CRAZY DAYS!

The past couple of weeks have been crazy! Lots going on & the time flew by! Here's what we've been up to:

• Jake started his second session of indoor soccer. They've lost a game & won 2 games.
• Allie is still enjoying her clay class. She even got to use the potter's wheel.
• Jake is wrapping up basketball. He has a tournament and a few scrimmages in the works. They will probably stop playing at the end of February.
• Allie sold a TON of Girl Scout cookies this year. I believe it ended up being 143 boxes. Way to go.
• Jake started baseball practice last week. They just played a little catch.
• Allie is still working on her tap & ballet routines for her end of the year recital.
• Scott, the kids & I spent last weekend with my family. We had a big Fischer gathering at my uncle's house. We had a nice time. The last time we were all together was at my Grandma's funeral in August.
• Jake went to a birthday party for his friend Kyra. He was the only boy that went. Scott sure teased him!
• We have had several late starts and early outs due to the snow, ice & fog. I'm ready for Spring.
• The kids had playdates one afternoon. Jake had Nick over & Allie had Skylar.
• I took a half day off & went on a field trip with Allie. We went to the UNI museum and studied dinosaurs. It was a fun morning.
• Coming up: PTA meeting, Giving Tree, dance, religion class, Godfather's Fundraiser night, a basketball tournament, basketball practice, indoor soccer game, Jake's vocal concert.
  
  

Allie's class
Skylar, Allie & Katie at the museum
Allie seeing if her foot was as big as a dinosaur's foot
Allie & Kinzie
Jake & Nick
Skylar & Allie
Jake & Allie in their "fort"
Our pretty tree after the fog froze.

SNOWSHOEING & OTHER ACTIVITIES

I spent Thursday with Jake's class snowshoeing a Hartman Reserve. It was a great day! The temp was warm, like 30+ degrees and no wind. We hiked for a little over an hour through the woods. I only fell once, which I think is pretty good since I hadn't ever used snowshoes before! I assumed I'd be sore the following day, but I was able to jump right out of bed.

I had an eventful Friday. My day didn't start out well and progressively got worse. It ended with me at occupational health to be checked out. Long story short, I fell (twice) while helping to escort an unruly student to the principal's office. The kiddo got his legs entangled in mine while we were helping him down the hall & before I knew what happened I was down (let's just say this kid was trying to trip me & succeeded). I hurt my knee (nice bruise), but it was my wrist that sent me to the doc. I had numbness/tingling from my left fingertips to my elbow. It was fortunately just a pinched nerve and it felt normal 24 hours later.

Jake started his 2nd season of indoor soccer. His team won 26-4, so it was a good start to the season. Jake scored a few times and had some great blocks in the goal area. He is still playing basketball and that should wrap up at the beginning of March. He also has baseball practice starting this week. Light practice in the gym, but it will make for a long season since our end of the year tournament isn't until late July.

Allie started an art class on Saturday. She is taking a 6 week clay class. She started a clay bowl last week & will finish it up next week. She told me all about the different methods of using clay after the class. She is also working on learning her new tap routine for her recital in June. She said if they can learn the tap routine, they will work on a ballet number too for the recital. Allie has also started selling Girl Scout cookies. She set a goal of 200 boxes. She was at 80 after the first day of selling. I doubt she'll get to 200, but God bless her for trying! She is thinking about taking an acting class through UNI. I haven't decided if I can take on another activity.

This week: no school Monday, 2 basketball practices, 1 baseball practice, indoor soccer game, art class, dance class, a special ed meeting for me, PJ day at school, playdates for both kiddos here on Thursday & religion class. Welcome to another busy week!

Jake taking a break from snowshoeing
Jake's class (he is on the far left end back)

Jacob & his friend Jakob in the snowshoes.

Jake & classmates (Mason, Tanner, Jake, Adam & Jakob)

JAKE IS 10!

Where did the time go? My first born is 10. It seems like I was just bringing him home from the hospital. I was so unsure of what to expect. I remember the first night home, he slept across the hall from me in his crib. I had a monitor just in case I didn't hear him (across the hall, like 10 steps away). I don't think I slept a wink that night, I heard his every breath & jumped every time something didn't sound right. Things sure do change quickly!

Jake had a party with his friends at the local pool. He had about 30 kids there. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. After the party, we had pizza and cake. A fun evening.

Last week was our first week back to school after break. It took some getting used to after being off for 2 weeks. We had a light week of activities, we did go to our neighbor boy's 4th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's. This week is a bit more hectic with Jake's birthday, snowshoeing with Jake's class, a PTA meeting, 2 basketball practices, an indoor soccer game and an art class for Allie.


