What were you doing 10 years ago tonight?

This morning I was browsing through the blogs of note when I came across the blog Yes and Yes. The author posed the question of "What were you doing 10 years ago tonight?". As I was reading what she was doing 10 years ago, it made me remember my New Year's Eve 10 years ago. Remember 10 years ago when people thought the world would come to an end and computers would cease to function because we were moving from the 1900's into the 2000's.

I remember this evening because my husband had to work. In fact, practically everyone that works for the power company had to be in a substation that evening working, just in case the equipment and computers failed to handle moving into the year 2000. I hung out that evening with a group of power company wives. We ate, drank and were merry without our husbands. Later we all laughed at how the media had hyped up this moving to the year 2000 because of the stress and worry that it caused people.

So fellow bloggers, I pose the question to you, " What were you doing 10 years ago tonight?"?

Have a safe and happy New Year!
Michelle

1st Day of Christmas Vacation

Our poor little Justin is growing up in a household of girls. As the youngest, he wants to do whatever his sisters do. Well, the thing to do on the 1st day of Christmas vacation was dance. The girls love to watch old dance recital videos and dance along. Everyone has to wear a costume. Poor Justin got stuck wearing one of Cara's tank tops as a dress. I couldn't believe it and I cringed at what he is going to say in a few years when he sees these pictures, but he was having so much fun.

Justin trying to ballet walk for the girls.

Trying to imitate what the dancers on the video are doing.

Pointing his toe just like the other dancers.

Justin is little boy at heart though. He loves to play with his fire truck, dump truck, trains, building blocks and especially his tools. He loves it when Keith is fixing something and it involves tools.

Take care,

Michelle

Christmas Snow Blizzard 2009

The Christmas Snow Blizzard of 2009 that hit the Midwest spoiled many family gatherings. But, many people have expressed how it was nice just to stay home for the holiday with just their family while being snowed in. Most roads, highways, and interstates were all closed because of the ice and snow and then the awful wind gusts that caused many high drifts. In Norfolk during the Christmas Snow Blizzard of 2009, we received 19.1 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph. The kids and I did not leave the house from Tuesday afternoon, December 22nd, until Sunday morning, December 27th. It didn't even bother me to not leave the house. Keith left on Wednesday and Thursday to go to work, but then he didn't leave again until Sunday morning. Following are a few pictures of the blizzard.

Keith standing next to the small side garage door on Christmas morning.

On Saturday morning, this is what the girls saw when my garage door was lifted.

They thought this was so funny that the snow drift was so high.


Cara, Erica and Justin standing by the small side garage door on Saturday morning.

As you can see the wind really made a high snow drift on my side of the garage.

The front of our house.

A picture looking down the street to the south.

The Christmas Snow Blizzard 2009 was the final push Keith needed to get a new snow blower.

Keith has wanted a new snow blower for awhile, but he hadn't gone and bought one. After using his old snow blower for hours, he decided it was time for a new and bigger snow blower to cut down on his time blowing snow outside. He sold his old snow blower to a co-worker and bought a new one on Monday night. Yesterday when Keith got home from work he headed outside to get rid of the snow drift on the south side of the garage.

This Christmas will be remembered for years to come as the year everyone had to stay home for Christmas because of the snow blizzard.

Take care,

Michelle

Christmas Day 2009

We always wake up in our own beds on Christmas morning. Usually, the day is spent in pajamas, opening presents and playing with our new toys. We generally do not go anywhere on Christmas Day because that day is just for our family.

This year the kids all woke up around 7 o'clock and one by one they all tiptoe into our bedroom to tell us that Santa did come and that there are lots of presents. Keith and I tell them that we'll be out in a while. They all go back to the living room to count presents, shake presents, and speculate what could possibly be in some of them. They all know that they cannot open any presents until everyone is in the living room. Keith and I held them off of opening presents until about 8 o'clock and then the flying of wrapping paper could be seen.

Then Keith made a big breakfast with waffles, biscuits and gravy, and eggs and sausage. Snacks were had throughout the day and then we had a big supper with ham, potatoes and corn. We played games throughout the day and just relaxed. We had no intention of going anywhere and the snow blizzard just confirmed that as the day went on.

Erica and Ashlin patiently waiting for presents.

Justin waiting for someone to say that it is his turn to unwrap.


Ashlin with her new marker color book.

Santa came through and brought us a Wii. With all of the snow this came in handy for entertainment.

Waiting for the next presents.

Cara had a hooded puffy vest on her list of items.

Erica holding up a new fleece hoodie.

The three girls unwrapping their new razor scooters.

Justin was a terror unwrapping presents.

It was a good, but different Christmas with all of the snow. The kids and I did not leave the house from Tuesday afternoon until Sunday morning. Everyone stayed busy playing with new toys, trying on new clothes and just relaxing.

Take care,

Michelle

School Christmas Parties

Last Tuesday was the last day of school before the Christmas vacation. The whole day is just one big party at school. In the morning the whole elementary school gathers in the Commons Area and sings Christmas carols. Ashlin's preschool class had their class party at 10 o'clock and Justin and I went down to help. Ashlin's class did an ornament craft, then ate a snack and drink and then sang some songs for the parents and grandparent at the party. Justin just does loves to play in the preschool room because everywhere there are toys to attract his attention. There was no hot lunch served on Tuesday, so each class was on its own. Erica's class had to bring a cold lunch with a drink from home. Cara's class ordered personal pan pizza's from Pizza Hut and she had to take a drink from home. Justin, Ashlin and I ate our lunch at home and then we went back to school to do the games for Cara's third grade class. We played Christmas Carol Pictionary and a Christmas word unscramble in teams.

Justin kept trying to escape Cara's classroom because there aren't any toys in 3rd Grade.

Ashlin eating oranges in Cara's classroom.

Chase, Ethan and Cara hanging out eating their party snacks.

Justin playing in the preschool room.

Ashlin's teacher Mrs. Nedrow was all decked out for the party.

Mrs. Nedrow's children are all grown and she said that this outfit embarrasses them each year, but the outfit is perfect for preschool.

Ashlin working on her Christmas ornament craft.

One group working on their craft.

Signing the big card for the teachers.

After being at the school most of the day, this Mom did not get much done at home. Oh well, the girls are always excited that I'm one of the Moms that gets to come to the class parties and helps out in the classrooms.

Take care,

Michelle

Merry Christmas 2009

This was our Christmas Card 2009. Donna at Digital Dreams did an awesome job of capturing the smiles of our four children.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!!

Michelle

Leader Christmas

Last Sunday was Christmas at Keith's parents' home in Bloomfield. So, everyone gathered at noon for another one of Grandma Leader's fabulous dinners. Grandma serves buffet style and there is never a lack of food. After the dishes are all cleared away, the fun commences with gift opening and B-I-N-G-O. Plus, let us not forget about the buffet of goodies that appears (cookies, candy, chex mix, etc.)

Playing Bingo.

Waiting patiently for their name to be drawn so that they can get a gift.


Ashlin and Kamree had each other's names in the gift exchange.
They sat next to each other and giggled.


Cousin Holly was covered in the wrapping paper by Uncle Cory.

You would think that Zac would scoot over to make more room.

We went home that night tired, but everyone was smiling because of all the fun that was had. It always amazes me that there is no fighting at Grandpa and Grandma's house. The cousins all get along and play together the whole day. There are no naps taken, yet they keep on playing. The excitement just keeps them going.

Take care,

Michelle