Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas came and went so fast this year!  I'm sure the next and the next and the next will be just as fast if not faster, and before I realize it, Eli will be headed off to college.  Eek!  I'm not going to think about that- just savor and treasure these priceless, sweet moments with my family.... even if things get off to a late start because my hard working husband is taking the time to build a great doghouse for Zorro.  Sense a little undertone of tension?  I tend to set up expectations from time to time, and you know the thing about setting expectations and planning everything out in your head?  Well, with small children and a busy life, expectations usually lead to disappointment.  (And by the way it was MY idea not his to build the doghouse.)So Christmas Eve afternoon got off to a rocky start, but as soon as I changed my attitude, it was much MUCH more enjoyable.  While Jonny finished the doghouse, the boys and I watched The Nativity Story.  (A movie we plan to watch every Christmas.)  Jonny caught the last part of the movie, then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate birthday cake.  As we were eating our last bites of cake, I asked the boys what comes after birthday cake.  Presents!!!  We talked about the greatest gift of all- slavation, and that is why we He came to earth in the first place.  Then the boys exchanged their Dollar Tree gifts to each other that they had picked out the day before, and then we headed out to the Christmas Eve Service at church.  I LOVE going to our church's Christmas Eve service.  I wish our whole extended family could come.  On our way home we looked at Christmas lights.  

Christmas morning Jonny read the Christmas story from Luke to us, and then he, Eli and I had communion.  Eli has been asking to take communion and be baptised since summer, and we felt like he understands and believes as much as a four year old can understand the gospel and why we do these things.  Then we opened gifts, played, packed, drove to Eugene to visit friends, and drove the rest of the way to Keno (outside of Klamath) to visit my grandma.  

The next afternoon we loaded up in the car again to make a 3 1/2-4 hr trip to Prineville to visit friends.  Because of snow and FOUR accidents, it took us 7 1/2 hrs!!!  We were reminded why we've been trying to avoid traveling with little ones- especially in the winter.  

Here are some pictures from our wonderful Christmas!  Just a few- we took way too many to share them all.

The Oelkers!

Baby's first Christmas!

Noah's gift from Josiah (picked out by Eli).  PERFECT gift for Noah!

Eli's gift from Noah.  (Basketball candy toy.)

Siah's gift from Eli.  (Soft baby ball.)

My precious boys at the Christmas Eve service.

Boys enjoying looking at Christmas lights... next year we need to go BEFORE the service.  =)

Great-grandsons with Nana.

Oh, and I forgot to share a little story in my last post about Christmas festivities.  The boys and I went Christmas caroling at an old folks home with our church homeschool group the week before Christmas.  As we were all lined up and ready to go, Eli looked out into the audience- a sea of gray hair and wrinkles- and whispered to me, "Mommy!  Look at all those old people!"  I was so thankful that he at least whispered.  He's been in the stage of making verbal observations about appearances lately- for some reason he's been  taking a particular interest in "old" people.  The funny thing is that "old" in Eli's mind is anything from the range of about 50-100.  Oh, boy!

Christmas visitors

We have been blessed to have family come and visit this month for Christmas, and here are some fun pictures to show from it...

We went bowling while Grandma & Grandpa Oelkers were here.  It was Josiah's nap time, so I bowled with him in the Ergo, and being the wonderful baby that he is- he quickly fell asleep.  Grandpa Oelkers hadn't bowled in 25ish years and bowled a whopping 196!

Sweet Eli on Grandpa Oelkers' lap.

Noah & Josiah shared some love with Grandma Wilson.

Jonny's parents played one of my favorite games, Scrabble, with us!

Captain Social, Mr. Friendly, Sir Sweetheart (aka ELI) is good at making people feel welcome.

Jonny's parents were good sports playing Wii golf with Eli

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Josiah doing what he does best- looking CUTE!  (Becky does a pretty good job at looking beautiful too!)

Me & my sis  =)

We went bowling again with Becky.  This time we had three teams.  Eli & Becky were Team Becky, Noah & I were Team Batman, and Josiah & Jonny were Team Siah.  (He had to bowl while holding Siah boy!)

thankful

I am thankful for my grandma.

My grandma is one of the sweetest people I know.  She is so loving and kind.  I've never seen her angry.  I love to hear her stories from growing up on a farm in Wisconsin and attending a one room school house.  She has a great sense of humor, and she also is a fun game player.  My grandma is also a phenomenal cook.  Whenever I am at her house she feeds me SO SO good!  She is probably my biggest fan.  She LOVES me and my family.  I have a message from her saved on my cell phone from about a month ago crying as she tells me how much she loves and adores us.  She's a great grandma and I'm so thankful to have her!

She loves to hold her newborn great-grandabies!

She is so patient with Noah trying to ride a toy motorcycle.

She'll even push her great-grandsons out of a hole... push them so hard she'll fall down seconds later!  =(

 

thankful

I am thankful for my sis Becky.

 Having a sister is such a blessing.  If we ever have a girl I'm going to be so sad if she doesn't get to experience having a sister.

Becky is a lifelong best friend.  She loves my boys even when they're monsters and climbing all over her.  She loves me when I'm a monster too.  :)  Jonny thinks there is some strange thing that comes over me when Becky is around because I always laugh so much more with her. 

I love you, Becky.  Thanks for driving 9 hours to come see us.  You're a great sister!

"Children's children are the crown of old men..." Prov. 17:6 (NKJ)

In Josiah's first month, he has been able to meet all of his grandparents. Our kiddos are so blessed to have all these grandparents who love them so much! And I think the grandparents are blessed too...