Jake with a gift from a friend

Jake & his cake

Jake & his gift from Allie

Jake & his closest friends!

The kids & friend's at Chuck E Cheese's.

Jake & his cousins.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We welcomed in the New Year at home, just the four of us. We grilled a yummy dinner of steaks, cheese potatoes & garlic bread. After dinner, we went our separate ways in the house. The boys went to the basement to play video games & watch football. Allie watched some TV & I read a book. Shortly before midnight, I went to gather the family for a quick Happy New Year before finally going to bed. I went to the basement first & the boys were both asleep with the TV blaring and Allie was cashed out in her room. So, I struggled to stay awake for no reason!


We had a low key New Year's Day. It was freezing outside so we started a big pot of chili & hung out around the house. That evening, we decided to go to the UNI basketball game. We had court side seats & enjoyed the front row view. Allie loved having TC, the UNI mascot, mess with her during the game. He even stole Jake's seat when he ran to the bathroom. A fun night.


Jake had a basketball tournament all day on Sunday. His team took 1st place & Jake had some good games. He looked great in the 2nd game, scoring several points & playing great defense. We were beat when we finally arrived home Sunday night after being gone for about 10 hours.


Winter break is officially over. We went back to school today. I think we were all ready to get back into our routine.

Allie at the UNI game (taken with my cell)

Jake's team with their medals (front: Ben, Joel, Brandon, Nick, Casey Back: AJ, Andrew, Jacob N, Luke & Jacob G)

Happy New Year from my kiddos!

Jake going up for the jump shot (he's number 15)

Allie in her 2010 glasses.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & GOOD-BYE 2009

We had a very nice Christmas at home this year. The weather forecast wasn't good, so my parents & sister didn't make it up this year. Not a big deal since we celebrated with my entire family earlier in December.

Santa brought way too much stuff for the kiddos this year. Seems like every year he brings more & more! We watched several movies and played some new video games on Christmas. We also had a nice brunch and yummy dinner that night. All in all a great day!

Last weekend we went crazy at Best Buy and finally broke down and bought a new TV for the basement & also a Blue Ray player since we were in need of a new DVD player too. Then to top it all off, we bought a new camera. I'm still trying to master all of it's settings, but I am pleased with it so far.

I spent a few days at my parent's house over break. I got to spend time with my parents, brothers, nephews & sister in laws. My niece Maddie was sick, so I wasn't able to hang with her or my sister. We had a nice time and made it back for New Year's Eve dinner with Scott.


Jake & Drew
The boys playing Yahtzee.

Ben & Jake catching snowflakes.

Allie & her snow person named Sarah!

The mess of stuff Santa left.

Jake with his new UNI blanket from Santa.

Allie with her Hannah Montana DVD from Santa (among other stuff).
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The kids leaving cookies for Santa.

Allie with her newly frosted cookies.

CHRISTMAS BREAK!

We are officially on Christmas break. It feels great to have 16 days off. Not a lot planned. My sister, niece, nephew & parents are planning to come visit on Christmas day. We'll go to a family friend's for dinner & fun. Saturday morning the girls will get up and bargain shop while my dad keeps the kids. This is all contingent on the weather cooperating. There is a big storm in the forecast, so I'm not sure it will happen.

Last week was a rough week at school. The kiddos were pretty active and many misbehaved. I was beat from dealing with behavior problems. On the flip side, I do love being at school & seeing the excitement of the holiday season through the eyes of the kids. It is so cool. The kids enjoyed their holiday parties at school. I was able to "pop in" to both parties for a few minutes while a co-worker hung out in my classroom. That is one of the benefits of working in the school.

Jake played in his last indoor soccer game. They won, which was a great way to end. He is still deciding if he'll play the 2nd season which begins again in mid-January. He also had basketball practice and his team scrimmaged a 7th grade girl's basketball team. They lost, but he said it was tons of fun.

Allie had her last tap/ballet class of the year. She is on break until after the New Year. I have her signed up for a pottery class that starts in mid-January. She can hardly wait. Art is definitely her "thing".

A couple of weeks ago, we found out Jake wasn't doing so well in school. Long story short, he was being lazy and let his grades slip. After a grounding, much talking and the decision that he would do better, he has. He is back to the old Jake bringing home mostly 100% on tests and assignments and nothing lower than a 90%. He is a smart kid, just apparently needed to be reminded that being lazy isn't acceptable. Oh & we explained to him that sports were a luxury that would be taken away if his grades weren't where they needed to be...maybe that was the reason things changed.

