Happy 13th Birthday Abby!

Abby, you are officially a teenager this year. I'm not sure we are ready for that but if I had to predict things, I would say that you are going to be a pretty easy teenager. You have a laid-back personality and are as sweet as can be. You are a people pleaser and that can be both a curse and a blessing. As you have gotten older you have enjoyed the solace of your room and spend a lot of time in there. You like watching TV and chatting with friends from the comfort of your bed and fuzzy blankets. You love hanging out with your friends too and you seem to enjoy school even if seeing friends is the main reason. You are a good student, but you are a procrastinator to the max! You are forever completing your 3 reading books for the quarter the last 3 weeks of the quarter or doing homework Sunday night. We don't hassle you too much about this because you maintain great grades and your teachers have nothing but great things to say about you. You are doing NE One club volleyball and that has kept you busy along with 3 dance classes this year. You like to be busy but then when you get home you like your peace and quiet. You are still incredibly patient and nice to Emmy. There are more moments as you have grown up that you get annoyed with her getting into your stuff or wanting to do exactly what you do, but for the most part you are wonderful to her. You also possess patience that your dad and I do not have. Sometimes, when we are at the end of our rope with Emmy you take her aside and handle it. You have also started to babysit occasionally, and the kids love you! You enjoy crafts and have a knack for creativity. I'm not sure where you got it from. Your very favorite place to eat is Chick Fil A mostly because it is one of the few places that you can eat the fries. Your favorite snack is Cherry On Top ice-cream, so that is where you usually pick to go for your birthday. You are getting really tall and will probably pass me up at some point. Just as long as you don't pass Bryce up because that would be a rough day in our house. 

Happy Birthday Abby! We Love You!

Attempting to skate at the Breslow Hockey Rink

 

Show Choir Competition in Johnston, IA

I have really enjoyed watching the boys perform in show choir! They had a competition in Johnston, IA and Kristi Kuebler and I decided to go. We got a hotel room and got to get away for the weekend too. The Norris show choirs did a great job. This competition and this school were huge and impressive. The school itself looked more like a college. They had some really fun groups to watch although a lot of the Iowa groups were more theatrical than the typical show choir. The boys had fun getting to go on the bus and spend the night there. I went in their room as we were checking out and it was chaos. I feel bad for the hotel staff that had a ton of kid rooms to clean later. 

 

Team Snow Dog or Team Couch Dog

January started off cold and snowy. Scout and I stayed on the couch bundled up reading a book while Robb and the kids got all dressed up in winter gear to go sledding behind the 4-wheeler. Robb is so much more fun than me! But I am happy right here where it is warm and cozy.

Scout is team Couch Dog all the way.

Lucy is team snow dog all the way! She loves playing in the snow!

 

Welcome to 2022

 Welcome to 2022. As I have found out the last couple years, you never really know what is around the corner or what is coming up. Sometimes, you just have to take it a day at a time and go from there. The last couple of years have brought challenges that no one would have predicted like Covid 19 and losing loved ones. You realize how important family is and that you are stronger than you ever thought you could be. As we step into the new year, help us to remember that every day is a gift, and you can never have that back. I want to be a more thankful person and be present with the people that matter most. 

Cheers to whatever comes next!