Christmas Eve Fun

Great Grandma Margaret and Great Grandpa Donald sent (spoiler alert!) all of our grandkids cute stuffed animals wrapped around soft fleece blankets. Hannah devised a scavenger hunt, starting with a clue that lead the gang to Chloe's prize, and working up kid by kid. Each clue was a little trickier, based on that child's age. Sam's was in a place Harry Potter once lived (cupboard under the staircase) and Patrick's was "posted,"outside in the mailbox. It was a great way to start the day and to keep the kidlings entertained until brunch was ready to eat and packages were ready to be opened.

Thanks Hannah for the witty clues, and thanks Don and Margaret for the great gifts. Here is a picture of the kids with their prizes and their clues.

Schonarth/ Altgilbers news

Well I finally got around to posting our wish list. I'll start with the Schonarths:
John : size large shirts, wrangler relaxed fit jeans 33x34. Gift cards to Home Depot, Lowes , Walgreens, and Hy-Vee.
Val: I need a 13" sq flat griddle, or a 2-3 qt casserole dish, super size bath towels, a hand operated can opener with a safety edge cut, size large 3/4 sleeve tops, or gift cards from restaurants, penneys, kohls.
Jen Jr size med sweaters, jewelry, gift cards old navy, walmart, amc, bath n body, kohls, bergners, penneys sears, walgreens, hyvee, county market, or gas cards.
James lg tall tops jeans relaxed fit 34x34 gift cards Menards,Home Depot, Lowes, gas cards, food cards.
Callie is a princess. Her current favorites are Rapunzel, Belle and Cinderella. She wears size 4t slim pants with an adjustable waist and a 4t top. Santa is bringing her a 5'8" 4 story barbie house with furniture, so any Barbie would be good.
Cruz is trying to get into a size 6/9 mo.He needs boy long sleeved bibs they can be found at Babies r us. baby boy toys.

on a different note: Leslie You did good! we watched the Simpson College Hallelujah Chorus flash mob and it was fantastic. My daycare kids came running to see what that music was. Here are their comments:

Cole age 3: that's pretty good and it's not scary cause she didn't put any monsters or spiders in there.

Kaden age 5: That's really nice, it could be a Christmas song.

Kady age 3: That's a pretty church, but my church doesn't have any stuff like that.

Claire age 3 : She makes the bestest song, it's really pretty. We sing that in our church, but it don't sound like that.

Ryleigh age 20months: she squealed, spun in circles and laughed.

Cruz age 7 months: he was tired and fussy but when I 0started playing it he stoppped fussing and just watched it ( he did not go to sleep)

I got a kick out of their comments and thought you might like a childs version.

see all of you for Christmas
Val and family

Hello!

Hi all!  Been awhile since I've been on here I just never use a computer anymore so trying out this version of the blog on my phone will see how it goes! (though I still vote that we get everyone on Facebook and use the family grouping there ;) )
As for Christmas wish list.
For me
Clothes (cute stuff and cardinals welcome) size medium, 27x36 Jeans
Shoes size 8 for heels 8 1/2 for other
Cute purses
Earrings (mine are double pierced)
Victoria secret gift card
Nail polish
fountains day salon gift certificate
Restaurant gift cards
Visa gift cards (to go see my family down south)
Xbox Kinect games (biggest loser and dance central 2 or 3)
Giant cooking pan (12" or bigger for browning our 2 pounds of hamburger)

For rocky
Anything hunting related (deer and duck)
clothes ~ tops xxl, Jeans 36x36 (relaxed boot cut from old navy or Levis)
Camo led flash light from menards
Farm and home or gamemasters gift card
Visa gift card (to put towards new truck and Jeep parts)
Newest call of duty xbox game

Think that about covers it for now :)

addendum

well, blogger doesn't seem to let you upload two files at once, so here are the other photos that should have gone with that last post.

The first is Dave with Oakley and Jon with his new puppy. The second is my new brace--4-6 weeks in it.

Wrist in rehab!

The bones in my shattered wrist (thanks to newly adopted dog/brute Oakley) have healed. The pins are out, the external fixator is off, and I have started PT. Here is a photo of the fixator, which felt like having a brick strapped to the end of your arm, and a photo of my new brace, which we call the sport model. I will also include a photo of the #$@#$ dog, who is sweet and goofy and strong as can be. His only remaining fault is that he loves Dave more than me since Dave has to do all the dog walking these days. Just kidding, but Dave has asked me frequently what kind of dog I am getting, since he obviously has his.

St. Louis!

St. Louis is cold!!

Hiya! So this video is from rehearsals so we aren't in costume but you get to see a bit of behind the scenes from the play I was in--A Piece of My Heart. And I sing a little bit. My friend Erin was the director. It was fun and a lot of work. We got a great reaction from the crowds. Don't worry, I'll remember you all when I am rich and famous. :) Oh, I'm the girl in cowboy boots. :)



Here's a picture:

Other than that, I'm just working a lot. The kiddos are good, of course, but I'm looking forward to Christmas break. I think all the teachers are, more than the kids even. :) Today we played Candyland and one of my kindergarteners developed a fascination with "Cat Fancy" magazine. I'm still working at my restaurant, too, and my favorite beer is out--Coffee Stout. Yum! It's only available in the winter.

I know I need to post a Christmas list--I'll try this weekend. Aunt Sherry should have a copy of mine for anyone in Quincy, too.

Love you all!

Julie

Greetings from Iowa! Way to get things started Nikki. I was just thinking, we really need to get lists posted. Things are well here. Eat. Sleep. Tumble. Basketball. Sprinkle in church, choirs and school. That pretty much sums things up. We will be heading north for the holiday to historic Mason City, home of The Music Man. The kids are excited to be tortured by their older cousins and to play with the dogs.

I can be candid here because the kids don't look unless I show them-

Kenzie- Juniors size 2/short in jeans. Juniors small or medium in tops. Size 7 shoes. She loves anything trendy. Not a fan of pink, sweaters or turtlenecks. She likes jeans, sweatshirts, fun socks and loves boots. The warmer the better. Is getting a new bike from Santa. Likes books that are for teens that are scary or gory. Vampires, ghosts. Has an Ipod, so accessories (ear phones, cases and Itunes) are always good. Likes hats, scarves, gloves.

Brady- Boys size L or 12-14 in athletic pants which is what he mostly wears along with a boys XL tshirt & sweatshirts. Likes fleece (he has a camo Columbia jacket he loves as well as an Underarmour sweatshirt Hannah got him last year). Plays football, basketball & baseball. A new football would be a hit. Likes fiction books with sports theme. Likes to play Wii. Is also getting a new bike from Santa. Loves nerf guns. Is starting to hunt geese & pheasant so hunting apparel is good. Green moss, I think.

Leslie- Would love a new blender- basic model, nothing fancy. Just to blend a margarita or a malt without smoking. Kitchen dish cloths (dark green or brown) or bath towel (white or cream). Bath & Body wall air fresheners or candles (cinnamon, pumpkin spicey sorts).

Eric- XXL sweatshirts or tshirts. He would like to start ice fishing with Brady so a gift certificate to Bass Pro or Scheel's would be fun.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am most thankful for each of you.

XOXXO,
Leslie