Dessert Hour Entertainment

Rob's sister Valerie will be leaving within the next few weeks for a long term (2-3 years) mission to Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia to be an English teacher. So she asked that I and her sister Susan would help host a Dessert Hour for family and close friends up in this area so that they can hear about her calling and for a last goodbye for the extended time. I was excited to do this, it is right up my alley. We held it at our church and she had a great turn out. We had way too much for our desserts, but I would rather have a plethora than not enough to go around. I myself made 5 dessert, just because there were so many I wanted to make I couldn't make a choice :) I have to say the Lemon Pudding Dessert was the fav (I will post the recipe at the end).

So before she had her power point the nephews and nieces put a few songs together; Katie (will be leaving for AFLB bible college tomorrow) sang On My Knees, then Micah and Emma sang Jesus Be A Fence, and Isaac and Jacob sang My All In All.

Here is M and E singing their song:

While we were practicing E came up with a great line: "Jesus I want you to protect my Antie as she travels on her way." M struggled with it for a bit, but I told him to go over it in his head a couple of times and during all their practices that day they got it every time. Emma was too excited/nervous that she forgot her line and M was surprised and just kinda quite for a bit. But other than that they did a great job.

It was a fun night and Creed held up well too, he was doing a bit of his own singing at times :)

So if you are interested here is that recipe, you will not be sorry you at least tried it out:

Lemon Pudding Dessert from the kitchen of Lisa Kiel

1 C Cold butter or margarine

2 C All-Purpose flour

1 Pkg. (8oz.) Cream Cheese, softened

1 C Confectioner's sugar

1 Carton (8oz.) Frozen whipped topping, thawed

3 C Cold milk

2 Pkg. (3.4 oz each) Instant lemon pudding mix

In a bowl, cut butter into the flour until crumbly. Press into a non greased 13x 9 x 2 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over crust.

In a mixing bowl, beat milk and pudding mix on low for 2 minutes. Carefully spread over the cream cheese layer.

Top with the remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Yum yum! And it is pretty too!

Job Jar

For those of you that have 5-8 year olds I have a suggestion for you, if you are struggling to get them to do a little extra around the house. This came to me by way of my friend Danell, she has a 5 year old daughter and a 4 year old son, this has worked like a charm for her.

Take a jar and put a few pieces of paper with jobs on it such as: dust the living room table and t.v., wash entryway windows, throw the bathrooms garbage, or for some older ones, clean the bathroom toilet (Micah was so excited about this one). I am amazed; my kids have had a chore all summer, but this has made them excited to do more. They have to finish their chore before they get to pick from the job jar and they act like it is a treat!

I'm So Big :)

This post isn't about Creed; it is about me! I am so grown up! Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize that you can do things all on your own? I know I am 30 years old and I have been doing many things on my own, but today I am so proud of me :) So, I have had a garden with my SIL for the past 3 years or so and I have to be honest, I am not the best gardener. I didn't have a garden growing up and I can't even keep a real plant alive in my own house, so defiantly not a green thumb! But, this year I have taken it a bit more serious, other than the weeding :( I have gone out and checked on it at least 2 x a week, which is good for me. Finally the corn is ready...what we have been waiting for. So, I, having my "grown up Moment" froze corn for the first time in my life. I do realize that I might get laughed at on this blog, but I don't care, I am so excited that my family will have real garden grown corn in the dead of winter and it is all because of me! The recipe that I used came from a great friend of mine that is more "city girl" than me and she now is the wife of a farmer and is doing all these "farmer wife" things too. If you would want to copy it down and use it yourself here it is:

4 Quarts of cut corn

1 Quart water

1 Cup sugar

4 Tsp. salt

Bring to a boil and than simmer for 10 minutes. Have icy cold water ready and place corn in a bowl inside the icy cold water to cool down quickly. Place in ziplock bags and freeze.

So easy and so fun and you will love having the corn in the winter! Yay, for me!!!

Three's Company

I wonder if Creed really knows what he has coming to him in his life here with M and E.

It will be great fun-whether he wants it or not :)

Emma finally has someone who will dance with her.

P.S. Note to self, don't rotate the camera ;)

~I'm Feeling Fall~

I can't believe how over nite the weather can just have that feeling of leaving the one season behind and beginning the next. Yesterday and today have been so completely different from the last few days. I actually have a light cardigan on today and when we went out I put a hoodie on Creed. Rob did remind me that we are on the 23rd of August, I just wasn't expecting it so quickly. I am excited tho, we are entering into my favorite time of year; yes, it will be busy but a fun busy and I love the cooler weather, I am not a hot weather person.

