Cousins came

My sis-in-law and her 2 kiddos came through on their way home for Christmas this weekend! It was wonderful to see them. The kids had a blast playing with each other, you can imagine. The weekend went very quickly. There was lots of laughing, lots of good food, and some shopping too. Always makes for a nice time right?

Belva and the kids arrived on Saturday. Sunday Mike came home from Vegas. Yeah for that! We hung out and had a good time. On Monday Michael didn't have to work so he stayed at home with our nephew Logan and Gabriel while Luke and Kaden went to school. Belva and I took Josie and Aurora, we went and got Josie weighed and then went to Target, picked up Kaden and came home. From there Belva and her kids ran errands. I took Kaden and Gabriel to get much needed haircuts. (yep, Kaden's is way short again---what's with these people?! Why don't they understand when I say I want him to have hair left! He looks adorable though, so I can't complain too much) Then Monday night Mike stayed with 5 of the kiddos while Belva and Josie and I went to dinner with 2 of my friends. We were having a 30 celebration. Belva turned 30 in Aug, Shannon in Oct, me Dec 2nd and Michelle Dec 16th. We had so much fun, laughing and eating very well at the Elephant Bar and Grill. What a fun time! Belva left Tuesday morning and I have been in a mad rush to get things ready for our St. Louis Christmas trip. Wonder if I will be ready to go tomorrow?!

Here are some pics we took of the kids. It started out pretty crazy:

Then we got this one, pretty good I think. Josie 8 months, Luke 6, Gabriel 2, Logan 5, Kaden 4, and Aurora 3 years. Good looking children!

Here are the 2 girlies together, Aurora was very interested in the TV, but we got a photo anyways:

Homework Boys

Remember Luke's garbage turkey we made back in November? Well we got another crafty assignment to do. (I am so not good at these, my poor children) He had to decorate a stocking to hang up in their hallway at school. We decided to make it a Christmas tree stocking and decorated it with paper bulbs and stickers complete with a Dora-the-Explorer star on top. Luke was happy with it so I figure it's a job well done!

Here's a pic of Kaden-man doing his homework. Check it out, he has got that Gienke tongue. Grandpa Gienke would be proud!

Kaden loves school so much. He gets homework on Thursday that is due back on Friday. He loves Thursdays and is thrilled to do his homework. Any bets on how many years that will last???

Tough break

So as most of you know we have been having some pretty nasty weather here in Oklahoma. Praise God that we did not ever lose power through all of this. Let's go ahead and say a prayer for the hundred's of thousands that are still without power and let's pray for the workers who are doing their best to get everybody warm again!

The trees are such a problem right now, they have split like crazy all over Oklahoma and have downed power lines and closed streets. I wanted to show you the progressive loss of our poor side tree. Bless it's bark. When we moved in our neighbors said that this tree was sick last year and the old owners did a lot to try and save it. I hope the tree makes it through this winter.

Mid-October:

Monday Dec 10th:

Wednesday Dec 12th:

On a side note, the boys returned to school today. They were glad to get back! Their school district was the only one in central Oklahoma to have class today. I have to admit, I am very thankful because 4 days of house arrest was enough for all of us!

Thanks to everyone for sending such sweet notes about Michael's promotion! We are still on cloud nine! :)

CONGRATS are in order!

Michael called me this morning to let me know that he has made MAJOR!!!! He is very happy as you can imagine! Just wanted to take this opportunity to tell Michael:

I am very proud of you. You make many sacrifices to give your all to the Air Force. You are an amazing officer and your dedication is awesome. May God continue to bless your career! What an adventure you have started for the both of us. I'm honored to be your wife. I love you!

Celebrate with us. Congratulations Michael!

Jack Frost, Jack Frozen!!!

Our first ice storm hit. All the Churches closed yesterday and today the schools followed. I went out and took some pretty cool pics this morning. (Some of them might even make you proud Becky!!) It's supposed to continue to rain today and tomorrow, I'm wondering how many school days the boys will miss... I'm praying for my own sanity and patience while we have these days IN together.

Ice causality. We lost 2 limbs off this tree.
The icicles from the Christmas lights look cooler then this picture shows:
My frozen berries at the front door:

This is the one I thought you would like Becks:Frozen light cord on our bushes:This is the grass--isn't that cool??Frosty seems at home in this weather:
Whoever is sharing this icy weather with us I pray that you stay safe and warm! Be SO careful if you have to go anywhere!!!

Worn out!

Wow! It's been quite a week and it's only Thursday! Like the title says: we are worn out! Mike left again on Sunday as you know and so I have been single-momming it again. We've hardly had a chance to rest so we are catching up when we can! Let me give you the run down of yesterday, Kaden gets in bed with me at 5:55, Gabriel joins us about 6:50, I don't actually get out of bed until 7:30, breakfast and get the kids ready, out the door at 8:30, load up in the van, wait for Luke's bus, go to Kaden's school, go to the store (kinda have to have break and milk around these parts), come home for 25 minutes, go back and get Kaden, get Luke, home, lunch for everyone (except Mom, not enough time), at 1:15 head to Luke's school for Mom's PTA meeting--yep, with 4 kiddos, they were good though (thank God for that answered prayer), home at 3:45, everyone relaxes a little, at 5:30 we have dinner, rush out the door to AWANA, kids bible program at church, I help lead, they go to their classes and nursery, pick up the kids at 4 different classrooms, load up the van, come home it's already 8:55, we are pooped out! Time for bed!!

I guess I should be thankful, I am blessed with happy and important things to do :) And it makes the time pass while Daddy is away. (he'll be home in the morning on Sunday the 16th---don't think I am not counting the days!)

How cute do my precious kiddos look???

ThIrTy YeArS yOuNg!!!

I've crossed over. Bye-bye 20's, HELLO 30's! Sunday was my happy, happy birthday! It would have been a perfect day except my Michael had to leave again. He came home last Friday evening and left again Sunday night for 2 weeks. Bummer. But at least I got to spend part of my day with him! Thanks so much to everyone who called, sent cards, presents, and flowers! You certainly made me feel special and loved! Thanks to our friends who watched the 4 munchkins so Michael and I could go on a date before his plane. We went to see the movie "Enchanted", the adorable new Disney movie. The star, the princess, Amy Adams, is friends with my brother and he actually spent some time on the set of that movie visiting with her on the Disney lot. That's so cool to me! Thaddeus doesn't get star struck anymore but I do through him. He was with McDreamy for crying-out-loud!!!!! :) After our movie we had cupcakes with our friends:

Cute, huh? And here's some photos of my many birthday wishes:

And poo-poo the powers of be that set the BCMess bowl games! They stink! My Tigers lost on Saturday night, I would love to say that it was a good game but it really wasn't. But I will say that my boys had a great season! They should be going to be a great bowl game but were handed the cotton bowl instead, it's a good bowl but we deserved better. Maybe next year we will get some more respect! Until then--Go Tigers, crush those razorbacks!!!!! MIZZOU-RAH!!! (I hope some of my college friends make it to the game to cheer for me! :)

M-I-Z...

Blessed beyond belief

Here is my world:Thanks Grandma Harmon for this picture! It's the best, I love it so!

AND today is the big, big, big day!!!!!

MIZZOU-RAH! GO TIGERS!!!