IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

I can't believe the holiday season is upon us. It seems like we just celebrated Christmas 2010 and now we are quickly approaching Christmas 2011. I guess when you keep busy time flies by!

• Allie continues to take piano lessons at UNI. She is doing a nice job. She participated in a "studio session" one Friday evening where she gathered with other UNI piano students and they all played the songs that they've learned. She also has a recital in December and is working hard on her songs for the recital.
• Football ended for Jake. His last game was a close one and they ended up winning in the last 2 minutes of the game. Jake had a great catch for a 1st down that helped them win the game. It was a fun one to watch.
• Kim, Michael & the kids came for a visit and to watch Jake play football in the Dome. It was fun hanging out with the kids, they are so good.
• I am still taking my sign language class. I'm learning quite a lot and teaching one of my students some words. Jake has to attend with me every once in awhile and he's picking up on some signs too.
• The kids are done with their Wednesday religion classes until after New Year's. They still love going. Jake's group played "Fear Factor" the other night and had to consume some gross foods.
• Jake went to a Lock In at church. He stayed up way too late, played games, ate tons of junk food, watched movies and swam. He had a great time.
• Allie is still going to UNICC. They are preparing for their December concert. I haven't been able to be at many rehearsals so I'm anxious to hear them at their concert.
• We went to several Cedar Falls football games this year and followed them through the playoffs. Scott even took Jake and a bunch of boys to Cedar Rapids to watch them win during the playoffs. He said it was loud and cold.
• My friend Luke had a scavenger hunt Halloween party. It was tons of fun and felt good to get out with friends.
• Jake started basketball for the season. There were a lot of kids that went out this year, so there were 4 teams formed, rather than 3. There was a bunch of shifting to make sure that all of the teams were fair as far as ability goes, so Jake didn't get to be on the same team he's been on the past few years. He was disappointed, but is doing great on his new team. Once the Tiger tournament is over in January, there could be some shifting of teams again, as kids decide not to continue, so we will see how that all plays out.
• We celebrated Halloween. Allie brought her friends Skylar and Morgan home with her and they trick or treated around our neighborhood with no adults. Jake handed out candy with some friends and then ran around the neighborhood.
• I worked a shift at the PTA book fair.
• Allie had a Brownie meeting. She excited to sell Girl Scout cookies again this year.
• The kids had great conferences this year. Allie had all A's and 1 B. Jake had all A's and 1 B as well. I am really proud of how smart my kids are!
• The kids had dentist appointments. No cavities! Yay!
• I have attended a couple of Professional Development Days through work.
• Jake started a pitching/hitting clinic at Wartburg College. He is enjoying it.
• Scott and I went to a wedding reception for one of Scott's co-workers.
• Allie helped me bake a lot of holiday cookies and treats.
• Jake slept over at Parker's and Ben's house. He also went to 2 different UNI football games with Nick and Nicholas. He went to a UNI women's basketball game with some of his former basketball teammates and had fun messing around with them.
• Allie attended Sturgis Youth Theatre at UNI. They did "Play in a Day". She loved being a part of the DRAMA! Go figure!
• Jake had safety patrol for a week.
• Jake had his vocal music concert for school. It was a pirate play and he didn't like it at all. He is my sporty kid, Allie is my drama kid.
• Allie and I got all of our Christmas trees up. We got rid of the big one and went for 10 smaller, skinny ones throughout the main level. We both love it!
• Jake had his first basketball tournament of the season. They lost 2 and won 1 game. Jake looked really good. He played super hard. Took shots and made some. Rebounded well and had a couple of steals. I was proud of him.
• Allie had friends eat lunch with her in my room. I won a silent auction basket and the secretary bought the lunch and goodie bags.

Coming up: basketball practice, Thanksgiving, Allie has 2 birthday parties to attend, Black Friday shopping and family time!

Jake receiving a handoff

Jake after a great catch
Allie & Drew at a football gameMorgan, Allie & Skylar ready to trick or treat

Allie with her pumpkin

Hansen staff on Halloween

Allie helping me with the holiday baking

Jake & friends on Halloween (he's in the back on the right)

Allie putting on a ornament

Jake putting on his one & only ornament

Jake with his eye patch at the concert

Allie at drama class

Abbie, Morgan, Skylar, Allie at their special luncheon

Jake dribbling the ball
Jake shooting the ball

Jake shooting a free throw #40

FAMILY PICTURES

Here are some of my favorite pictures that were taken a few weeks ago by my friend Bailey of Bailey King Photography (check out her website).

HALFWAY THROUGH OCTOBER!

Where has the time gone? It's already half way through October. Fall will be over & the snow will be falling before we know what hit us. Here's the recap of the last 2 months:

• Jake has had football practice 4 nights a week. He loves football this year and went from insisting that he would run cross country next year in Jr. High to he's playing football next year. We don't care what he does as long as he wants to do it!


• We've attended every home Cedar Falls Tigers football game this year. Our CF Tigers are undefeated and so much fun to watch in the warm UNI Dome! I love that our high school team plays indoor football.


• I started a new job at school. I no longer work one on one with a student, instead I assist the grade 4 special ed teacher. I teach small groups math, writing and reading. I have 14 kids on my roster plus a couple others that I help when I have time. I love the new challenge.


