Friday, November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving with family
We're having a wonderful time with family here in Indiana. Yesterday, of course, we celebrated Thanksgiving with both the Crabill and the Lopshire families. Today we are helping Gram decorate her Christmas tree!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Lopshire family Thanksgiving
The Lopshire side of the family gathered to give thanks today at Uncle Paul & Aunt Nancy's house.
There are 8 children between Jeremy and his brother Eric--our 3 and Eric's 5 boys! I managed to catch 5 of them together at once...
Cousin Greg and Jeremy posin'.
Jeremy finally got to meet his newest nephew! Andrew Thomas!
There are 8 children between Jeremy and his brother Eric--our 3 and Eric's 5 boys! I managed to catch 5 of them together at once...
Cousin Greg and Jeremy posin'.
Jeremy finally got to meet his newest nephew! Andrew Thomas!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Caed's hunting trip
Gram told Caeden that Krampa and Uncle Travis were going to be going hunting early in the morning tomorrow. Caeden then tells Gram, " Today at school, I shot a deer!"
Gram: You did? What did you shoot it with?
Caeden: My shooter gun. It was a green deer! And then, it jumped off the train, and it jumped over the train!
Gram: You did? What did you shoot it with?
Caeden: My shooter gun. It was a green deer! And then, it jumped off the train, and it jumped over the train!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
just our goings-on of late
I'm not sure what I'm here to write about, but felt it was time for an update of some kind. I don't even have any new pictures to add!
Caeden has been talking about school a lot lately. He doesn't go to preschool, but he has been talking like he does. A lot. All day long he'll say, "Mommy at school today we..." or "Oh yeah...We did (whatever he feels like making up) at school today." He talks to other people about his school experiences too, and they think he's telling the truth; it sounds like he actually does whatever he says he did! Silly kid.
Sylvia is really loving school now. She is happy to go, and runs to me when I get there to show me what she made and tell me about the most fun things she did. I'm so glad she loves it! She's been working on writing and learning how to spell words she uses a lot. She can write all our names now, and 'I love you.' and she taught herself how to draw hearts a few days ago. Now she makes dozens of little notes to me every day with her words and cute pictures. Such treasures! I wish I had room to keep them all!
Annah is doing better, I think. We are all still tired and not getting quite as much rest as we should, but we made up a little of it over the weekend. Annah was very excited that she did well on her worrisome mile test last Friday. She told us that she came in 7th place in the whole 1st grade! (And I think she said 3rd out of the girls.) Since she is the daughter of a completely unathletic mommy, I am elated for her! She must have some of her daddy's athletic ability! ;)
Jeremy is busy writing performance evaluations for his employees this week. It's always a stressful time for him. He's working on them now, hoping to finish them tonight so he won't have to think about them during the holiday weekend.
We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving!! It will be so nice to see family members we haven't seen for a while, and spend time catching up, and eating lots of yummies too! ;)
I'm excited about a special service I'm helping plan for December 2nd at church. My very talented friend Lisa and I are doing a piano duet service! A second grand piano has been rented for the week, and we are busy planning and practicing! I still don't know if I really consider myself a real pianist, but I am really enjoying this opportunity! I hope others will enjoy it too!
I'm off... Wishing you all a very blessed, bountiful, peaceful Thanksgiving!!
Caeden has been talking about school a lot lately. He doesn't go to preschool, but he has been talking like he does. A lot. All day long he'll say, "Mommy at school today we..." or "Oh yeah...We did (whatever he feels like making up) at school today." He talks to other people about his school experiences too, and they think he's telling the truth; it sounds like he actually does whatever he says he did! Silly kid.
Sylvia is really loving school now. She is happy to go, and runs to me when I get there to show me what she made and tell me about the most fun things she did. I'm so glad she loves it! She's been working on writing and learning how to spell words she uses a lot. She can write all our names now, and 'I love you.' and she taught herself how to draw hearts a few days ago. Now she makes dozens of little notes to me every day with her words and cute pictures. Such treasures! I wish I had room to keep them all!
Annah is doing better, I think. We are all still tired and not getting quite as much rest as we should, but we made up a little of it over the weekend. Annah was very excited that she did well on her worrisome mile test last Friday. She told us that she came in 7th place in the whole 1st grade! (And I think she said 3rd out of the girls.) Since she is the daughter of a completely unathletic mommy, I am elated for her! She must have some of her daddy's athletic ability! ;)
Jeremy is busy writing performance evaluations for his employees this week. It's always a stressful time for him. He's working on them now, hoping to finish them tonight so he won't have to think about them during the holiday weekend.
