Four Year Old Cael

Happy Birthday to Cael tomorrow!!  He will be 4 years old on December 3, 2012.  We got to go to his birthday party Saturday with his friends and other family members at the Fire Station!

What a fun party!   Cael and his friends played "Pin the Badge on the Fireman" while they waited for the fireman to come and take them on a tour of the facility.  Even the adults enjoyed seeing where the firemen spend their off time and hearing about their days on duty.  The kids got to sit in the fire truck and hear the alarms and sirens (with their hands on their ears).

The Fireman was explaining about the smoke alarm and Cael said, "The smoke alarm is my friend."  Matt and Lindsay said that he was afraid of it so they had to tell him that so he would not be afraid.  It was so cute when he said it to the fireman.

Then we all went back to the party room for refreshments and to let Cael open his presents.  Here is his cake that Erin made for him.

The bucket of cheetos was called "burning flames", the jar of Reese's Pieces were "burnt embers", the red licorice were "fire hoses" and the plate of "fire dogs" were all so cute...and yummy!

Cael, your enthusiasm is so contagious.  It is fun to watch you enjoying your party and your friends.  You don't want to miss anything and you make the most of every opportunity. This is a big month for you and I know you will enjoy every minute of it.  Next up....Nativity Pageant.  You have been talking about Baby Jesus for so long now....finally you will get to play the part of little Jesus again.

I love you very much,

Mema

Bailey, the Tweenager!

Bailey Rebecca Bischoff turned 12 years old on November 29, 2012!  Can it really be?

Karla and I drove to Houston last Saturday to spend a few days with her for her birthday.  We actually stopped in Allen, Texas for the night and drove the rest of the way on Sunday.

We watched Bailey open her presents and enjoyed delicious frosted brownies afterwards.

Monday, Karla and I went to Wendy's Zumba class with her and got a little exercise in.  Monday evening we took Bailey shopping with the money she got for her birthday.  Doug and Wendy will give Bailey money for her birthday on Thursday, so she has chosen to invite some of her friends to go the mall with her.  She will share some of her money with them and they will have a fun time shopping and eating at the mall.

Tuesday, since the kids were in school, Wendy, Karla and I went Christmas shopping.  We had a great time and filled the car with shopping bags.  Score!

Any free time we had when the kids were home was spent playing Triominos or Yahtzee.  We also played Quelf one night.  First time to play that, but it was so funny!

So....sadly, we had to leave on Wednesday.  We packed Tuesday night so we could set out as soon as the kids were up and off to school and we could say our good-byes.  As always, this November trip is short but not quite so sad because they will be coming home for Christmas, less than one month from now.

Bailey, I am amazed every time I see you at how much you are maturing into a young lady.  You are so sweet and fun and thoughtful.  I love spending time with you and hearing your thoughts and dreams.  I wish I had a copy of that poem you wrote. You are very good at expressing your feelings.  I believe that because you have such  a sensitive spirit, you will be so open to discerning the Lord's calling on your life.

I love you very much, Bailey!

Mema

Lunch With The Girls

Yesterday, I enjoyed lunch with 8 girls I graduated high school with.  We met at Newk's Cafe and, after reintroducing ourselves to the ones we haven't seen in many years, ordered our food and sat down to visit and eat....mostly visit.

From left to right, (maiden names), Naomi Sanders, Bonita Swadley, Patty Washam, Donna Hepner, Marcia Schleif, Paula Carter, Sherry Tummons, Donna Murray, Mary Murray.

It's been 45 years since we graduated from high school....45 years!!  We were 18 then....now we are 63.  We all agreed that it is unbelievable that 1) it has been that many years and  2)  we are this old.  In our minds we are still 18....well that may be a stretch...but younger anyway.  Go Willard High School Tigers!

I am so thankful that we got together....thank you Paula and Marcia for initiating this.  Hopefully we can do it again and next time maybe there will be others who can join us.

Never too old.................

Donna

Our Little Jumpmaniacs

My friend, Belinda, who also happens to be Cael and Ava's great-aunt, invited us to join her grandkids and herself at Jumpmania on Friday.  Do I even need to ask them?  I think not.  So off we go to jump our little legs off.

Here comes Eli and Jude.  They're both 4 years old and will go to kindergarten next year.

 Heeeeere comes Cael.

And Jude.....

Cousins, Cael and Eli.....Eli is 5 months older than Cael.

Ava thinks she is as big as all the rest of them and can climb on any jump.

For some reason, Ava kept going to this sweet mother and asking her "up, please."  Her little girl is the same age as Ava.  We couldn't figure it out except that her birthday is the same day as Ava's, May 25.   She must have felt the kinship.

Ava and Eleda, cousins 2 1/2 weeks apart.

Here she goes again on the big kids' bounce house....

Peek-a-boo!

Snack time......

Is it just entirely impossible to get three little boys to look at the camera and smile at the same time?  Not to mention getting a picture of all five of them together.....

What a day!!  Thanks, Belinda, Eli and Eleda for inviting us.  It was so much fun hanging out with you!

BTW,  Belinda and I are both Mema, so we just answered to all of them. :)

Trick or Treat, Smell my feet....

Living out in the country as we do, we never have very many trick-or-treaters, but our grandkids always come and usually some of my cousins' grandkids.  Here are the little characters who came to see us last night.

Here's Jadon, Haven and Jude, aka Anakin Skywalker, Spidergirl and Captain America

Iron man and Pink Mermaid are Cody and Emily, two of my cousin Andy's grandchildren:

Who would ever guess that this is Gavin, beneath all this green......

Gavin, Cael and Ava.....Green clown, Shark and Bumble Bee:

Wendy texted me the pictures of her kids dressed up for First Fest at Houston's First Baptist.  

Here's Lucas and Micah, aka Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro....

The girls put on pink mustaches, black fedoras and bow ties...I'm not sure what their characters are supposed to be, I can just guarantee they are characters.....and cute ones at that.

Love all the great costumes and love all these kids  ......btw, I dressed up in a martial arts outfit....no pic.

Fun, fun, fun....

Mema