Mom's meager review of Christmas 2013

Christmas Season has rolled in and over us now but we are thankful that other than a few near falls, we made it through in fine fashion.  With only a few weeks after the Minnesota trip to get ready for Christmas around here, it was a bit of a challenge trying to get our meager decorations up, shop for 8 others, and work 2-3 days each week.  Although I do prefer to see and touch what I am buying, I took the plunge many times this Christmas and purchased quite a few gifts online.  To put that into perspective, I had my credit card memorized and was becoming very good at the online shopping techniques by the time I was done! ...I don't think Chuck was too impressed by that.

It has been an adjustment having Stephanie out of the house so I am slowly adjusting to this change.  I am realizing that with no other females in the house, either the boys need to get out of their comfort zone and do a little work around the house or their mother is going to be sitting in an institution blankly staring at them with a glazed over look real soon!  I have to admit it has gotten better in the past few weeks with them being home over break.  It will just take a little more 'encouragement' (or nagging- as they call it) to form some good habits.  :-)

As I reflect on the Christmas vacation, it gives me such a warm feeling of being blessed beyond measure.  I have all of my boys around me, actually playing games with each other and enjoying each others company.  It doesn't seem so long ago that the Christmas break was a stressful time of trying to keep my head above water and looking forward to the day they would head back to school.  Chaos to the nth degree was how I remember it.  Now, we spent many evenings playing games, talking, enjoying family time and, of course, indulging in - what my boys think is the most important part - the unending goodies, sweets, and snacks that are all around us this time of year.  It is always an added bonus when we see Matt and Stephanie come in the door to spend their evening with us. For the most part, there was little to no major arguing (with the exception of what game to play) and I felt the Peace and Joy of the Christmas Season! (Something that I missed among the chaos in earlier years) I feel blessed to be in this stage of life and would like to hold on to these moments for a long time.

We are looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store for us in 2014!

The following are some photos of what we did over the past month or so...not necessarily in chronological order but uploaded nonetheless.  I am just pleased that I managed to update the blog at all...:-).

Another Contest for the boys: Who can eat a bowl of popcorn the fastest without using your hands?!
Winner: Jonathan 

Awwwww!!!...Justin, Jesse, Jonathan & Travis found bears just their size!

Tony and Chuck relaxing by the fire...

Schmidgall cousins - playing games.  Can we fit one more around that round table??

My washing machine broke down right before Christmas break...so Chuck and I spent a couple "date nights" at this laundromat doing laundry. 

The boys decorating sugar cookies.  Putting their "special touches" on each one.

CREME BRULEE!!
 My first attempt at creme brulee was a success!  We ate this for dessert
after our Christmas meal!  Mmmmmm...it was delicious!

Opening gifts....Nice ties, Matt!

Massner Family Band - evening performance

ICE HOCKEY ARENA!!!

Getting ready for some skating action at Matt and Stephanie's pond!  So much fun!

Justin performs in a brass quintet at the Nursing home. (He's the tuba on the left)

Aside from the Wedding

What? We can stop and think about something besides the wedding again? Yes, it is finally possible. This post consists of a bunch of pictures to catch up on our lives outside of the W-E-D-D-I-N-G, now that the house can breathe again and Christmas is making its entry. 

The first thing I see on the camera is the circus. This was the Massner family's getaway the Saturday after the wedding while Matt & I were on our honeymoon. It appears that they had a wonderful time without us.

We got back from our honeymoon in time to celebrate Jonathan's 16th birthday. He can drive now and Mom loves having someone to run people around for her!

I feel like all of our pictures at Mom & Dad's are on this couch...err, love seat.

According to the candles, Johnny is only eight years old. He tries to act that age, but we know better.

We got a very small snowfall earlier in November! Fortunately it melted before it could do too much harm.

We went up to Minnesota for several days to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Schmidgall family.

We played instruments at the Knobloch house Thursday afternoon. 

Thursday evening at Rob & Kathryn's

Playing games!

The newlyweds...Matt seems a lot more sure of himself in front of the camera than me.

Aunt Camera Wars

Encore!!

We went to the nursing home to sing for Grandma on Friday. 

Grandma and the girls

Grandma and the boys

Bowling Friday evening after eating at Pizza Ranch

The boys were very interactive in their game selection Friday night. 

So were the girls.

We went to the Hancock gym and played a two-hour game of basketball. 

Christmas at Bruce & Penny's Saturday evening.

I hope the poor guy passed his initiation...he probably didn't make a good impression when he stole a gift from Uncle Mark. 

...and here comes Christmas! :) Hope all is well!

The Wedding

I have finally managed to share several of our wedding pictures (yes, it's been over a month!). Twas a wonderful weekend full of many blessings and memories, and life is starting to return to a new normal at Mom & Dad's as Matt and I get settled into our new home. For more wedding photos and further ramblings of Stephanie in the future, please visit Matt & Stephanie's blog at msschulz.blogspot.com.

There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

The day has come! Yesterday was the time to be born, the time to grow and learn, the time to begin my walk with the Lord. Today is the time to be married and become one in the Lord with my groom. Let us cherish the moments we have together today as they will soon become our memories from yesterday, and let us always remember to put our faith in God, for He IS the one who holds tomorrow!

We appreciate the love, prayers, and support as we make this new beginning together in marriage.

The Day Draweth Near

Just when you thought you would not hear from her again until after the wedding...Stephanie posts again.

The best words I heard all day came from my mother: "I'm almost starting to feel like I can start relaxing a little now." She probably didn't want to be quoted on that, but it is good to hear that she is at least thinking about starting to relax a little.

The last time I wrote, we had just finished sending out our invitations for the wedding. We are now on the final stretch: only five days of engaged life remain. Things are starting to fall into place. We finished all of our showers in one week, the house is pretty much ready for its two future inhabitants, the wedding and reception are coming together, the honeymoon is planned, the dresses are done, and the marriage license is sitting on my dresser waiting for a few signatures. Everything is perfectly under control. All that I am missing are five days.

My mother will probably keel over when she reads what I just wrote. But she is really and truly the best mom ever.

Church Shower 

Shower Committee 

Our diligent gift bearers kept us moving. 

Erika had my personal shower...take note of the power line centerpieces. 

Figuring out how to make chocolate chip cookies! 

Billy thought we should study his textbook to make sure the chemistry was right between us... :) [*nerds*]