Enchanting....

Several years ago our family started going to a movie on Christmas Day. Last year I was sick, so we didn't go, and this year, Stan didn't feel well, so he stayed home. Holly and I decided to go anyway, and choose the movie "Enchanted." For anyone who grew up with the princess movies, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc, this is a movie that should not be missed!!! It is an "enchanting" film about a fairy-tale princess sent to earth by an evil stepmom. The princess, Giselle, lands in the middle of New York City - Times Square - and finds the real world much different than "Andalasia" where she lived. It is cute, funny, and McDreamy is in it, too! We loved it!

Technically Challenged Christmas.....

We had a special visit from jolly ole' St Nick at our house on Christmas Eve. Since the under 2 year-old set is scared of Santa, Reese was the only one who would sit on the big man in red's lap. Good ole' Santa, he left a gift for Grace and Ryan, too, then left to finish packing his sleigh for his big trip that night.

Now to the title of this post, I lost - or hopefully just misplaced - my digital camera in the middle of gift opening. So, I didn't get pictures of the kids as I had hoped. The pictures here are ones Kristy sent me, so I hope she doesn't mind. Then, when I tried to post them here they wouldn't post in the same sizes. I think Kristy must of did something so that Reese's picture as well as their family picture would be bigger. I could not get the others any larger, so I don't know what was going on with them. I give up!!!

Our Dynamic Duo...

Hey, Ryan, wait until I find the music.....








Okay, Ryan, here is the song I want to play, "Amazing Grace."

I always thought it would be fun to have twins, and they do run in Stan's family. One of his great-grandfathers was a twin, his sister, Susie, has twins, and he has twin cousins. Even though we don't have twins in the immediate family, we do have a dynamic duo - aka Grace and Ryan. Ryan will be 2 on January 16 and exactly 8 weeks later, to the day, Grace will also turn 2. Since they are together often, they get along well. When they first started walking, they were in to everything! What one didn't think of, the other did! Together they were a little de-construction crew. ( Sorry, Kelly and Kristy!)


I am now happy to report that they have outgrown this phase and enjoy such things as playing "Elmo" on the computer, the piano, and playing with toys instead of pulling everything out of drawers and cabinets. Funny thing, we have a basement set up like a pre-school, with a Little Tykes workbench for Ryan, a house for the girls complete with washer, dryer, table, chairs, high chair, baby cradle, and many other numerous toys to mention. The grandkids even have their own bedroom, filled with Fisher Price toys. However, their favorite thing to do is to get in one cupboard in my kitchen and get out a basket where I keep all of their sippy cups. They dump them all over the floor and try to put the lids on the cups and them carry them around. I don't know why this is so much fun for them, but it entertains them, so who am I to stop them??? We are looking forward to Christmas Eve. Maybe I should have bought a couple of extra sippy cups to play with instead of more toys....

At Marsh, We Value You!!!

Years ago, when the girls were in grade school at St Lawrence, Marsh (the supermarket chain) had a big advertising campaign and their slogan was, "At Marsh, we value you!" Our youngest daughter, Holly, now works in their corporate office. Since she works in the Legal Department, she is on the same floor as the CEO. One of the perks of working for Marsh is they often have little goodies for the workers. Holly has gotten free tickets to suites at Conseco for games, Symphony on the Prairie, Home-a-Rama, and many other Marsh-sponsored events. She also brings home food samples and flowers. Last night, she brought home at least 2 dozen long-stemmed yellow roses. Apparently the CEO had bought a bunch of flowers for his wife and gave the extra ones to the ladies who worked on his floor. Holly and I arranged them in a vase and this morning, they had opened nicely and are absolutely beautiful!!! Wow, I could get used to this.....

Little Debbie...

Today is my "little sister's" birthday. I always called her Debbie, as it seemed to fit. She is 10 years younger than me, and very petite, so when I was growing up, she was always little to me. When I went away to Purdue, Debbie was only entering 2nd grade! Anyway, about 10 years ago, she told me I was the only one who called her "Debbie" anymore. To everyone else, she is simply "Deb."

I was looking at some old pictures tonight, when I saw this one of us together, taken in 1999 as I recall. She had the lead part in her community theatre's production of "The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever," playing the role of Grace Bradley. Grace, is a mom who, at the last minute, had to fill in for the regular director of the town's annual Christmas pageant, who had broken her leg.