Noah & Grandma Wilson (my mom) Two day old Josiah sleeping on Granmda.
The boys loved playing on Grandpa Marshall. (my dad)Seven day old Josiah with Grandpa Marshall

The boys also enjoyed playing with Grandma & Grandpa Oelkers. (Jonny's parents) Twelve day old Josiah with Grandma Oelkers. The boys with their Nana. Playing with Grandma & Nana. 26 day old Josiah meets his Nana.

Mom & Mark's Cabin

Look what was on the front page of the Herald & News, in Klamath Falls, today. :)

Happy Birthday, Grandma Oelkers!

Noah's First Girlfriend...

No, really... this is Noah's first female friend. This adorable little girl is Jacey Love. My dear friend, Julia & her mom, Patty, (I kinda love her too) came up to visit this weekend. I grew up with Julia & have known her since I was a toddler. Now we have little ones that are exactly two weeks apart. Jacey was born two weeks & an hour after Noah. Look how huge Noah is compared to petite little Jacey! Jonny & I make chunky little babies :)

The Lord is so sweet the way He sovereignly works things out for His glory. I just love to see how His hand has been in our lives & orchestrated events to bring us to today. Look at these treasures He has given us! Oh my! Tonight was one of those nights putting the boys to bed (did I mention they're sharing a room now!) where I just loved my babies so much I feel like I could have four more. Don't worry... when they wake up in the morning I will probably feel differently. :)

While our friends were here we went to the coast. It was Eli, Noah, & Jacey's first trip to the ocean. (I know, we're only an hour away & haven't taken Eli until now!) Noah & Jacey slept on their Mama's the whole time, while Eli played with his Dada. It was so nice. Good company, good view, good babies, good day. Here's some pics of Eli enjoying himself.

CHEESE!

Nana!

Nana & Grandma (my mom & grandma) came to visit. Before this visit, my grandma had never been past Oakridge! It was her first time to see where we live & her first time to meet Noah. She hadn't seen Eli since April, so there were a few more monster qualities he's developed since then. Plus, everyone wants to see Jonny post-surgery & Grandma hadn't seen him since last Christmas! For all those reasons, it was a great time to venture out of good ole' Klamath Falls. The boys thoroughly enjoyed their Nana.

Eskimo kisses.

Aunt Becky

Becky is gone. :( She left us & moved down to San Fransisco this weekend. We already miss her so much! It was wonderful having her here. I love that God blessed me with a sister. There is no friend like a sister. If we have a daughter for a third child, we're just going to have to try again for another girl b/c sisters have so much fun together. Becky just fit right in with our family. Jonny & I were trying to convince her to come live with us instead of moving to San Fransisco. Who needs a career, right? :) While she was here we went to the duck pond, the park, story time, Sweet Pea Kids cafe, Waverly Park Paddle Boats, the water park, bumper bowling, & took lots of walks! Here are a few pictures of all the fun we had while she was here.

Eli was afraid of the water... go figure??

Joshua's FIRST Birthday!

Joshua was born on May 24 of last year @ 11:03pm, Eli's exact birth moment & an hour before my birthday! All the cousins, minus Baby Ethan & Baby Oelkers.
Eli trying to lift the birthday boy.

cousins

Eli got to visit four of his cousins today. (Ruby, Reid, Lily & Joshua)

They are so cute together!

guinea pigs

Marshall Baby, Doctor Visit & No Driver's Ed

The Marshall baby is finally here! Congratulations to Eric & Lacey! Ethan Jude Marshall was welcomed into the world this morning @ 11:08 am (my birth moment!), weighing in at 7.10. Born on Aunt Amy's birthday!! Rian's going to be a great big brother & helper. We are excited to meet our new nephew. :)

As for our baby, I had a doctor appointment last Tuesday after bible study. I met one of the new midwives Samaritan hired since Eli was born. (Eli's newborn picture was posted in the room I was in- I can't believe he was ever that small!) I felt so relieved after my visit. Baby's heart beat was btwn 120 & 130, which she said was normal for boys. A couple months ago when the heart beat was in the 150's it was, apparently, an active time for him, but I couldn't feel him move yet. She also told me that the 20 week ultrasound results showed he measured exactly where he should be & all his organs looked just right. Remember the post about the twin scare? Well, that second sac (subchorionic bleed) is finally gone. Lastly, she said I gained 7 lbs since my last visit, so that was really, really good! I'm so glad I'm finally gaining weight! Eli was so tired from playing in the nursery w/ his friends all morning that he fell asleep in the car as we left the parking lot of church. He was so zonked out that he slept through my entire appointment. I carried him in, handed him to a nurse while I was weighed, laid him in a chair w/ his legs hanging off the edge while I met w/ the doctor & carried him back to the car- he slept through it all!

And finally, off topic... Jonny decided not to do Driver's Ed this year. We have too much going on, & the training he would have had to take in order to teach Driver's Ed this summer was three weekends (Friday evening- Sunday evening) in February & three weekends in April IN PORTLAND, along w/ a couple projects. I thought it was a very wise decision, considering how Jonny works most Saturdays, teaches the 4th & 5th graders for second service every other Sunday, goes to Wednesday night church (I work in the wobbler room every other week), we have home group every other Sunday evening AND he's a husband & dad. The time he'd make up for lost work hours would be cutting into our already limited family time. Although the extra money would be nice, it’s just not worth it- maybe next year will be more flexible for Driver's Ed.