A Busy Weekend

The weekend started off with Randy's work Christmas party on Friday night. The kids got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Sabelka and Jodi. Yesterday, we cleaned house, made a birthday cake for my mom (Whose bday was Friday), and then after lunch Eryn and I headed to school for Cabin Fever. Nolan really wanted to go too, but was too tired and ended up falling asleep right before we left! Eryn had a great time. She made a bracelet, played on the different blow up slides and jungle gyms, and the cookie walk! She also did some dancing! She and her friend MiKenna had a blast! It was hard to get her away from all the fun. I also had a few questions about the cookies Jodi and I made for cabin fever.... I take that as a good sign!

After that, Eryn and I headed to Walmart to get a few things for the week. Last night the kids had Conner and Carson over with Amber and Abby to babysit while Randy and I went to Straube's for a bean bag tourney. Randy and I were paired up as partners and took 2nd place.

Today we will go to my mom and dad's to celebrate Mom's birthday a couple of days late. I made her favorite cake, Angel Food.

Cookies, cookies, cookies...

Tonight Jodi came over to help decorate cookies for "Cabin Fever" at school this Saturday. The PTO puts this on every year. Last year we took the kids and they had a blast! They had everything from a ball pit, to a cookie walk. This year I made "Monster" cookies and some cut outs. Jodi, Stacy and I have really been seriously thinking about the potential of a business with our cookies, and this may be the kick off we are hoping for. We will have to see! Here are some pics from tonight. Eryn was a real helper putting the labels on each cookie bag.

Hump Day

Thank goodness it is already Wednesday:) I am really anticipating the weekend already. Not a typical week so far, Eryn has actually had 2 full days of school already this week!! Not much to her liking by the way:) She was so getting used to the late starts, early dismissals and no school days!

Last night some of my girlfriends came over to visit and eat (of course!) While the kids had a blast playing, we enjoyed fresh guacamole (yum!), chicken alfredo lasaga (a 'new' recipe I toyed around with) and of course chocolate cake:)

Tonight I need to bake some cookies for the school's Cabin Fever this Saturday. Really looking forward to it! I will post some pics later in the week!

On a side note.,...... only 13 days until I see warmer weather and beaches. YEAH!!!

Mexico Souviners

Mom and dad returned this week from their vaca in Mexico. Mom already had her pictures in the album when we arrived this morning! One of the neat things that they do there is help make and distribute food to the poor. Mom and dad definitely take a different kind of vacation than I would, but I now realize that they gain so much from it from a culture perspective. No vacation would be complete without souviners. My fav has to be Nolan's hat. Dad thought that his two boys (Nolan and Keegan) needed a hat just like grandpa. So cute!! Eryn and I got a couple of really neat braclets too.

A Busy Saturday

On Saturday we did a lot of odds and ends jobs around the house. I cleaned, and Randy took the car and changed the oil. When we were done with that, we all went to Calmar to Shirley and Roxy's house. BTW, Shirley turned the big 5-0 on Friday:)

I helped Shirley and Roxy get some things ready to scrapbook while the kids enjoyed playing the Wii, and Randy did a couple of fix it tasks. Shirley made an awesome lunch of spaghetti and garlic bread. It was fantastic:) Then we headed home for naps, and then Eryn and I ran to Walmart to get a few things. When we got home, both boys were sleeping! We made a supper of steak, mashed red potatoes and spaghetti squash. Jodi came over to hang out with us too! Grandma and Grandpa Sabelka stopped after church to visit.

Yesterday the kids and I ran some errands in Decorah and went to the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie! What a cute movie:) Last night we went with Lana and Erv to the OWI for supper. It was yummy! Then back home to watch some football...

I found out on Friday that I did have pinkeye; so $76 later (plus an hour wait at the pharmacy), I have the antibiotics to clear it up! good thing, because yesterday morning the other eye was infected! To top it all off, I think I broke my little toe yesterday morning. Haven't had the best of luck this week, but it could always be worse!!

This morning I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. The kids are geared up for the Cowboys game at noon, can't wait! Randy is on call this weekend, so he is working this morning. I think I will bake some cookies and get some of my homework done before the game starts!

We wish Jodi the best of luck tomorrow with her surgery. We love you!!

Mom and Dad will be traveling back from vaca tomorrow, so I hope they have a safe return home! Chris and Lacy leave for their honeymoon on Wednesday. Hard to tell who is coming and going:) Randy and I leave for Florida in 24 days. Super excited!!!!!!!