I know some of Deb's kids - if not all - were also involved, along with their 3-legged dog, Chopper. My family went to see the play and afterwards, we proudly stood in line to congratulate the cast in a fine performance. I think this was Deb's drama debut, but she has since gone on to sing at her church in a small group and plays the piano sometimes for the worship service. Add to that, teaching 3rd grade, raising 4 children - who are all in college!- helping her husband with their business, serving on various school, community, and church committees and coaching Destination Imagination, plus too many other things I can't think of right now....her life is anything but "simple!"

Happy Birthday, sis! Although you are definitely a "Deb," to me you will always be "My Little Debbie."

Watch Out World!!!

Ryan, with Grace in background

It's been interesting observing the development and behavior of a boy after raising 3 daughters and having a granddaughter first. Ryan - who will be 2 yrs old in one month - has been a little different from the girls. Not in a bad way, mind you, just a little different from the girls. Here is what I am noticing:

1) Ryan runs into the room at full throttle, flings himself onto the chair while you hold your breath thinking he will hurt himself in the process

2) If he gets a shot, ten seconds later, he is all smiles, whereas his sister carries on for---how long???---lets just call her "Miss Drama Queen." She can't walk, it hurts so bad, etc., etc., etc.

3) He is really into trains and is a natural thrower and kicker!

While his parents noticed a month or so ago that he is talking more, we have been seeing this, too. We laughed a couple of months ago when Ryan would make the sign for "cracker" and mutter something which sounded totally unrelated to cracker when he wanted a snack. Then there is little Grace, 2 months younger, who would say, "I would like a cracker too, please, grandma,"

It is fun to watch them all go at their own speed and enjoy the special qualities of each. Now that Ryan is talking more, look out world!

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

I don't know how I can possibly have a daughter who is 32 years old! It seems like only yesterday - or maybe the day before - that I was in my 30's. When you have little ones, some days seem to go on and on...especially when they are sick or worse yet, when mommy is sick! However, when you look back, it seems like that period of life has gone by way too fast. I guess that is why you savor each moment with the grandkids...it is a way of also getting back your lost youth, too.

I posted this picture of you and me, taken in July 1978, just a couple of days before Kristy was born. We had taken you to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, so if you look closely, you can see animals in the background.

Kelly, you are a wonderful daughter and an outstanding mother to your own two little girls. Enjoy each day with your girls...even when Gracie colors on your sofa, or gets into your makeup... I hope you have a very, Happy Birthday!!!

The Cabbage Patch Kids

Back in 1984, there was a line of dolls called "Cabbage Patch Kids." They were very popular gifts for Christmas that year and I had relatives scouring the state for them...or should I say, "Santa had relatives scouring the North Pole for them?" Anyway, along with their dolls, the girls each received a Cabbage Patch ornament when "Santa," aka Ralph Bretz, a neighbor, made a visit to our house. This is a picture of my dolls holding their ornaments, which they still put on their trees today!

The Schenher Homestead

It's hard to believe, but it has been 32 years since Stan and I celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple. At the time, we lived at Ege (pronounced Egg-EE) at the Schenher homestead. This is where Grandma Schenher raised 12 children after Grandpa Schenher died, leaving her with 5 boys and 7 girls. I am not sure what ages they were, but the youngest, Stan's dad, was only 18 months. The older ones worked and helped out on the farm. It couldn't have been easy, but it built a closeness in their family that was next to none. When we married, we moved into the farmhouse, recently vacated by the death of an uncle, and lived there a little over 7 months. Kelly was born while we lived there (December 12) and this is the house she came home to. It hasn't changed much on the outside (other than the shrubs - which need to be cut back or removed!) and when Stan's nephews - Pierce and Taylor - from CA visited in 2006, we took them to Ege and showed them where their grandfather grew up. It is funny, how things have changed...the young couple who bought the farm in 1976 added on to it when they had 2 children. We live so differently these days! Sometimes I think it would be good to go back to a simpler time...

Making Memories...

Today Reese and I went downtown to the Conseco Fieldhouse to see Walt Disney's "High School Musical on Ice." We have both been looking forward to going and I am sure for Reese, it seemed like today would never come! She was a little lady - very well-behaved - and we had a wonderful time. The production was excellent and Reese enjoyed every moment! When it was over, she wanted more! Taking from Kelly's post a couple of weeks ago:

Cost of 2 tickets: $50
Souvenoir Photo: $16
Ice Cream for 2: $ 6

Time spent making memories with my granddaughter: priceless