#4

Uncle Al, Kyler, Moriah, Lyndsay and Joshua (?)

Getting the good food!

Porch is done!

In line for food!

Thanksgiving #3

Carving the big bird!

Here it is, all cooked and ready to serve!

The garage this morning, set up for fun!

Getting it ready!

Amber's home!!!

Thanksgiving #2 pictures

Dad and Teresa and the grandkids...

The grandkids waiting for Grandma and pa to come for a picture.

The story behind this... Isaac got a kit to paint a night light race car thingymabob. I was trying to get the paint to come out of this little tube and pop, paint flew out and hit the ceiling and there was a big blue blob! No, it didn't come out all the way, so my ceiling has more character than everyone else's!!

Lyndsay loves her grandpa - sorry for the open mouth picture, dad but you are both adorable!

See, I said adorable, didn't I???!!! She loves her grandpa!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dad opening his Christmas presents!

Lynday likes Curt's present - she wasn't afraid of it, she would chase it around!

I love my gift - right from the heart of Teresa who has worked on this quilt for our bed for over a year?! It is wonderful, beautiful and very very warm! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Chelsea and Phil, waiting patiently!

Isaac and his gift!

We got together last weekend for our Christmas with my Dad and Teresa because they are soon leaving for Floriday and this is the last weekend all of the kids would be home (except Amber) to do it. We had pizza, salad and lots of fun and laughs! Teresa made us a beautiful quilt and Lyndsay as well (all of the other kids got one 2 years ago and love them still). It was a great night!

Well, the day is almost done. Our house seems eerily quiet and empty after having 43 people here earlier for dinner! It was great, only not enough time to visit each person for very long, of course! Everything went smoothly! We weren't sure on how long to cook a 40 lb turkey, but Jeremy's mom researched a little and thought about 10 hours so last night I stayed up til 1:30am cleaning, etc. and we had said we'd put the turkey in at 1am. So, at 1am, I took a quick shower, then woke up Jeremy and told him we had to put the turkey in the oven. He rolled over, looked at me and said "it is in the oven" and rolled back over! No, no, no, get up, we have to put it in the oven! So, he finally got up and we got him into the oven (not Jeremy, the turkey!). We thought the turkey would be done around 10:30am. Wrong, Jeremy stuck the digital thermometer in at 8am and it was done at 8:30am!! So, we made some calls and people started arriving around noon. By the time we got everything else ready, we still didn't eat until 2pm! But it was delicious! All of the food everyone brought from the green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, the 20lbs of potatoes that Mom and Aunt Karen peeled and cut and mashed!, the whipped cream dish Grandma Reid makes, the rolls, the bean dish from Teresa, the stuffing, wow, I think I'm hungry again:) And we won't even talk about the desserts! Thank you everyone for all of your help in cooking dishes and cleaning up! My house looks almost as if no one had ever been here believe it or not! Mostly, thank you for the sweet fellowship - we always have a great time and don't get together often enough! I thank God for such a great family - I couldn't ask for a better family to have married into either!

So, the front porch is complete but I didn't take a finished picture - I'll see if I can get one in the dark to post tonight. The only thing left to tackle yet this winter is cutting firewood and redoing the front bathroom. We are going to have 3 weeks off at Christmas (2 holiday and 1 layoff) and one week at the end of January so we'll have plenty of time to get that project done! I am enjoying all of the other things we've accomplished - it all looks so nice! We really enjoyed the extra room in the garage which is bright and cheerful and warm! We borrowed tables from the church and set up 5 of them. After everyone was done eating and some had left, we took 4 down and the boys played out there with guns, swords and we also set up a TV and video game system for them out there! We bought some indoor/outdoor carpet and rolled it out on the floor out there - Lyndsay enjoyed that, although she got held a lot today (it was too dangerous for her to be on the floor!) She was a very good girl all day!

Erin was so tired and emotional by 7:30pm she asked if she could watch Dora in my room, so I turned it on for her and 15 minutes later she was sleeping - out cold! Isaac played with his cousins all day and is tired now as well. I have to admit I am a bit tired as well and look forward to collapsing into bed in a few minutes!

