Journal of my week

Well, I feel like the week went by so fast. I didn't have time to blog until now. I have recently started a bible study with some friends on Thursday, so that is something new that I am enjoying. My school had library night one night and then Matt and I also went to a Ducks Unlimited sponsors banquet this week while my mom watched Lily. We are blessed to have her so close and willing to watch her. Lily was excited. She has Grandma wrapped around her finger, because she was still up sitting on the couch when I got home around 9:30. Stinker!

On Saturday, I had my first day of my new Masters Program at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont. Eliza works there and had told me about this new program they were starting. It is geared towards teachers that want to be leaders, but are not ready to leave their classroom to become a principal. This is an 18 month program and mostly online. I will have to go to Fremont about every 8 weeks for a Saturday class. I think I can handle it! So, I will be on my computer more now. (Matt might tell you that is impossible for me to be on my computer more than I am now.)

We have our new countertop and sink in our bathroom now. It looks great. Matt is also having to do some drywall work and painting around the countertop. Our goal is to sell this house soon. We are going to put a For Sale sign in our yard this week. I bet it will then sell like hotcakes!!! Don't you think? A house just sold down the street, so we are thinking it might be a good time. Who knows! We have our eyes on a house in Doniphan. So, we are getting excited to the thought of moving to a small town. It is kinda stressful thinking about it also. My parents and sister's family are both moving to new houses, so we thought we would too. No, it is just too good to pass up right now. Any buyers out there?!?

As far as work goes, we both made it through. The first graders are doing great. I am having a lot of fun this year. My kids have words of the week next week, so I will be glad when that is done. Lily has not mastered potty training yet, but its looking better. Heather might say differently. Lily is not as good with the other kids. She gets preoccupied with them and doesn't go. So, we will see.

I hope I have time to blog more often. Have a good week!

Abby

Sledding

Lily's 1st sledding experience!

We went out to Grandpa and Grandma's pasture and found a hill that still had snow on it. It was perfect to sled down because it wasn't too long for the walk back up. All three of us got bundled up and away we went. I went down first so I could capture the moment. She absolutely loved it!

Lily and Daddy

Lily and Mommy
Each time I took her, I think we ended up flipping to the side. I wasn't as good as Daddy.

Snow angels!!

Priceless!

She liked bailing out of the sled. Fearless!

I don't know why kids have a fascination of eating snow. Do you??

That same weekend, we took the jeep out for a drive. Matt wanted to see how it did in the snow. I am not a big fan of Winter jeepin', but he loves it! So, we went out North of GI and found some fun roads.

Big snowdrift

I am ready for all of this snow to disappear. When will the snow come out?!?

Back to the grind stone

After Christmas break the temperature dropped to new records. GIPS had school for teachers on Mon, Tues, and then Wed. for kids. We got 'cold' days on Thursday and Friday. After having Christmas break, I was ready to be back at school. Although it is very nice to sleep in and wear pajamas all day, I was ready to get back into a routine. On Friday, a couple teachers came over to play a few game. Lily and I wanted to add a little fun to our 'cold' day. That was the first time I remember playing Scrabble. I got hooked. I made Matt play me that evening and then again. ha ha! My mom visited us and we even made her play. I did a little more work on Lily's dollhouse, but it still isn't finished. Most of the shingles are on, but it is playable.


Her dolls and furniture came in the mail and she enjoys playing with them. Its cute to watch her use her imagination.

The dollhouse is about as big as her! Once again, she loves to wear mommy's boots.

On Sunday, my parents came to town and took us out for lunch. Then, we had another match of Scrabble before they left. Dad was not amused. :) As Sunday was coming to an end, I kept thinking about my long week ahead of me. I hadn't worked 5 days straight since before Christmas. Yikes!

The kids were really good. I started dragging around Wednesday. Lily was definitely in a "two year old" mood towards the end of the week. Matt was used to working, so he was fine. We are still trying to potty train Lily and it has its ups and downs. For some reason, she does not like sitting on the potty if it is our idea. Any ideas???

We are proud parents though! She is talking up a storm and has a wonderful memory. She amazes us every day. I thank God for our precious little girl. I couldn't imagine life with out her. Mommyhood is priceless.

So, the week dragged on, but I finally made it through it. I ended the school week with a snow party with my 1st graders and another 1st grade class. They had a great time. It is amazing that a lot of them didn't know how to make a snowman. I couldn't remember the last time I made a snow angel, so I asked them to make angels with me!

So cute!!!


So, here we are: Lily and I in our pajamas watching cartoons. Daddy is doing a little work and then working on the jeep. He is determined to get it ready for the river a little earlier this year. :)

Ta Ta!!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Mark!

Grandpa Mark's birthday was on January 14th.
We hope you had a great day!

Love, Matt, Abby and Lily

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to John and Laurie! (yesterday)

They got married on January 4th of 1997. I hope you two have another great year! We love you!

Matt, Abby, and Lily

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2010

It wasn't until Tuesday that we finally knew our plans for New Years Eve. My parents and sister so graciously agreed to watch Lily that night. We went to Omaha with Chris and Tara to hang out at the boats. We haven't hung out with them, so it was a well deserved evening. :)

The casinos were very busy (not surprising) so it was hard to find a table. We finally got in on a Roulette game, so we stayed there most of the night. Matt and I did not do well, but we had fun. We sat next to a couple from Minnesota, they were nice. She was very lucky and it was fun joking around with them.