• Allie had 2 doctor appointments for the planter's wart on her foot. The stubborn things has gone away...for now...


• Jacob has had 5 football games. They have won 2 games and lost 3. Jake is having an amazing season. He scored a TD, has rushed for some yards, had several tackles and even a big QB sack. He has 1 last game to go.


• Allie had her birthday party at the UNI pool. She invited every girl in the 4th grade. She had a great turn out & enjoyed the day.


• I'm the Treasurer for my local work union. I attended a meeting and enjoyed meeting some new people and seeing some co-workers from other buildings as well.


• My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Love them!


• The kids and I saw "Blue Man Group". What a great show. We would all go see it again without having to think twice about it.


• Allie went to her friend's Gunnar, Riley and Austin's birthday parties. All of them had pool parties on different days.


• We bought a keyboard for Allie to start taking piano lessons on. She takes them once a week at the UNI School of Music.


• I attended 2 PTA meetings and 1 Room Parent Meeting. I am helping to co-chair Spirit Sales, our annual school apparel sale.


• The kids started WOW (Worship on Wednesday) and JUMP 56 (Jesus Use Me Please 5th & 6th grade) at a different church this year. Both are really enjoying the programs and look forward to going each week. I even caught Jake reading his Bible the other morning! I asked why & he said that at JUMP, they say Bible verses and he thinks that they might be some pretty important words so he wanted to see more. WOW!


• My friend ran for the CF school board and won. Yay Jenny!


• UNI Children's Choir started back up for Allie. Once again she loves it!


• Mandy & the kids came for a visit and to see Jake play football. The kids had so much fun playing together. I love my family.


• We went to 2 UNI home football games and tailgated with friends. I love, love, love UNI football and would love season tickets next year. We'll see!


• We got our family pictures taken. I'll post my favorites from that session later.


• Jake went on a field trip to the wetlands and another field trip to an air show.


• Jake and his friend ran the Pink Ribbon 5k. He stuck by his friend, who was running his first 5k, and got a time of a little over 25 minutes. He wasn't thrilled with his time since he thinks he could have run at a faster pace. He got 4th in his age group.


• Allie spent the night at her friend Sky's house and Jake spent the night at Paul's after the annual Hansen carnival. Scott and I went out for appetizers and drinks alone for once!


• Jake had safety patrol for a week. A parent stopped me to tell me that he is very kind to her 2nd grader and always tells the kids have a great day when they cross. He's such a kind kid.


• Allie and I got our hair cut by my friend Sheryl, who just went back to cutting hair. I love the new color & cut that I got.


• Tiger basketball practice has started. Teams will be formed in the next few weeks.


• I started a night class learning sign language. I'm pretty excited to learn how to speak to one of our kiddos who has limited speech.


• I went to the UNI craft show with friends and then took our daughters to see Footloose. What an awesome day.


• I went to DeWitt to see my niece Maddie play soccer. We spent the afternoon with all of my nieces and nephews. Jake wrestled non stop with the boys and Allie entertained the girls. We had a great day trip with my family. I sure miss them.
  

Coming up! Michael, Kim & the kids visit, Jake plays his last football game, Brownies starts for Allie, Jake is attending a Lock In at church, piano, basketball, football, baseball clinics, UNICC, night class, WOW/JUMP 56 and much, much more.

Jake wrestling with his little cousins Ben & Drew.

Pretty Delaney

The Fischer girls...Maddie, Allie, Kylee, Delaney

Our new rock.

Allie & her new keyboard

Makenna, Lauryn & Allie at UNI's Homecoming

Tailgating fun. Makenna, Allie, Lauren & Cathi

Work friends. Renee, Me, Ali & Cathi

Jake, Tanner & Mason at the UNI game

Lauren & Allie at the UNI game

Allie & Mrs. Dickens on red, white & blue day

Allie giving her speech for Student Council Treasurer

Jake & Paul running a Pink Ribbon 5k

Jake (44) handing the ball off

Before the game (Jake is 44)

Allie & friend Mason with the UNI dance team while we were tailgating.

Jake, Jordyn, Allie, Will & Paul after seeing Blue Man Group

Allie & friends at her birthday party

Parker, Ben, Jake & Paul after an early morning scrimmage

Jake's football team (44)

Finally
Yep, I am finally posting pictures from our family trip to the Ozarks in July. We spent almost a week at the same house we went to last year. My whole family was there and it was great to spend time with my siblings, nieces, nephews and parents. What fun!



Jake fishing

Allie after a dip in the lake.

Jake & Allie

A paddle boat ride with Nana & the cousins.

I love my sister

Me & Scott

Me and Jake

Allie & Scott

Allie, Jake & Capn Morgan

Maddie's first time tubing

Allie on a tube

Dinner at Jolly Rogers

Jake

My family

One big happy family

Jake

Allie sliding into the lake

Cousins: Drew, Kylee, Allie, Maddie, Ben, Delaney, Jake

Allie's 10th birthday celebration at the lake.

Jake & Ben with a fish

Jake & Allie

My sistas Mandy, Me, Tesha & Kim

Mini golf at Coconuts

My kids on the dock