Amber got home Tuesday night about 8pm and is having a great time visiting everyone! Brooke and Curt had to go to their dad's for the rest of the week:( But, they get to visit some relatives from out of town over there as well. Everyone missed them today, though!

A little funny - Isaac - my constant worrier had been complaining about a belly ache every night at bedtime! I was sending him to bed with a rice sock, a snack and telling him it was because he wasn't finishing his dinner and was probably hungry, he needed to eat or he would starve to death (you know, typical mom lecture, there are kids starving in Africa...). A few nights later, probably also thanks to older brother Curt torturing him, he came running out of his room, crying - mom I'm going to die. No, you're not, what's wrong? How many days to you have to go without eating before you die? I said, weeks probably, don't worry and go to bed! He also cried yesterday after I threw away one of many sticks I've found in my house while cleaning that boys had been playing with outside and didn't want to take the chance of losing...

Well, I could say more, but I will try and post some pictures and be off to bed. Have a great rest of the weekend and enjoy those leftovers! Christine

Friday post #2

Did I ever say blackmail picture or paybacks before? Oh, that was for Brooke, this is for Curt! I love you man! Like the blond wig!

the M&M game...

Curt won - yeah!

Hi there!

Not a whole lot of room or choices!

fingers?

or toes - could there be some more teeth ready to pop out?????

Well, it's Friday and we had the day off for veterans day which I know was Tuesday, but they do it this way to accomodate the deer hunters... I'll take any day off I can! We had a lot of fun this week and were pretty productive. Last weekend, we started the drain tile project (300 feet). Jeremy perfected the hole and used the laser to get the angle just right while I filled in behind him. I raked and shoveled away a few pounds this week as well as a pulled muscle under my armpit! Brooke helped one night. We finished that on Tuesday night and got all of the landscaping done around the side of the house to the back corner! How nice looking! Then, started on the back deck. The deck came from Jeremy's trailer after we got married (he had just built it). So, he polished it up, added skirting and new stairs and it looks better than new! Then, he moved the gas line that has always ran outside the front of the house through the crawl space instead, getting ready to do the front porch. The boys and I moved rocks out of the way and shoveled up old mulch to make room for new last night. Today, Jeremy and I and the girls went to Lowe's after doing a little TLC on the inside of the house and laundry and got the materials for the front deck! Then, my husband went to Millington to get ready for opening day. He is spending the night out there alone as it was raining and is supposed to rain tomorrow. The kids and I went to Maggie's birthday party tonight and are going to town to get some shopping done tomorrow! This morning, while waiting to go to town, I tackled the girls' room and decided to change it around.... Oh boy, 9X10 rooms with 3 pieces of furniture are NOT fun to rearrange! After much muscling and moving inch by inch, I did it and don't care to ever do it again until we move! Check out the picture and you'll see why! That's why my house plans for the new house have very large bedrooms (14x18 or something like that)! I've lived here for 15 years and am tired of small! Tonight, we worked on the boys' room a bit. I'm afraid Curt is a bit of a teenage not so care about clean boy that I wish he was. I made him clean out behind the bunk bed on the floor. He loves to sneak food into bed, eat and throw the wrappers apparently:( Gross, I say! So, all the bedding has been washed, I am going to disinfect the door knobs and light switches and hope that this little "bug" goes away for good! I told my husband when we're all done with this home improvement stuff, I'm going for a manicure and pedicure and then to the doctor to see if I have a sinus infection!

At Maggie's party tonight, Heather had the kids play a cute game. She put M&M's on a plate, then covered them with whipped cream, making the kids eat through the whipped cream and eat the candy as well. Curt won! But, when she put the candy on Erin's plate, then covered them up with the cream, Erin was devasted she covered them up and she apparently doesn't like whipped cream, poor girl! So, she didn't play!

