts into him. 

 Nanny always has something "a little fancy" this year it was a horn-of-plenty made of bread.

We stuffed ourselves silly that day.  Wish I had leftovers for lunch today!

Halloween in January

I've warned you about the crazy order, but there were a few pictures I needed to post waaaay back from Halloween.  I'm getting caught up! 
 

Dig can always talk Daddy into wearing a helmet.
Kind of hard to eat supper in one though!! 



Dig does not like carving pumpkins.  Never has. 
He got creative this year and used a plastic glove!

My lil' pumpkin



Disregard the groceries on the counter!



Kind of blury, but Great Grandma Mary had lots of candy for her kids.



Did you dye your hair Grandma Great!? 



The kids didn't want to Trick-or-Treat for long,
 so we helped pass out candy with Nanny &  Pa.



Only 2 Months Ago...

Hey, give me a break.  No, really.  Knock-it-off. 

Oh.  What? Wait.  That's me making ME feel guilty? 

Two months ago, Lane Ryan had his first Veteran's Day Program.  If you grew up in the Eldora-New Providence school district, or I guess, South Hardin now, you know being a "Red, White and Blue Singer" is a pretty big deal.  We have one of the biggest programs in the state. 

I get choked up and teary every.single.time. 

I need a better zoom lense, so these aren't the greatest.  But I want Lane to see them someday and remember his debut in the Red, White and Blue!

Dig's pretty much right in the middle of the screen. 

In between the two poles, front row.

There he is again, about 6 in from the left.  =)

Took me a while to find DD...but she's in front of the lone

tall guy about 3 faces to the right of the teacher in the middle row.

Pretty Rocks

I've figured out that part of the reason I don't post regularly is because I'm too darn emotional.  There are things that I want to post about but I know I'll get teary or sad writing it and I am selfish.  I don't want to be sad.  This story is an example.  I took the pictures way back in April of last year, thinking I should/could post it then, didn't happen.  But that's not even when this all took place...I hate to admit it's from DD's Kindergarten year.  She's a second grader.  Enough said. 

It's just a fact that Drue had a difficult time transitioning to school.  If you know me at all...you know that.  Kindergarten proved to be the worst.  Drue cried most mornings before school.  She had a wonderful teacher and many friends, it's just that she was missin' her momma.  Her momma missed her, too.

One day after school, I found a little hand full of playground rocks at the bottom of her backpack.  I was about to throw them away but decided to ask why she had them. 

"Cuz when I'm feeling sad and missing you, I sit under the playground equipment all by myself and find pretty rocks for you."

The rocks are...and forever will be, safe in a little Mason jar sitting in the kitchen window.  I tear up thinking about those days. 

Along with aluminum foil swans the kids made with Pa

Dig's even made me a special love note to keep in my special jar.

It's a little better now, two years later...but those little pretty rocks will always be special to me.

Better Late Than Never

It's true.  I've morphed into a Blog-Stalker instead of Blog-Writer.  I have such good intentions.  I really do.  Doesn't the little list on the counter with all the possible post ideas count for something?  No?  I think part of my problem is I think I have to write some long, detailed post every time.  When I feel I don't have time for a long post, I decide it would be better to just wait until I have time.  Well, I haven't been making that time lately and I hate that. 

I've told myself that this year I will post more often.  I will make myself post before checking the black-hole, time-sucking Pinterest.  I will post before I read all of the overnight gossip from Facebook and I'll post before I read all the blogs that people actually make time to update and that consume my morning.  Please keep me accountable. 

The purpose of this blog is to have a record/journal/diary of our life for D & Dig.  So as long as it's down, even if it's in the most screwy order ever...it's better late than never, right? 

HERE WE GO...


Waay back on November 8, we woke to a beautiful covering of heavy, wet snow.  I thought for sure it would be here to stay, but that is the only snow we've had so far all winter! Can you believe that? Today the expected high is somewhere around 60 degrees! January in Iowa...bizzare. 

The kids had to get outside before school to play...and taste!



My Bubby is always so helpful.  He loves to shovel the drive way!



Look at those skinny-minnie legs!

My girl loves to eat snow!

Pumpkins AND a snowman on the front step!

A little target practice on the dumpster!

I must have worked that day.  How can you tell?

Well, for one...I'm DRESSED! I think I even did my hair,

although, you never can tell with me.  =)

There ya' have it.  One thing crossed off my "To-Blog-About" list. 

That's a Wrap!

It's the day after Christmas and we're up to our eyeballs in wrapping, boxes, packaging and new gifts.  We have had four Christmases and boy, does it show! 

We were able to get together with the Luiken family last weekend.  The kids always love being with their cousins!

I spent several of the next few days making Christmas goodies...that's a post in it's own!

Early in the week DD was home with the stomach flu, but was well enough by Thursday to make it to Grandma Balvanz's Christmas.  We played a little grab bag game and the kids just had so much fun with it.  One of Lane's bag was a huge pair of men's work gloves and Daddy got a pair of cute reindeer socks.  D & Dig laughed so hard! 

Christmas Eve we spent the evening with my family.  We missed Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa this year.  Hopefully, we get to see them soon!  Mom made a delicious prime rib and we headed to church.  We then opened gifts and spent more time eating.  It's kinda what we do.  =)

Around 11 the kids decided we should hurry home to prepare Santa's treats.  Before 7 the next morning I heard little feet running and soon I had two little monkeys begging me to get out of bed. 

We had plenty of time to open gifts and play with all the new stuff before heading to Grandma and Grandpa Larson's for Christmas dinner. 

We are so blessed to have our families close.  Everyone was so generous and we are so thankful.

Now I'm pooped and the house is a mess.  Just the way it should be!

Dig was so proud! He picked out this helmet for his

daddy a few months ago and has

kept it a secret and hidden ever since!

It's Daddy's favorite team.

This was the number one thing on Dig's list...mini helmets!

And this was the number one thing on DD's list, and iTouch.

Now Nanny and Momma have to paint Dig's room

and put up his Ricki Stanzi Fathead!

Merry Christmas from the Luikens!

He Means No Disrespect