Well this is the CAT on our last field, a short field that outlines our farmstead. Rob credits this years record completion to his purchasing a grain cart and a new bigger auger. I am thankful for the bountiful crop and all though we lost one combine (it was on it's last leg anyway) we had a great run with the equipment, wonderful weather and the best crew. This is my 9th wheat harvest-WOW!

My Manly Man Working

I haven't yet had the chance to go to the field to capture the combines at work, but I stop in and watch Rob put the wheat in the bins on occasion, I try not to disrupt.

For those of you that have no idea what is going on here, this is what I know (which isn't too much). The combines load the trucks with wheat, Rob then dumps the wheat into the auger the auger dumps it into the bin. All I know is that Rob runs around alot working all the equipment. He has been so busy this year, it is a good thing, yet a wife worries when her husband tells her at 11 pm that his only meal for the day was that big breakfast at 7 am.
They should finish soon, as of yesterday they were half done. But, he did say that one of the combines was out for now and of course they don't have time to fix that one, they will just run the other two till it is finished, so that will slow them down a bit.

Dakota;s BFF

Dakota our dog has had this special connection with Creed since we brought him home. She knew that there was something special under that cover and it wan't until Spring that she finally saw what was in there. For the Summer we have been out and whenever Cota has the chance she goes and sits right by Creed and gets a lick whenever she can. Creed loves her. He isn't one bit worried that she is bigger than he is, and he is gentle with her, he actually pets her.

I got his darling shot of them holding eachother.
This is Creed's first time lying in the grass, he wasn't quite sure how he felt about it :)

Creed in Action

Scroll down to the very bottom and turn off the music for this one :)

Sorry this is sideways, I am not sure how to switch it around. It is still cute. I caught Creed dancing to the beat of his own drum while looking out our NEW storm window door. Since we have had this new door, he spends at least 10 minutes there 3 times a day, he absolutely loves sitting on the rug and watching the world outside.

Apparently, it was too dark in the room for the picture to turn out, but you can still hear my poor sleep deprived child. He was sleeping so soundly he was snoring. I can't wait till all this running around is finished, just for his sake.

This is what he looked like sleeping.

Him after waking for that soundful sleep.

Dinner With My Son

I am one lucky lady! To have the first date with Micah J. and is he ever fun! We took off together after a Church softball game on Sunday. M has been wanting to go to Applebee's for a good long time and Rob and Emma just aren't big fans, so I told him that we would go together on a date. He kept reminding me until we got it done. We also got the rest of his school shopping done. It was a great time. I love being his mom! He is enjoying his Sprite and waiting for his Steak! I can't believe how big he is; our conversations were amazing and the whole time I kept reminding myself that he was MINE. I am so proud!
I will always remember his "Firefly" story. At this time I only wished I had a tape recorder so that I could replay his sweet little voice telling me this captured moment in his life.

What an honor to be a Mom. I was there when they took him from my body, worked on him to get him breathing, watched him fight for his life and finally nurse him to health literally. I encouraged him to roll over, get up on all 4's, crawl, walk, talk, run. I made him keep his word when he told me he would read when he turned 5 (caught on tape). I am his sounding board for his new book ideas and his inventions and all the games he will put together when he gets older. I stand in awe at all that he has accomplished this far and he is only 6...Look out world, here comes Micah J.
"Ordinary work, which is what most of us do most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary. All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore not merely a duty but a holy privilege." Elizabeth Elliot
The "ordinary"routines and schedules we keep every day all week long with our little ones isn't just an empty motion, it is a privilege we are gifted to over see the life of another one of God's vessels. Who know what will come of our "duties" at home. May they be EXTRAORDINARY, and for the honor and glory of God!

Weight Gain :)

Today was Creed's weight evalutation and he "passed" he was up a pound and a few ounces. He is moving in the right direction so the Doc is pleased, he said it isn't the numbers that count but the direction the numbers are going that is important. So he sent us home with a return appointment for December when Creed turns a year old. Praise the LORD!

Marking the End...