Lyndsay reminds me of a little bear. She crawls around, trying to catch me and will stop, stand up and look at me exasperated, then get back down and crawl some more! What a sweetheart! She'll be walking in no time! I feel bad because we've been working hard at night outside and the kids have been watching her inside cuz it's too cold to take her out, and I can't do the stuff we've been doing with her in the backpack... I miss the time with her! But, we'll soon be done and can relax again (I hope:)

Well, the front deck and the bathroom and painting the living room to go. I am sore and feel rough all over, but feel as if I'm getting back into shape and only have 2lbs to go til my next goal, I've lost the 40+ from my pregnancy and hope to lose 15 more...

Amber is doing great, she's so busy she's only been calling home every few days now. She'll be home in 2 weeks for Thanksgiving and has one week off for that... I was going to buy her a bus ticket home, can't get off work the days she can leave and has to be back but her Dad is going to get her and her Grandparents will be taking her back the following week - thank you!

So, off to bed for me, but I'll post some pictures first - have a a great weekend!

Chris

Post #4

Once happy kid!

And, oh yeah, I am only 3 more lbs from my next goal in weight loss! YIPPEE!

Post #3

Posing by the cornfield - almost ready to harvest!

My princesses!

The 40 pounder turkey! Jeremy and Brooke cut this one up - we'll cook the other for thanksgiving dinner!

It barely fits in the oven! The rack was bending under the weight:)

Three princesses again except Amber instead of Brooke!

Post #2

Grandpa Bohn came down to visit Amber and was holding a tired baby!

Aren't they precious?!

Amber's home!!!

The school choir singing a special Sunday night!

Going for one last ride before loading up to go home!

Pictures!

having fun in the camper!

watching a movie in the camper...

Curt and Jeremy Wilson on the go cart!

Hi there - been busy as usual - we had a great week and weekend - the weather was beautiful and we spent the weekend at the property, but came home for a bit each day and did some painting. I hate painting! Once we start doing it, it's not so bad, but just the idea of getting started. I am not a great decorator, either - but there is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to spruce things up a bit! We got to the property Friday night and Jeremy hunted then came in to a camp fire and then a movie and bed! We left the generator running all night to run the furnace in the camper! Saturday Isaac, Erin and I had a dentist appt. at noon, but after we went out for breakfast, they called to tell us they had a cancellation, so we headed back into town at 11am. Erin was supposed to have her "first" tooth check up, but Isaac ended up shutting her finger in one of the doors at the office (her finger was in the hinge side of the door - even worse!). Just when I thought about taking her to medexpress, she finally calmed down (about 2 hours later) and started bending it and using it - was very bruised on the tip though! We went home to do some more painting in the garage before going back out to the property. Brooke had a birthday party Friday and Saturday and ended up staying there that night as well and going to church Sunday with Jean... Jeremy W. Came out to Millington with us. He and Curt rode the go cart and Isaac rode his all night til dark. Jeremy went hunting at his dad's. I went for a walk with Isaac and Erin before dark - that was nice! Jeremy and I took the go cart for a "test drive" when we first got there and saw 2 doe and 4 fawns way out back! Sunday we finished up the garage (YAY) and my husband had everything put back in it's place that night for the most part! All ready for Thanksgiving! We had today off for election day - so I took the kids to school, then took Erin to her 3 year old check up and she got her flu shot which devastated her! Went to Home Depot for door paint, then to Kohl's for shoes, then home to start painting 4 exterior doors! Two coats on each door (thank goodness Lyndsay took a nap and was very cooperative even after she woke up!). Then, did the interior and I also painted the pantry door, the boys' closet door and one side of our bedroom door which will probably make my mother very happy:) Like I said, it's not so bad once you get going! I really should be in bed, but I haven't posted in awhile.

Last Monday, Len picked up our turkeys to take them to the butcher and unfortunately hit a deer on the way here:( Jeremy and I picked them up on the way home and the two males dressed out at 40 lbs and 38 lbs! The females were about 20lbs a piece. My freezer is full again! So, Tuesday night, we were busy bagging up turkeys and putting them in the freezer!

Well, Lyndsay is loving standing up on her own without holding onto anything and even took a step last night towards me, so we are in trouble! She is a busy baby and is into everything and starting to try and taste everything so she has to be watched carefully!