Of course we got champagne for the New Year! I can't believe it is 20-10. I called my Dad shortly after to wish them a Happy New Year and for them to give Lily Jo a kiss. Wow, off to another great year!!!

I took this at the Roulette table. Then BAM! a little guy quickly came over and scolded me for taking a picture. He demanded that I delete it, but I just shut it off. He told me that I might see things in the picture that might help me cheat. I told him I wasn't that smart! ha ha! Good picture for the new year though!

Another picture in the casino at the restaurant. I guess we weren't supposed to take this picture either. Geez!!

Well, it was a late night, but we finally spent all our money and headed back. The New Year started with us shopping for a coat for me. I like it a lot. Matt is a good shopping partner. It is so much easier when you aren't carrying a heavy 2 year old that runs and hides every time you put her down. She tires me out!!! ha ha!

We went to Gibbon to eat supper with my parents and Gigi and picked up Lily. I loved that it was only Friday! We could be together for the whole weekend.


Dollhouse!!!!!

Saturday morning, we started in on the 1,000+ piece dollhouse (it seems like that many pieces). Matt painted the outside blue and interior the color of our living room. I picked the hard job of painting all the trim, windows, railings, shutters, flower boxes and more - white. We also have to soak the 800 shingles in stain. Yay, fun!

Matt got the walls all up and onto the foundation. My shutters are in the process of being painted.

Those are the window frames. Can you see that we were trying to build this with a 2 year old that likes to sit on your lap and play with calculators and cabbage patches??

That isn't even all the shingles.

More of it is done!

I will post pictures of the completed dollhouse. I didn't realize it would be this time consuming and tedious. I enjoy it more than Matt. I like puzzles and he doesn't. He would rather sit in a tractor and push snow! Which he is doing right now. Yes, we got a little more snow. Ugh! I am blogging when I should be doing report cards. Well, I have 5 done and 13 more to go. Not bad, huh?

I hope everyone is off to a great 2010!!!! My vacation is over soon, so my countdown has started for spring break! ha ha!

Toodles!

Christmas at home

Since we are finally home, Lily gets to play in the snow and see what Santa brought her.

The drifts in G.I. are huge.

She didn't know what to think.

Santa came to town!!!

One of her favorite gifts. The Hamster!

Backyardigans!

What is under here??

A doll house! It will take some time and love from Daddy to put it together, but I am excited to see Lily play with it. I always loved playing with one at a friend's house when I was younger.

Boots like Mommy!

She loves this cartoon!

Widdowson Christmas

White Christmas

Matt, Lily, and I went out to Mom and Dad's new house (down south) on Wednesday. We ate Matt's chili and Eliza's cheese soup, then Matt headed back to G.I. to push snow. The big snow storm had moved in!

Day #1

The Elsbury's, Ferzely's, and Widdowson's were all there. The house didn't seem as crowded now that we have more space. The kids had so much fun running up and down the stairs and all around. Again, Matt and I brought the Wii, so the kids played that upstairs. Lily spent a lot of time in her jammies. She liked to snuggle up and sleep next to someone, then she would get her second wind.

Gma and Gpa!

The Mommies and 2 year olds.

Day #2 Christmas Eve

Matt was still in GI, pushing snow. He came in the afternoon. It was really windy out which was making it really hard to see. They cancelled the Christmas Eve church service.

sleeping again.

We had played Bingo (I bought the prizes this year). It was fun and I think I did a good job. There was some $ prizes too. We then got ready for the kids to open gifts. They were so anxious.

Excited!

Cabbage Patch from Aunt Gigi

Lily and Sydney got shopping carts from Gma and Gpa.

Aww, more cousinly love.

Aunt Eliza got a piano from Mom and Dad.

Who are the tired ones in this picture?? After we ate supper, the adults are ready to open gifts.

We are so blessed to spend this time together. It is so fun to give. I got so many great gifts, thank you family! I am now styling with 6 pairs of shoes. ha ha! I think I should take that as a hint that I have terrible shoes. :)

Day #3 Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes it is still blizzarding out. Matt had to leave on Christmas day to go push snow in GI again. Lily and I stayed to celebrate Christmas. Santa came for the Ferzely's and Widdowson's. Santa went to GI for Lily, but she didn't care. :)

We just lounged around all day. John and Laurie were contemplating going to SD, but the roads were closed. Scott and Eliza didn't want to chance it either. So, we were all in for another day.

Lily ate so much candy and goodies, that I am surprised she didn't get a tummy ache.

Don't we look great.

Good lookin' outfit Lily! (from Gigi)




Lily and Sydney are so much fun to watch.

Playing the Wii!

Cheese!!!!!!! ( cabin fever!!)

Lily trying to ride Syd's back. :)

This works better.

Mav and the girls.

That night us girls and Dad started a Nerts (spelling) game. What else were we to do?? ha ha! It was either sleep, eat, or play a game.

Day #4

John and Laurie decided to leave on this morning. The roads were still unsafe, but they went slow and finally made it. We lounged around again. Matt was still pushing snow. Poor guy! I don't know how he does it. We kinda packed up our things, to only stay all afternoon again. Scott and Eliza still couldn't go because I-80 was closed. That evening, we had to get out. They all took me and Lily to GI and went out to eat with Matt at Whiskey Creek. Ahhhhh, finally home.

Although we were tired of being stuck inside, it was wonderful to be with family over the holidays. A lot of people were away from their families during this time, but we were lucky. I just wish Matt could have been with us more.

I hope everyone was able to have or will have a Merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!