52 weeks--I Did It!!

52 WEEKS OF PHOTOS WITH ME IN THEM--I DID IT!
Now I probably have more pictures of me taken in this last year than in who knows how many years before that! I know that some weeks I didn't have a new one and posted an "oldie" but then some weeks I had more than one photo with me in it also!
I have to admit that along with becoming more conscious of trying to be in photos with my kids, it's also had the effect of making me quite conscious (and irritated at myself) when I miss an opportunity. That's what really gets me....!
One week from today is our daughters wedding, and I will have more photos with me in it. Since there is one more Thursday in the month, and considering the occasion I will have a bonus "52 weeks" post. I also plan to do something fun for a "grand finale" of my 2009 - 52 weeks posts, so watch for that in January (I hope!)

Here's a few more from our last day up in ND. I really meant to post these with the first ones, but ran out of time so I thought I'd post them later and then forgot :(


Kyrie & Jessi in their matching dresses that I had Great G'ma Cilla make for them


Grammie with 4 of my grand-sweeties, Kyrie, (5) Barrett, (5 days) Jessi (3 in Jan) & Trey (3 in Feb)


The group of us after Sunday a.m. meeting before we left for home.
Front, Kyrie, Trey & Jessi
Back, Meshayla, Lynisha, Me, Dalyana with Barrett, and Wade.
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Last week (Friday eve) our friends Dan and Cyndie hosted a couples shower for Relyssa and Mark. We had a potluck supper and a wonderful evening. Here's some pictures from it.


Mark & Relyssa, with his parents on the left, and us on the right.


Opening gifts


A quilt from Marks grandparents


Relyssa & Mark


Our lovely hosts, (and my "Sistah")--Cyndie & Dan


One more picture of girl-friends. Relyssa won't be here for Lorene's birthday this year (If you remember THIS post...)
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On Monday night this week, Kara's class had their D.A.R.E. Presentation & Graduation.
Her essay was one of two picked to be read.


The class preformed a song for us. (This is the 4th and 5th grade classes in her school)


Kara receiving her certificate from the deputy who taught the class.




Mom and Kara at home afterward.

Oh my, I can hardly believe she's a 5th grader and not only that, but 1/2 way on her way to being a 6th grader already!


That's all for this week folks! Have a wonderful Christmas & New Years holiday!

Thought of the day

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?
To be, or not to be?

• Is it a good thing that I work well under pressure, or is it to bad that I work best under pressure?
  

51 of 52 weeks-- More North Dakota!

Two weeks from today is the wedding! No "new" pictures this week...Life is a bit hurried/harried around here at present. Hopefully I'll have something interesting next week.

It's been a busy month. Travel, babies, company, special days. Friday is a couples shower for R & M, Saturday is a funeral of a special "old timer" in this area. His wife died a couple months ago. They've been pillers in this area for many years & it's going to seem strange without them, but I'm so glad for their faithful lives. A wonderful example of steadfastness.

Here's A few more pictures of my time in North Dakota. I'm looking forward to seeing them in a few short weeks again!



Jessi with her new baby brother




Trey & Kyrie with new baby cousin


Auntie Nish




Grammie--finger feeding -working on the "suck"
issues for tounge tied baby Barrett.


Grammie with my two little North Dakota bears!



Nebraska Husker fans

50 of 52 weeks

I spent 10 days (including 2 days travel) in North Dakota with my daughter and family near Fargo. We have a new baby boy in the family! Lynisha and her kids & Meshayla went too. It was wonderful to be there with Dalayna when the baby was born, and get to spend those first precious moments/days with him.
A highlight of my time there was spending time with the other 3 little munchkins. It was pretty special to hear "Drammie....read me a story"!! "Drammie, come sleep with me" Kyrie loves me to read to her, but she's also thinks it's pretty fun when I tell her stories too and is pretty fascinated when she discovers that I'm talking about me. And yes, it does make me feel rather old when I'm sitting there telling my grandaughter, "Once upon a time there was a little girl....."

I had a bunch of other pictures ready for this post, but Decided just to do this one for now. Come back and visit later if you want to see more of our time in North Dakota with new baby Barrett and these 3.

49 of 52 weeks challenge--I am very blessed.

I am blessed with grandchildren. These two are the first and third of our grandchildren. Beautiful, loving ones. Healthy, normal and fun. These two belong to Lynisha & Jim.


Trey, Grammie & Kyrie--Breakfast at Perkins. (Compliments of my son-in-law Jim, whom I consider one of the many blessings in my life also!)


I am blessed with a house suitable to host large gatherings. I am blessed with a husband who humors my constant I mean occasional "nags" for house makeovers, remodels or redecorating, especially in time for hosting large gatherings. Yes, true most of the time they don't get finished until the night or morning of the occasion, and he's not a "perfectionist", but nevertheless, he strives to make me happy, and after all I am not perfect either!

I am blessed with family and friends. Family who like me are not perfect, but we love each other, and love to be together. Friends who live next door, and we can see them anytime, but love how the Thanksgiving holiday draws us together with special memories.

The Thanksgiving cooks this year for our day together, Friends, Gertrud & daughter Juli, sister in law Linda, me, daughter Lynisha and mother Priscilla.


