We're Still Here!

Janelle tells me it's time to do another entry on this blog. I guess it has been a while. Our nephew Clint Larson married Jen Stewart the end of November. Charlen fell and cut the back of her head a couple of hours before the wedding, so she and Wayne headed to the hospital instead of taking Mom to Cedar Rapids. Thanks to Galen and Mary Jo for coming to our rescue and taking Mom to the wedding instead.

During November and December, each time the four older grandchildren were here, we worked on the farm book we were making for Bruce. We made it on the computer using a Creative Memories program. It took tons of hours of work. The grands thought it was a great surprise for their dad. Unfortunately, we didn't get it ordered in time to be here for Christmas, so here they are looking at in online.

Doug and Janelle came to Illinois for a week over Christmas. We picked them up in Peoria on Christmas Eve. Their one checked-in suitcase didn't show up, but they had enough clothes in their carry-on bag to get by for a day or so. You would think they have been through this before or something. We ate at Olive Garden and then went to AC Skylines to visit Doug's mom and grandma before coming home. Amazingly, United had delivered their suitcase when we got home from church on Christmas Day! When they flew back on New Year's Day, it was foggy in San Diego and they were told they might need to land in LA. Thankfully, they were able to land in SD after all.

Looking at Doug and Janelle's pictures from their weekend trip to San Francisco with his brother John.

Here is Andrew with his new Thomas the Train outfit which he then wore for the next how many hours? We also gave him "boy flannel sheets" for his bed. He was easy to buy for this year!

Graypa is certainly excited about Christmas Day!!

The day after Christmas, we hosted the Endress family here for Keith. He provided the pizza. Andrea and Brittany didn't show up, Joan had to work, and of course Lewis and Judy and Matt and Emily didn't come from Florida for the big event.

We went to Iowa to see Grandma Schrock one day between Christmas and New Year's. Cathy made us a delicious noon meal. Grandma had the flu the day before, but she recovered quickly and enjoyed the day.

Julia Ruth born Nov 12, 2008

I took the grands home last evening at suppertime along with pizza for their meal. Bruce & Liz had gotten home in the late afternoon. It was all I could do to hold them off that long, as they were anxious to get home to little Julia! Carol Klop was going to arrive after supper to stay a few days.


They got here Wed afternoon when B & L headed to Moline to the hosp. We talked to Bruce around 8:30 that evening and not much was happening, but they gave Liz pitocin and an epidural at the same time about then. The children had a hard time settling down that night, and it was pretty late by the time they were finally sleeping.

I had told Bruce to call me as I would be awake several times during the night wondering how things were going. I couldn't believe it when I heard my cell phone ringing at 11:20, and he said the baby had been born. That was fast progress!

The next morning, the children didn't ask me if I knew anything so I didn't tell them. Then they said surely their parents would be calling soon, and then they asked if they had called yet. I said, "Not this morning." So they caught on, but my lips were sealed! Bruce called while we were eating waffles and we put it on speaker phone so they could all hear at once. The girls said "YES" when they heard it was a girl!

Then the grands & I got ready and headed to Moline to view the new little princess! We got there late morning, stayed a while, then went to Fazoli's to eat lunch, and then went back to the hosp for another brief visit. Everyone went to bed earlier Thurs night, and settled down much better. Plus they slept later the next morning.

They were quite well-behaved while they were here and left the place in better shape than when they arrived! They pitched in after meals without too much prodding, as they are used to helping. They each folded their own laundry except for Andrew. And they helped me put on the clean sheets after we washed the beds they slept in.

Julia Ruth will not be lacking for caregivers!! She did have good timing as to her arrival, since they haven't been able to be in the field since Tuesday late morning. She was about one week early. Andrew referred to himself several times as "the big brother." Sometimes, the younger ones would forget what the baby's name was now that there is a name and a known identity.

Back in School Again!

I am taking a class at BHE at the new Kewanee building. The first three classes are Tech Savvy classes, and then we have six sessions on writing our memoirs. Today we learned how to create a blog. This would be a neat idea for Doug & Janelle to use since they live in San Diego.

We had a nice weekend with Doug & Janelle arriving around 1:45 Saturday morning. I had taken the Explorer up to Moline Airport for them to bring to our house. I didn't have much time to go shopping because Michelle Martin called and was ready to leave Moline after supper. I got to eat at Fazoli's for once! I was sad when the Fazoli's in Peoria had closed.

On Saturday, I took food to church for the Sunday evening meal. Then I ate at Heartland Private School where they were having a fundraiser as part of Stark County Fall Festival. Doug & Janelle went to Peoria for the day to see his mom, grandma, and Michelle. His brother John from Atlanta was also in Peoria for the weekend.

Saturday evening, we hosted our immediate family for a supper. We celebrated Andrew's 3rd birthday that evening, even though his birthday wasn't until this coming Monday. Cousin Char made a neat cake with a picture of Andrew and a baby goat on it. We ate "home-raised" chicken for supper. Doug's brother John came up that night and stayed overnight with us.

Sunday after church we went to Steve and Betsy's for a call with Ron & Nancy Schambach and Wayne & Judy Anliker. Then we had a meal at church for the immediate families before Bruce's ordination as our new Elder. Thanks to Karen, Janna, and Eileen for cooking and serving the food. It was a blessed evening with Ron, Wayne, Jim Plattner, and Jon Schmidgall participating. Grandma Schrock came with Jack and Cathy.