Of Summer that is...
We have had such a great Summer, from activities to weather! We couldn't have asked for better!
The kids wrapped up 3 months of t-ball and the only 2 weeks of swimming lessons we had this summer. Emma did really well in the 2nd level, but she will have to do it again next Spring; Micah did extremely well in the beginner advanced level ( he lost 5 lbs. he was swimming so hard), but he will be repeating that class in the Spring also. He has gained back most of that weight by now, but it was scary for a minute there.


The kids really enjoyed running the bases and hitting the ball without the T by the end of the season. Micah took it seriously and was frustrated at the kids that didn't.
Whitney and Nate came to visit and have supper with us one evening and Nate, being the great guy that he is, went out to jump with kids on the tramp. We never thought of the rule-NO GUM while jumping, now we wish we had. Emma "accidentally" dropped her gum in Nate's hair :( He was a real great sport about it and said he had always wondered what it would feel like to have gum in his hair...well, now he knows, unfortunately. Whitney tried to remove the sticky mess, but alas, resorted to the scissors.

It is the time for School Shopping and shopping we did, just the 4 of us-Reise, Emma, Danell and I went to Fargo for our first school shopping trip ( I am thinking that this is going to be a tradition) we had so much fun!!! We did all that shopping and JUST HAD to get a pedicure and manicure too! Danell has those pics, I will post them soon. My highlight was when Emma was sitting in the pedicure chair completely thoroughly enjoying herself, looked up at me and said "Thanks, MOM!" with a very relaxed and peaceful look on her face. I love that I have a daughter to do things like that with.

I know, I know!

Only 6 days apart, but completely joined at the hip! Their friendship has been since they were months old. Danell and I said they will either be the best of friends or the worst kind of enemy. We are so glad to see that they have chosen each other for friends- they do have their moments :O LOL!
Marking the end of Summer is Crookston's Ox Cart Day's. One of the activities that we tried last year was the tractor pull, so when I told them it was time for that event they were so excited. The way this works is they have a weighted trailer behind the pedal tractor and when they pedal the weight goes up an incline and makes it really tough, the one that pedals the farthest wins.

Micah took second place and received his first ever trophy! He is now sleeping with it :)

So the kids will start school on September 2nd. That is so hard to believe. Emma will be in school all day 5 days a week. Nancy (Grandma T) is planning on driving the kids to school every morning and between the other mom's we will each pick up after school. So we wont have to do theREAL school bus thing and all that goes with that! Creed and I will begin ECFE classes in the fall, I think he will enjoy that, I know I will be glad to see mom's during the week.

The guys are out combining today, it is to be great weather for it. Pictures to come.

And So It Begins...

I can't believe it is about that time. Harvest time that is. Rob and the crew began yesterday, it was their "trial run" but it still sent that harvest time smell in the air, that yellow haze because of the lack of wind. Beautiful, that is what I call it. I look forward to the Spring time because of the turned over dirt smell and Fall gives that cut Wheat smell, there isn't anything like it to me. Who would have thought that this "city girl" would ever love the smell of Wheat dust and dirt!?

I have alot to write but not enough time right now, I did however, want to get the exciting news

out that we are "bringing in the harvest"!!! "Lord, bless this Harvest with bounty and safety. Keep Rob, Ethan, Andrew, Dewey and Josh on their toes and keep the equipment running well. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the awesome blessing of bring in the "fruits of thy labor". Your name be praised!

Just Had To Share

I know, I know I am just a bias mother, but isn't he so dang cute!!!

Yes, he is standing in his crib! Already!!!
What a little honey;if I do say so myself!

Tea Party

On Wednesday Emma called Reise to invite her for an afternoon Tea Party on Saturday. My, my did the rest of the week go by slowly for her. Finally the day arrived and the girls were off. They played the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe with Reise being Susan and Emma being Lucy and while they picked wild berries and played in the play house I prepared for the grand event!

Pink Lemonade was the preferred drink (neither of them really wanted tea).
Rice Krispie Treats, pink marshmallows, frosted animal cookies and Werther's Caramel candies.
What little "posers" we have.
They honestly stopped picking berries and did the pose, they are so cute.
After all that they came in and were mermaids swimming with sharks.

Emma said," that was the best time ever!"
I know I had a ball watching all of this and would do it again any ol' day!
Without the 10:30 up till 1:30 with a tummy ache that was only cured by a trip to the commode.

Tagged...