My Fav Lunch Date

Today I had lunch with my Grandma (Carolan). We have lunch together every couple of weeks or so. Right before Christmas Grandma wasn't feeling the best and we missed a lunch date. I was really bummed!! We have been having lunch together for the last 10 years or so. I am sooo fortunate that she only lives 2 blocks from my work!! I am very lucky to be as close to my grandma as I am. We have a great time, and reminisce about Grandpa and all of our other family members. It's a great time to catch up! Today we had lunch at Stonehearth. It's kinda become our fav place to go. It's usually quiet, and not a lot of wait time, so it works well. Today we had Wisconsin cheese soup in a bread bowl. OMG!!! It was sooooo goood! A perfect lunch on a January day!

Grandma also shares her awesome recipes with me; my favorite is her homemade doughnuts. I have been making them for a few years now, but they will never turn out as good as hers!! We used to have them when I was little after Sunday church... oh, the memories!! Thanks Grandma! Love you lots:)

On a sidenote, I think I have pinkeye-- yes pinkeye:( Last week the kids had a "cold" in their eye. This morning I was blessed to wake up with a "mattery" eye; as the day progressed it has gotten worse, so I broke down and called the clinic at 5; can't see the eye dr until tomorrow afternoon, so I am really hoping it gets better by then!!!!

First Report Card!!

Eryn received her first report card today!! I can't believe she is getting old enough to get those:) Not that I was worried about what the report said:) She is doing just fine in Kindergarten!! She is timid and shy at times, but she has made great strides since last year!! Keep up the good work Eryn! We are SO proud of you and love you very much!!

A Day Inside...

BRRRR!!!!! Today the kids and I didn't venture outside at all. It was one of those days where you just wanted to wear your pj's all day.... but we didn't. Actually, Eryn really likes those days, but today her and Nolan decided that they were "hot" (from running round and playing so hard) that they wanted to wear shorts and tshirts, so I let them!!

I got caught up on housework today, did some baking and geared up for another term of class. Oh, so hard to get back in the school mindframe!! This term I am taking abnormal psych, so it will definitely keep my attention!! Tonight I didn't even have to cook; Randy brought us carry outs from the annual church pancake and sausage supper. YUM!!! I could eat breakfast food at ANY time of the day!!

Mom called tonight to tell me about their exciting day. They left for Minneapolis this afternoon to catch their flight to Mexico in the morning. The jeep broke down just outside of Spring Valley, so they froze while they waited for a tow truck. They got to the hotel about 7 tonight, so I really hope the rest of their trip goes better!!!!

Looking forward to a warm up this week.... I didn't think I would say that 25 degrees was warm but after the past couple of weeks it will sure feel good!!

Cabin Fever

Gotta love Iowa winters! The kids got back to school on Tuesday, only to have not one, but two snow days this week! I think Eryn may be going to school all summer at this rate! The cold weather has kept the kids inside too, so they have both been rather hyper! Nolan even got up at 230 in the am on Wednesday. He marched up to our room and said "i'm not tired." Needless to say, he didn't go back to sleep, and hasn't seemed to skip a beat since!!

The kids and I went to my parent's last night to visit. They are leaving on Sunday for a well deserved and long-awaited vaca to Mexico. I am rather jealous of them since they are leaving when it is sooooo cold, but my time to bask in the sun will soon arrive:)

On Saturday Eryn and I will be taking a shopping trip with my sister in laws to Rochester, and Nolan will be hanging out with Grandma Doris and cousin Landon. School starts again on Monday, so I will have to enjoy my freedom from the textbook (and computer) while I can!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Happy Birthday to the New Year's Baby!! Dad is looking forward to a week from today when him and mom take off on vaca to Mexico, where the weather is definitely warmer!! As I do every year, I made dad a chocolate cake to help him celebrate:) Happy Birthday dad! We love you!!!

Build A Bear

Eryn really wanted a "build a bear" for Christmas, and she received one from her Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jeremy. She didn't waste any time asking Grandma to put her sewing skills to the test to help her put it together. By Christmas night, it was assembled and only needed the final touches. Eryn and I worked on it the next day, and here is the end result!

Umm Umm Good!

Both kids LOVE chocolate (not sure where they got that from:) so when I am baking anything chocolate, they must be able to sniff it out because it's not long before they are pulling up a chair to the counter to "help" mom:) This time it was Nolan's turn.....

Merry Christmas Part 4

We had our fourth and final Christmas celebration last night on the Hackman side. It was great to see everyone:) Grandma and Grandpa gave each grandchild a handmade quilt-- they are all so beautiful!! Thanks Grandma:) The kids enjoyed playing together and also getting some nice gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Hackman. As always the food was amazing!! The night went by way too fast! Happy New Year!!