Well, I'm off to bed, so I'll post some pictures - have a great rest of the week!

Chris

Sunday, Sunday!

Well, fall is upon us! We've been busy as usual! Amber was home all last weekend and we had fun! She got home about 11pm Friday night. I let everyone stay up (including Lyndsay) until she got home. Erin was so excited, she bumped her mouth on the couch and then started crying( Lyndsay just kept looking at her like she was from outer space or something! Then, off to bed and up again Saturday. I thought we'd be running into town to get some materials for some of the projects around here, but we were tired out and ended up just hanging out here all day, catching up on games, laundry, etc. So at around 1pm we told Amber to take the van to go and visit her dad. She ended up out and about with Michelle for the day and got home about 8pm or so. Sunday was church and then I made chicken on the grill (Amber's request) and Grandpa Bohn got here around 2pm - he came down to especially see Amber. So, we ate, sang some to the harmonica this time:) and visited until time to go to choir. After church Sunday night we got pizza and then bedtime. Amber was going to keep the kids home with her on Monday instead of sending them to the babysitter, but she had been told she would be leaving earlier in the day. So, she went to the school in the morning and visited with them until she got picked up at 11:30am to leave for college again. Isaac was sad to see her go again... Monday night, we tackled the garage. On sunday, Jeremy worked on the outside of the house, getting it ready for landscaping a bit more. Monday, he finished putting up drywall behind the washer and dryer area after we took all the shelving down and all the stuff off the shelving as well! I am very blessed in that I have 2 washers and 2 dryers and they are in the garage along the wall right behind the kids' bathroom:) Tuesday, I took Brooke over to the barn after I got home from work and she played with Gent and cleaned the barn. I think I went and got her at 9pm. Wednesday was church and Thursday we started painting the garage. That is quite a job! Friday morning, I hit the alarm and closed my eyes for what I thought was a second... I woke up and we only had 10 minutes to get out the door and catch the michivan! I didn't get to make bottles, finish Isaac's lunch (Curt's class was having pizza that day, thank goodness!) So, I called Brooke at 6:45am to warn her she had to get the few things ready for me! They ended up forgetting Isaac's lunch anyway! Usually, I have everything ready and by the front door in their respective bags already so no one can forget anything! I even put the baby bottles in a cooler and everyone has an ice pack in their cooler/lunch to keep everything cold since I put it together at 4:15am! Thank goodness it was only once so far this year! Sorry, Brooke - especially since it was picture day at school and you know she wanted to look even more beautiful than she usually does!

Friday after work, we picked up the apples from the guy from work - he brought them to the car pool lot instead of us going out to his house to pick them up. Now, I hope to can them this week (applesauce, yum-yum). Then, home to see Curt and Brooke before they went to their dad's. Jeremy, Isaac, Erin, Lyndsay and I then left to go out to the property to spend the night. We decided to relax a little instead of working more on the house. We drove separate so I could take some movies back and Jeremy went straight out there to start the generator and the furnace in the camper so it would be warm. Erin and Isaac rode with him and I took the baby with me. Jeremy called me right before I got there to tell me someone had broken into the pole barn. So, I called 911 and a sheriff got there just after I did. Someone used a crowbar to open the entry door (steel, mind you), damaging the seal and the door, but it still works. The only thing we noticed missing so far were 2 -3 containers of gas we had sitting by the generator. We had 6 of them there and they left the empty ones, of course! We were just happy the generator was still there as well as the farm equipment, go carts, hay, etc. I have to call our insurance company and make sure everything is covered just in case someone decided to come back again now that they know what we have in there! Jeremy is going to reinforce the door as well. He has heavy machinery in front of each of the big doors so it would be hard for anyone to take anything big out of there without being noticed big time! We ate at McPherson's then went back to the camper and watched a movie before going to sleep! Saturday morning, we slept in big time (8:30aM) and then got up, went and ate breakfast, then went back and drove out to the woods looking for dead trees to cut down for firewood for home. We loaded one trailer full, then went to Steve's to get his trailer and loaded that full as well. We left for home at 4pm, dropped off the trailers, then drove out to Great Grandparent's Fitch's so Jeremy and his dad could take their air conditioners out for them. We visited with them until 9pm, then came home and got ready for bed.