We made a flying to trip to visit Scott's family for a Christmas celebration. It was wonderful to see Scott's sisters and their families from Kansas City and Texas. We don't see them nearly as often as we'd like. We had to leave earlier than expected, so we weren't able to visit his aunt or his grandmother like we had hoped or get any photos taken.

I'm finally done with my Christmas shopping. I had a hard time this year getting it done with working and the kid's busy schedule. Allie was easier since Jake no longer believes in Santa. I was able to have him with me when I got her stuff. The hard part was getting Jake's Santa gifts with Allie along since she still believes.

This week brings: frosting Christmas cookies, making some homemade ornaments for our tree, making appetizers for Christmas Eve, Jake has basketball practice, we have dinner plans with friends, take down Christmas decorations, clean/organize and of course some bargain shopping after Christmas.

ONE CHRISTMAS DOWN

My family spent the weekend here for our Christmas celebration. It was the only weekend in December that we could all be together, so we ran with it. We had a wonderful time. There was tons of food, plenty of laughs & lots of presents. The house seems too quiet tonight!

Other news:

• Jake lost his first indoor soccer game of the season. He was thrilled that Papa & Uncle Michael got to see him play. Michael also made it for the tail end of his basketball practice, so he loved that!
• Allie had her Christmas ballet recital. She danced to Holly & Ivy. She didn't love her costume. In fact, she initially said that she REFUSED to wear the skirt. It was ugly, too short & made out of yarn! She loved that Nana, Mandy, Kim, Tesha & I all got to see her performance. Everyone cheered for her when she got into the car. She loves that kind of attention.
• We had a blizzard here mid-week. We got 14.5 inches of snow, lots of wind, blowing & drifting snow & cold. We got out of school early on Tuesday & didn't go back 'til Friday. I got lots done to prepare for my family's arrival.
• Next week brings: basketball practice, brownie meeting, class holiday parties, volunteering in Allie's class, indoor soccer game & hopefully I can finish up a few things around here!

Maddie, Jake, Allie & Ben in the snow. Drew slept through this fun!
Allie in her dance outfit

The vest club! Tesha, Allie & Maddie

My family!

Ben, Allie, Jake

Maddie, Mandy, Mom, Tesha, Kim, Drew & Me

Mike, Dad, Scott, Michael & Will

Jake at his indoor soccer game.

WELCOME HOLIDAY SEASON

Here's what we've been up to:

• We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day here at home, just the 4 of us. We had a delicious meal and some great family time. Allie & I got the Christmas decorations out too.
• Black Friday was a success. The kids and I got up early and went to visit my family. The cousins all played together while the girls shopped til we dropped!
• Allie & my mom made cut out sugar cookies together over Thanksgiving weekend. We got to take some home with us.
• I had a school safety meeting before Thanksgiving. We learned a lot about keeping the kiddos safe.
• Allie got a new bed. It was my mom's bed from when she was little. She loves it.
• Jake played in another ball tournament. His team won in his bracket. They looked great and came home with medals to boot!
• Allie has one more week of practice at dance before her big performance.
• Allie went on a playdate with her friend Hannah. They went to Chuck E Cheese's and had a wonderful time.
• Jake went to the ISU/UNI game last week. It was a great game & UNI won.
• Allie made her first confession. She was excited to go to confession and told me she felt great after it was over.
• It's official, my brother and his wife are expecting baby number 2 in late May or early June. We couldn't be happier to welcome another Fischer into our expanding family.
• I had a PTA meeting and our budget is officially set and approved for the upcoming year.
• Coming up: UNI/Iowa game, 2 basketball practices, indoor soccer game, Allie's rehearsal & recital, & my family is coming up for the weekend to celebrate Christmas early.

grandchild/son/daughter tree


mom/sister and family tree

our big tree with ornaments from my childhood and ornaments that the kiddos made

my Santa collection

Wizard of Oz tree

my new skinny tree that holds my Hallmark ornaments

Allie in her new bed that was nana's

Ben, Jake, Allie & Maddie watching a mean DS game

Allie making cut out cookies

Jake, Maddie, Ben & Allie waiting for papa to make floats

Cousins

Jake decoratings

Allie

Allie putting the lights on my tree

Jake & his team with their medals (front: Tate middle: Adam, Jacob, Brandon, Casey & Nick back: Ben, Jake, Andrew, AJ