We are really looking forward to Thanksgiving!! It will be so nice to see family members we haven't seen for a while, and spend time catching up, and eating lots of yummies too! ;)
I'm excited about a special service I'm helping plan for December 2nd at church. My very talented friend Lisa and I are doing a piano duet service! A second grand piano has been rented for the week, and we are busy planning and practicing! I still don't know if I really consider myself a real pianist, but I am really enjoying this opportunity! I hope others will enjoy it too!
I'm off... Wishing you all a very blessed, bountiful, peaceful Thanksgiving!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Annah
Every morning this week Annah has told me she doesn't feel well and doesn't want to go to school. She is so tired, and when she gets tired, she gets weepy.
Every morning this week, I have sent her off to school--after drying the tears and pushing past them to get ready for the day. I feel like she probably thinks I don't believe her when I send her to school even though she says she doesn't feel well.
But, I can tell she's not physically sick. She is exhausted. Every night this week (and many nights other weeks too) we have had activities keeping her up until 9:00 or later. She has to get up at 7:00 every morning to get ready to meet the bus at 7:45. She has been running a mile every day in P.E. class. She needs more sleep.
But also, she is worrying. She has been weepy and saying she doesn't feel well every night this week too. Last night she came in bed with us in the middle of the night, and refused to go back to her own bed when Jeremy got up this morning. She burst into tears immediately when I told her it was time to get up this morning. Jeremy had a conversation with her the other night when she was so upset. He asked her if she was worried or nervous about something, and it came out that she was. She is afraid of getting a bad grade on a paper, she said.
Last month, she had a group of papers coming home that were not completed to the best of her abilities. So we had talks about trying her hardest, paying attention, reading and following directions, and asking questions when she doesn't understand. Immediately, her papers improved. But apparently, she now thinks she has to do everything perfectly.
This morning she told me she is nervous about her mile test tomorrow. All of 1st grade is running the mile tomorrow for a 'test.' So I explained to her that I could care less how she runs the mile, or even if she runs the whole thing. As long as she tries, I am just amazed and thankful that she can run at all, and SO proud of her!
Annah is such an amazing little person. It scares me to see these worries and insecurities in her heart--especially affecting her so physically and obviously emotionally.
I remember doing the same thing when I was in kindergarten. I would tell my mom I felt sick every morning before school, and she would always make me go anyway. Now, realizing my worrying nature and incredible fear of disappointing someone, I wonder what I was really thinking and feeling back then.
I tried to encourage Annah this morning, and tried to build her up. She was a little bit perky as she left the house. I said Philippians 4:13 with her three times this morning, to remind her that the Lord is always with her, helping her do everything!
I pray her heart is peaceful and encouraged throughout the day. And I pray that we will keep our schedule in check, so she will be well-rested.
Every morning this week, I have sent her off to school--after drying the tears and pushing past them to get ready for the day. I feel like she probably thinks I don't believe her when I send her to school even though she says she doesn't feel well.
But, I can tell she's not physically sick. She is exhausted. Every night this week (and many nights other weeks too) we have had activities keeping her up until 9:00 or later. She has to get up at 7:00 every morning to get ready to meet the bus at 7:45. She has been running a mile every day in P.E. class. She needs more sleep.
But also, she is worrying. She has been weepy and saying she doesn't feel well every night this week too. Last night she came in bed with us in the middle of the night, and refused to go back to her own bed when Jeremy got up this morning. She burst into tears immediately when I told her it was time to get up this morning. Jeremy had a conversation with her the other night when she was so upset. He asked her if she was worried or nervous about something, and it came out that she was. She is afraid of getting a bad grade on a paper, she said.
Last month, she had a group of papers coming home that were not completed to the best of her abilities. So we had talks about trying her hardest, paying attention, reading and following directions, and asking questions when she doesn't understand. Immediately, her papers improved. But apparently, she now thinks she has to do everything perfectly.
This morning she told me she is nervous about her mile test tomorrow. All of 1st grade is running the mile tomorrow for a 'test.' So I explained to her that I could care less how she runs the mile, or even if she runs the whole thing. As long as she tries, I am just amazed and thankful that she can run at all, and SO proud of her!
Annah is such an amazing little person. It scares me to see these worries and insecurities in her heart--especially affecting her so physically and obviously emotionally.
I remember doing the same thing when I was in kindergarten. I would tell my mom I felt sick every morning before school, and she would always make me go anyway. Now, realizing my worrying nature and incredible fear of disappointing someone, I wonder what I was really thinking and feeling back then.
I tried to encourage Annah this morning, and tried to build her up. She was a little bit perky as she left the house. I said Philippians 4:13 with her three times this morning, to remind her that the Lord is always with her, helping her do everything!
