Partying with Uncle Blaine and Aunt Necha

Uncle Blaine and Aunt Necha invited us over for a small family get together. They really know how to throw a party even on a small scale. We ate SO well! They had fun games for the kids and they shared Christmas stories and memories from the past. And of course, there was sports talk! :) This is why the Christmas season is so special. It seems as though every day was filled with some activity or practice or performance or party, but for moments like this it was all worth it.

Christmas Fun with Friends

Over the Christmas holiday we got together with our friends, the Lamb family. We had yummy food and decorated Gingerbread houses. He kids had a blast!

Kali decorating her Gingerbread Cookie

The younger girls played dress-up all night. I can't get over how these two look like they could be cousins.

Making the gingerbread houses

We didn't get ours finished, but theirs turned out really cute!

Soup or Pie 2009

Blaine and Necha invited us for their annual Soup or Pie celebrations the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It gives the Mann family (and all their friends) a chance to get together, eat yummy soup and pie, and play football. We all had so much fun. The kids were really mad because we had to leave a little early for Sabrina's hula performance that night. Thanks Necha and Blaine for all your work!

Happy 100th B-day Grandpa Gnehm!!!!!!

When my mom mentioned that my Grandpa would have turned 100 this week I looked at it as a great opportunity to eat cake!

Really, I thought it would be fun for the kids to learn a little about their Grandpa. We broke out the photo album and family history. I shared just a few stories and pictures with the kids. We sang to him and the kids loved blowing out the candles.

Here is one of our favorite short stories: "He loved to talk to people. He once received a phone call in which he chatted with the caller for a good half hour. All of a sudden we heard him say, "Who did you say this was?"

The kids seemed to enjoy it, but it wasn't until the next morning when our neighbor came over that I knew that "the hearts of the children had turned to their fathers". Jacob came running out, "Mom, you have to tell Alyssa about our Grandpa! Remember the story about the phone call? You tell it, Mom!" My heart melted.

Grandpa has been gone for 25 years, but I still remember his big smile, the warmth in his eyes, and his love for chocolate covered orange sticks. I love you, Grandpa Gnehm!

In memoriam

I've put off positing this because I wanted to think of something creative to write, but it's just not coming. Our cat Sammy died today. When I was in college I took a class called Death and Dying. In it we learned that pets can help children learn to deal with death. Well, now that I'm a mother of 5 and a little more seasoned, I say -- that's bunk! It was still just as hard. We sat together and shared stories of Sammy. He was such a naughty little cat it was easy. He was always into something he shouldn't be. But he was wonderful with the kids. Our babies would crawl right over him and he'd never complain. The kids would carry him around, dress him up, stuff him in the mailbox and he never complained. Rory would put him in the shower or throw him out in the snow for naughty behavior, but Sammy was always right there the minute Rory laid down at night to knead on his stomach. He lived at least 21 of his 7 lives and he did it with flair. Thanks for being so good for our children and for giving us such great memories! We love you, Sammy!

An Evening at the Spa - PRICELESS!

Halloween 2009

The kids made a haul this year trick-0r-treating. Here they are with their costumes. Minus Miranda. She had other plans and unfortunately her picture didn't get taken. You can see her in the previous post. She was a very beautiful Cleopatra.

Kali as a kitty

Arianna as a Native American (she didn't want to be called Pocahontas or Sacajawea)

Sabrina as a beautiful bride.

Jacob as a Backugan (if you don't know what it is you may have to google it)

His costume took the most time and in the end it was too awkward to wear to school. It was definitely unique!

Some of the neighborhood kids ready to get more treats than tricks!

Perhaps Kali won't be a make-up artist when she grows up. This is her Magic Marker version of kitty whiskers. The red above her eyes is from an earlier attempt.