End of the Year Letter...

We mailed out some photos and have a few more to mail and so here is the newsy letter to accompany it. We thought about just putting our picture up here too, but we so enjoy getting all of your photos that we decided to mail some out...

2009--
I am going through photos of this past year trying to figure out what was exciting, fun, interesting... Hmmm... We sold our rats after they got out one time too many and decided that MY dresser was a great new home and chewed up everything to make it more comfortable and palatable. ;| We didn't take any big trips, but have settled more into our new house. We are super excited to have Jim's sister and family living here where we are now! Todd and Alicia moved here and just bought a house in our town about 10 minutes away. Fun to have lots of cousin time and I enjoy sister-in-law time just as much!

With the current economy and the size of our house we decided this year it wouldn't hurt to have a roommate--along came Jenny! We now have a college student living with us and we are enjoying every minute. She is the big sister the boys have always wanted--playing with them, teasing them, and helping them.

Carsten continues to get hurt--as I am writing this he fell off a chair and hurt his shoulder, hopefully not too bad. This year he has had his share of accidents. He ran into the corner of our table and had a nice black eye for a while. He fell off of a bar stool and landed on one front tooth--it is still hanging in there, but is a little crooked. Carsten dresses as an engineer almost everyday, or as often as I wash his overalls, Thomas shirt, and the special red shirt he wears underneath. Papa (Jim's dad) took us to ride on Thomas the Train for the boys' birthdays and Carsten enjoyed it immensely...


Reese has lost two teeth, ran a 1K race with his daddy, and is loving school. We decided to homeschool Reese this year and we are really enjoying it. Butter continues to be his good friend and still goes wherever Reese goes. Reese has grown a lot this year, not just in size, but maturity. He just sounds older and is more independent--sad for mommy, but good for him! Reese is also taking piano lessons from Jim's cousin and he likes his time with Becky.

Jim ran a marathon in November and I do believe/hope it is his last... We took him to the mall that night and we had to wheel him around in a wheelchair--hmmmm.... He is still running, but that might have to do with the fact that his "running group" is composed of eleven women and Jim! He continues to work with his dad and now brother-in-law. He also is still with Weight Watchers teaching one meeting a week.

I am doing the same--nothing too exciting in my corner, I am busy with homeschooling Reese, cooking gluten free for all of us (Jim and Reese can't have gluten), and keeping house... I continue to have the privilege of staying home and I love it. Alicia (my sister-in-law), Becky (Jim's cousin), and I have started a cooking club of sorts. We get together about once a month and we each cook five meals times three and so we end up with fifteen meals to take home and freeze. Works out great and we enjoy the time together as well.

We've had a good year and hope you all have too. Thanks for all the cards and pictures!

More from time at Opa and Oma's...

Here are a couple more pictures from Thanksgiving time at my parents...
Carsten got sick had a cold and croup and then Jim scratched his cornea while helping cut wood!
We are all mended and doing well!

This is how Carsten spent his time while he was sick... playing games on his computer...

Thanksgiving

We had a good Thanksgiving at my parents with my Uncle and Aunt... then later that evening some special friends came over for dessert... we got to spend some time with Damion!

Notice Carsten's hurt hand--he has been nursing it for days now and it was originally a splinter (that I removed)... The band-aid is now off, but he still holds it carefully.

Reason #54 to come to Oma's...

She reads to you while you are in the bath!

Goodbye Tuppy...

Tuppy was getting old (over 17 years old) and had a few problems, so yesterday my mom, my two boys, and I took her to the vet to have her put to *sleep*. It was an education for Reese and Carsten as they wanted to be with her during the process. We came home and Opa helped us to bury her. When I texted my brother to tell him that it was all over he texted back that I was quite efficient (she's needed to be put down for awhile, but no one wanted to do it) and to remind him to not be around me when he gets old...

And, Hello Bingo...

The new kitten. My parents didn't want anymore cats, but this one just showed up (like many of our cats have) and she won their hearts...

The Marathon

The group... sorry too much sun and I didn't change my camera settings...

Warren and Dylan

Lana and Amber

Jim

Nicole, Wendy, and Shana

Callie

Tooth Two...

Thankfully it is this kid... Reese lost his second tooth tonight--he let Jim pull it out!

A New Do...

Reese requested a haircut like Opa, Unc, and Lyle Waldo... So, here it is! We have to use some gel to get it to stay, but he is so proud...

Carsten had to have a picture of his do as well... His tooth is still in, but it is loose. Not sure how long until it *tightens* up or falls out...

And, Carsten wanted to show his little seal with the bottle...

Sighhhhh....

Carsten fell off a stool this morning and got hurt (landed right on his face)... Anyone surprised??? One of his front teeth is fractured up in the gums, but the dentist suggested just waiting and seeing if it will tighten up or just fall out on it's own. Sigh.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

Tuesday night we had a pumpkin carving party (bring back any memories Grillo Family??? We even had chili and thought of all of you...). We had fun gutting and carving our pumpkins--can you guess which one is Reese's?
We went to Brandy & Alexa's today for a little party (I didn't take any pictures). The boys had fun--we played a few games, did a craft, and read pumpkin/Halloween books.

The carvers...

Papa's job...

Very serious business...

This one's for you Alicia...

When you are couponing, the thing to do is to post a picture of the haul... Tonight Jenny and I went and got the above items and they will end up costing me a grand total of $0.33 after I receive the rebates!
I just realized that I will also get another $4 rebate... so, I guess I made money tonight. (and the boys had the $5 glitter I had bought, so that too is in the haul)

Oma's Request...

Just beginning here... Reese is taking piano lessons.

Fall = Pumpkin Patch

Our kids

Our foster daughter...

The many faces of Justin!

The whole reason we go to the pumpkin patch--water pump duck races!