I am blessed with loving daughters, and ones who share some of my same interests. Namely at this particular time, natural and home-birth.
I am blessed with daughters who let me share in their births (and son-in-laws who tolerate me too!)
I was blessed again this week (Tuesday morning, Dec 1, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.) with a new grandson who was born at home after a 2 1/2 hour labor.




Is there anything more sweet than a new baby?

I am very blessed with a husband who tolerates me leaving him & some kids at home, traveling 9 hours away to be with our daughter when she has her babies. I am very blessed to have another daughter that was was able to travel with me. (Therefore driving most of the way!)
I am very blessed to have my mother at home, keeping our two youngest with her while I'm up here.
I am very blessed to have some time with 3 other grandchildren all together, cuddling in the evening and hearing them clammer "Tell me another, grammie"!! (But that's the picture for next week!)


I am very blessed. Time with baby, cuddles, & even finger feeding him in the middle of the night so Dalayna can get some sleep. (He is tongue tied and can't latch on to nurse yet. He's got a Dr. appt. Friday to have it clipped, so hopefully nursing will go well then)


The list could go on and on. Yes, I am very blessed. Another beautiful grandchild. This makes five for us. The 2nd this year.
Barrett Jack--7# 10 oz and 20 1/4 inches long.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Growing up, our family gathered with my grandparents (Mom's side) and best friends the Nipperts. We have some wonderful memories of those years and great pictures.
One of the hardest things about growing families and years passing is that some things bring change. My grandparents have been gone for quite a few years now, Our close friends, the Nippert "kids" are scattered in all directions, My brother & his family are in AZ and rarely make it back here, My two sisters although close by have grown kids that are married and out of state or have their "other" families to go to, We too have 3 married and 2 in the work. My mom has been away more years for Thanksgiving in the last 8 than she has been here.
"Ouch!" I don't like change. Especially when it comes to what is near & dear to me=Thanksgiving traditions!

But, I'm thankful. Thankful that even tho I can't gather with my sisters every year, that they live near by. Thankful that our kids that are close enough have made an "every other year" trading off with their other family and us. Thankful that I have beautiful memories of past years, and potential of beautiful memories in years to come.

The girls have always outnumbered the guys in our household. It was a much repeated refrain that "the boys will come". They have, even tho they're still a ways behind as far as numbers. It still gives me a bit of a shock to see them in a group.
Even more, it gives me a thrill to see them all together, interacting.
Our Thanksgiving started Wed. Jeanne & Floyd arrived in the afternoon, and Jim & Lynisha that evening.
Here's my 3 sons, 2 of my 3 son in laws and Leon. Picture the same thing most of Thursday afternoon & evening only adding son in law to be Mark. I don't know why I missed getting another picture with him too.



The kids come home, the house fill up. With noise and mess. Laughter. The things I'm thankful for because it means life and health.


The girls got a game of twister going , Ryan got enticed away from the card game....

Wait a minute....we're playing twister, not kissing games!

Little kids turn




Noise, Mess, Laughter. Family. Love.

Thursday is Thanksgiving day, and we're thankful for so much....Including more food than we need!

One of the things high on my list of thankfulness is the fact that Leon got my kitchen counters/sink/wall finished, new outlets & new ceiling light finished the night before! He's been working on this for some time now. I wanted a space in my basement for canning and since we have alot of big family meals & potlucks down stairs, it is SO wonderful to have the counter space & sink! This space is where we had originally put a closet.
It just collected stuff, junk & cobwebs anyway. This is much more useful. And attractive!

Food! Turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, dressing, green bean casserole, corn, sweet potatoes, lettuce salad, cottage cheese, jello salad, relishes and Pie OF COURSE!
Pumpkin, lemon, apple, blueberry, Peach, apple crisp & cheesecake, all topped off with whipped cream. Did we get enough to eat? anyone still hungry?
I don't believe so!



In the middle of it all Baby Lyrah, usually making her presence known, because she'd RATHER be held :)

























Now it's time to relax....

Rough house....

Go outside on this beautiful day and work off that meal!



Wouldn't guess by the picture that it's the end of Nov. in NE!

Thanks for being here you kids!
We missed you Jana, Laura, Dalayna & family.
We missed you Vee & family, Luanne & family, Gay & family....Happy memories of Thanksgivings with the rest of the Nippert family.....Heidi, Arnold, & Andy!

48 weeks of 52--Thankful, & Lesson learned!

I have to say that today, being Thanksgiving day, One of the things I'm thankful for is Carin issuing this challenge.
This month (17th) my second "baby girl" turned 30.
Unbelievable, where have the years gone?
When she was visiting a couple weeks ago I had someone take a quick picture of the two of us together. Today when I went to look for a picture of us together when she was a baby....Well to my dismay there is none.
Yes, I was the typical mom, always behind the camera. I have tons of pictures of her. By herself, with her dad, with her siblings, with her friends, but all in all possibly (maybe!) 1/2 doz with me, her mother in 30 years. Now that is SAD!
So once again, I commend Carin for coming up with the idea of taking a picture every week with us and our kids together.
Don't put it off, don't make excuses, Just hand over your camera to someone or set your self timer. You won't be sorry!


Leon, I and Jeanne with our 2nd baby girl, Jana Beth. 12 hours old.


The first picture I found of the two of us together. Jana's 2nd birthday


Happy Birthday, beloved daughter!