This morning, I made pancakes, scrambles eggs to go with the sausage Brooke cooked up Friday for breakfast burritos I will put together later. A great way to use the eggs from our chickens and the kids love them for breakfast, sometimes lunches and snacks. They are great with our homemade salsa! I convinced Curt to try them with salsa - he thought it would be gross even though he loves salsa, but after he tried it, he was like - thanks mom, that was great and now can't stand to eat them without salsa! Today we have to unload the wood so we can load the bird crates into the trailer. Jeremy and I are going to load the turkeys up in the morning before leaving for work and his stepdad, Len is going to pick them up in the morning and take them to the butcher for us since they have to be there by 6am! (Thanks, Len) Jeremy and I will pick them up on our way home from work. It will be interesting to see what they dress out at poundage wise! Now, I'm off to church so I will update more later and post some pictures! Have a great Lord's day!

Christine

A few more pictures to enjoy!

See? Standing on my own!
Just, so so tired!
And so so quiet for a change!

Where has the time gone?

I love my princess sweatshirt!
celebrating birthday with Grandpa and ma Coe
Just because I'm cute!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been able to blog - sorry! We've been sooo busy! I told you Jeremy and the kids had been digging out the crawl space under the front of the house (we have basement under the rest). I believe it was Monday night we all went down there with 6 buckets and formed a chain to get dirt from one side of the house to the hole on the other side for about 2 hours or more until we got it done! The hole on the side of the house is pretty full and ready for black dirt and landscaping, the crawl space is done except for plastic vapor. Jeremy finished replacing all the duct work and hooking everything up! Tuesday night, we tackled the red barn and cleaned and organized that, Wednesday night we did the garage. Last night we went grocery shopping and did banking not getting home til 8:00pm only to get ready for bed. I've been faithfully exercising on the Norditrak except for the nights we worked (MON,TUES). I was pretty sore from the dirt in the bucket thing, but that's a good thing, right?

Tonight, we came home from work and the kids got home from school. We have 2 extras for the night. Amber is going to be home late tonight for the weekend. Brooke and Curt are going to a youth conference in Sheridan, Michigan (Beth Haven) tomorrow and are playing a few volleyball and flag football games there as well and are really looking forward to that! The girls had practice after school today for a few hours. I tackled cleaning floors and getting laundry caught up so that I can enjoy the rest of my weekend! Last Saturday Jeremy and I wrestled the old couch up from downstairs for the living room. Now we have 2 couches up here and the basement looks a lot neater as well. I cleaned that up last week.

We only got to the barn one night this week and Gent accidentally stepped on my foot after spooking ever so slightly at Carly coming out of a stall next to him. But, thank goodness that didn't hurt too bad for too long!

I started a different job this week at work. I don't mind it, but I hear there's another job opening up down the line near my husband and it's even better, so I might put in for that one. Right now I am installing the left rear door latch/lock system. Before I was putting in the air bag sensor, the rear door handle base, pushing in some rosebuds and more rose buds and wiring in the trunk. Doesn't sound like much, but I only have 55 seconds to do each car as it passes (the line runs continuously unless there's a problem). I do that 425 times a day on a good running day.

Erin got to celebrate her birthday again with Grandma and pa Coe. Grandpa just got back from moose hunting in Newfoundland (if you look close, you'll see the antlers in the one picture). She just loves all of her gifts. I don't know what this weekend is going to bring, but I'm ready. We have to work next saturday so I'm really going to enjoy this one which is why I worked so hard at cleaning tonight! The kids all enjoyed riding the go kart tonight out back. I have to take the camera out and get some pictures of that one! But, here are a few new pictures for now!

Lyndsay has started standing up, then letting go of what whe was holding on to for balance! She just woke up and is cuddling, so I'll get the pics posting. Have a great weekend!