Christmas 2009

Wow Christmas this year has come and gone so quickly. I am loving the sunshine & the lack of
snow this year. However, the kids are not impressed that they havent used their sleds much. Every day without snow & cold is one day closer to spring.


December is a especially busy month for us. Brian & Brevin both have birthdays before Christmas so that includes lots of parties with family. My side of the family has always celebrated Christmas for supper on the 25th. Santa has always been a tradition of the Brookins family since I was a kid. He is always expected & every kid has cried atleast once during his arrival. Now that they are older, they enjoy hopping up on his lap for their new pair of John Deere socks!!

We took a day trip & headed up to the Bass Pro Shop in Portage to do some shopping and just to get away. The Boys in the family really enjoyed themselves. Looking at guns, bow & arrows, ammunition etc...... Here are some pics of the girls, trying to enjoy themselves................


One of us is afraid of that bear & the other isn't . We ended up at the movie theater. Which was more fun for Linds & I.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!

What a Beautiful sight!!!

WE CAN SEE!

Harvest has always been a stressful time for our family. Last year was a disaster, with us still picking in December. This year has been so awesome, almost so good, we dont want to talk about it for fear of something happening. Totally blessed to be almost finished!

So today they were picking the corn around our house. It is always strange in the summer when the corn gets tall enough that we are blocked in on all 3 sides, then in the fall, when it all comes down, it is another adjustment.

The dogs didn't know what to do as all the equipment came into THEIR fields. They were chasing the tires on the semi and barking most of the day. What a big event for all of us.

179 MORE DAYS!!!

Brycen woke up this morning with dread and told me that there were 179 more days of school left! I laughed & told him that he should wear a sign on his back today that says "179 more days" that would be too funny. So I can definately say that none of my kids were ready to go back to school.

Brian & I were discussing last night that this year is a big year for all of our kids. Brycen's 1st year of high school. Lindsey's 1st year at Fairfield. Brevin's 1st year in the big hallway at the elementary school.

I am proud that I got their pic this year. Remembering last year when the bus arrived 10 minutes early on the 1st day of school & they had to RUN all the way down the lane. (something they totally HATE to do). I felt so bad last year thinking it was their 1st day & they were running. So this year, they went down plenty early.

Summer always goes too fast, it seems like we just had the last day of school in May. I am not ready for them to go back. I am doing all the chores today that I got to assign to them all summer. Laundry, feeding the animals, hanging up the laundry. I am doing them with dread.

So as I sit here, I am reminded how much i dislike the 1st day of school too. I am anxious for them to come home & one thing I do know is................................

MY HOUSE IS TOO QUIET!!!

All done, now what?

Fair is over, am I sad? now what do you think? : ) I do miss seeing the kids in the yard walking the pigs & them working together everyday cleaning the pen. But the fair just isnt my favorite place to be in the summer. Too Hot, too many people, too much stress & drama.

Our Favorite pig, Tank did the best this year. We all loved walking him around the yard. He had a great personality & was easy. Brycen ended up getting Champion in his breed on show day & took him back out the next day for open show. (with a different judge, you never know what will happen) He got Champion of his breed again that day. Very unusual to get it twice. The breeder bought him back and is taking him to the State fair to show him there. We will be anxious to see how he does.

WHATS next??

SCHOOL

The dining room table is completely covered in school supplies. Why is it that we have 5 art boxes, (only need 1). tons of spiral notebooks because there is still paper left in them from last year, and i'm not even going to count the crayons leftover or pencils!! Guess I wont need to be buying very much this year.

Gearing up!

Fair time is almost here.

show shoes that fit everyone - check

blue jeans that fit everyone - check

pigs, shaved & as clean as they can be - check

snacks bought - check

show box packed - Almost.

Saturday morning. here we come!

Let the games begin!!

Summer Camp experience

I had the opportunity to go to our church's jr high summer camp this year in Ohio. 3 nights, 4 days. They were looking for a couple more cooks. Lindsey was going & she didn't care if I tagged along. Not knowing what to expect, I journeyed along with the 100+students & adults. The first night, after all our work was done, I found myself out by the water (always a fav place for me). I could hear the kids behind me having their worship time & it was great to just be able to get away & spend some alone time of my own w/God.

Here is where I slept, with 2 other ladies from church; the head cook & the nurse. Unfortunately no air conditioning & a very HOT week, but we survived.

This is the kitchen where we cooked all the meals. It was GREAT because it did have air conditioning. It was always a cool 68 in here & we hung out as long as we could.

Over all a GREAT experience, I would do it again next year & I even got my sunset pic!!!