I pray her heart is peaceful and encouraged throughout the day. And I pray that we will keep our schedule in check, so she will be well-rested.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Girls' Night Out with Sylvie!
Sylvia and I got to have a "date" this evening--just the 2 of us! First we went to Toys 'R' Us and used the gift card Santa gave her last year. She wanted the Barbie Island Princess Barbie, but cost $20. (Her card was for $10.) So, she chose the DVD instead, which happened to be on sale for $9.99! She could not have been happier!!
When Sylvie is really, really happy about something, she often tries to hide her smile. I could see she was doing that, and then she just grinned and said, "I'm so happy!
I told Sylvia she could choose between going shopping and out to dinner, or going to see Bee Movie. She chose the movie, and it was her first time to see a movie in the theatre! She thought everything was really cool--the way they ripped the tickets, the tiled bathroom, the big snack counters, the flip-down seats, the huge screen...It was all new and exciting for her to take in. I had so much fun being there with her seeing things through her "first time" eyes!
The "monster" sized bag of popcorn and huge Sprite were a hit too!
I thought the movie was really cute. Sylvie was a little extra tired from missing nap, and thought a few parts of the movie were a little scary. I think overall, though, she enjoyed it.
When Sylvie is really, really happy about something, she often tries to hide her smile. I could see she was doing that, and then she just grinned and said, "I'm so happy!
I told Sylvia she could choose between going shopping and out to dinner, or going to see Bee Movie. She chose the movie, and it was her first time to see a movie in the theatre! She thought everything was really cool--the way they ripped the tickets, the tiled bathroom, the big snack counters, the flip-down seats, the huge screen...It was all new and exciting for her to take in. I had so much fun being there with her seeing things through her "first time" eyes!
The "monster" sized bag of popcorn and huge Sprite were a hit too!
I thought the movie was really cute. Sylvie was a little extra tired from missing nap, and thought a few parts of the movie were a little scary. I think overall, though, she enjoyed it.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The Birthday Party!
This morning after breakfast we all made caramel apples!
Annah opening her gifts in "the party room..."
Annah's wish for the Barbie Island Princess Karaoke Styling Head was granted by Gram & Krampa. She was elated!!!
Uncle Travis & Aunt Erin gave Annah these great new snow boots to go with her new coat and snowpants from Krampa & Gram.
Gram had the genius idea of entertaining Caeden with coloring while Annah opened her presents.
Annah got a Webkinz pet! She's a Persian cat that Annah named IceCake.
Annah chose the menu for lunch: Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Breadsticks, Salad (okay, I think she really chose peas and I switched that out), and Apple Cider.
In the afternoon, after the party died down, we enjoyed our caramel apples.
What a great celebration of and for our little girl! Of course, it's hard to comprehend that she's 7 years old already, but we are so proud of who she is, and so blessed to have her part of our family!
Party Guests:
Annah
Daddy
Mommy
Sylvia
Caeden
Grandma & Grandpa McEowen
Jada Baker
Ashley Stambaugh
Gifts Annah received:
-Webkinz pet, digital camera, Amelia Bedelia and Black Beauty books, sweaters, khakis, fancy dresses, HS Musical t-shirt, High School Musical DVD from Mommy & Daddy
-shirts, leggings, pants, houndstooth dress, winter coat, snowpants, glove/mittens, Barbie Island Princess Karaoke Styling Head from Grandma & Grandpa McEowen
-black snow boots from Uncle Travis & Aunt Erin
-money from many relatives
Sylvie's Date with Gram & Krampa
Gram & Krampa took Sylvie with them to stay at the hotel last night. She was really excited to get to do something special by herself with them! She reported that when they got to the hotel they ate popcorn and watched TV. Then she snuggled up with her blankie and Gram and fell asleep. (Poor Krampa sacrificed for her and slept on the pull-out sofa!)
Gram reported that Sylvie did snuggle up close to her in the middle of the bed, and that Sylvie's 4 stuffed friends got some room on the other side of Sylv.
Sylvia liked the big breakfast at the hotel, and chose a chocolate frosted eclaire and two tiny blueberry muffines for her breakfast.
She felt really special, and loved the "just her" time with Gram & Krampa!!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Slumber Party!
To celebrate Annah's 7th birthday, she got to have a slumber party! Her friends Ashley and Jada are here this evening, and Gram & Krampa came into town too.Here's the crew on the couch watching The Wizard of Oz.
Annah chose to have an apple party theme.
So, of course, we bobbed for apples!Caeden tried too!
And Sylvia was really into it; she'd stick her whole face down in the water to get those apples!
Annah, Ashley, and Jada played games like Perfection, Triominoes, and Pretty, Pretty Princess before bed.