One Word Tag:.
1. Where is your cell phone) Donknow
2. Your significant other? Kids
3. Your hair? Bun
4. Your mother? Love
5. Your father? Security
6. Your favorite thing? Cuddles
7. Your dream last night?NONE :(
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? Success
10. The room you're in? Office
11. Your hobby? Reading
12. Your fear? Failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Adventure
14. Where were you last night? Bed
15. What you're not? Skinny
16. Muffins? No
17. One of your wish list items? Flip
18. Where you grew up? Brigham
19. The last thing you did? Supper
20. What are you wearing? Tank
21. Your TV? Overstimulation
22. Your pets? Stinky
23. Your computer? Lifeline
24. Your life? Sweet
25. Your mood? Rushed
26. Missing someone? YES
27. Your car? Dirty
28. Something you're not wearing? Glasses
29. Favorite store? Online
30. Your summer? Fast
31. Like someone? Yes
32. Your favorite color? Black
33. When is the last time you laughed? Today
34. Last time you cried? Awhile

Stacie H you have been tagged.

Weaning Process

Yeah, I haven't had a "process" it is just pretty much done. I decided that this was the last week and I hope to be completely done nursing by Friday. Creed is adjusting to it very well..."Breastfeeding? What? Did I do that?" He sees the bottle and instantly gets excited about it, so I think the "process" or lack there of, is for me.

We have already noted a difference in Creed's appearance, he is looking a little more "filled in."

So, I just wanted to Thank everyone that gave a "shout out" to the Almighty One whom has answered our prayers for direction and wisdom to do what is best for our little guy.

All Smiles...

There is not doubt about it, Creed is a happy baby!

He is so free with his smiles

He knows what to do when he sees the camera..."ham it up"
He does have a mellow side too, only with his "lovey"

Ripcord at ValleyFair

We drove Friday night to Golden Valley to stay the night with Ryan and Amanda. This was our first time in a very long time popping in to stay with them and we had such a wonderful time, all though it wasn't long enough. They so graciously offered to stay with Creed while the 4 of us went to Valley Fair on Saturday. We missed Creed, but did admit that it was nice not having him along. He had a BLAST witht he Luedtke's. Thanks sooo much again guys.

Well, I know that the highlight for Rob was his chance to free fall 100 feet to the earth, so I captured all of his thrills on camera, here is what we got...

A very excited Rob waiting in line. He got his wish of being a single flyer.
There he goes...Up, up
and up...
3,2,1 Fly...
I was standing directly underneath him and he came down close enough for me to read his face and lips saying "HOLY CRAP" with the biggest grin on his face I have ever seen. He would do that agian in a "heartbeat."
All smiles after the joy ride.
Emma's highlight was sitting on the train with Captain O.
The favorite ride was the Frog Hopper, the mini version of the Power Tower
We found that this ride was made in my home area.
Valley Fair, we had such a great time.

Creed's Well Child Check-Up

Well, we knew that our little Creed was small, but we had no idea that he wasn't growing! Well, let me explain...According to our Dr. (who is fabulous) he is concerned because Creed has gone from the 20% in weight down to the 10%. So, for the next month I am to feed him once in the night to see if we can put that weight back on him. If not he is recommending that I stop nursing and go strictly to formula. I am really bummed; I don't want to stop nursing, so I am going to do what I need to do to improve my milk supply. Hopefully when we go in for the weight evaluation next month he will see improvement.
So here are his stats: Weight-16 lbs. 04 oz-10th percentile
Height-26.5-27th percentile
He said that nothing developmentally is wrong with him; he is strong and seems to be on pace for his age. He did check his heart for a murmur-apparently weight loss is a sign for that. If he doesn't gain weight this month Dr. B will be recommending me to a Dr. that specializes in this area.
I would ask that you pray for our little guy-pray for my milk and for wisdom for Rob and I to do what is best for him; we don't want me to continue to nurse him if that is the problem. Pray for a healthy growth this month.
He had his shots and you wouldn't even know it. He cried for like 2 second and then was smiling at the nurses that just inflicted the pain he was having. What a sweetheart!

Lake Florida

Every year, for the past 13 years, the friends from Northwestern gather at the Cabin on Lake Florida.

(Left to right) Joe, Nanc aka Andrew, Rob, Bart, Cams aka Jason, John, Greg and Toby

A lot of these guys married girls from Northwestern too, it is a nice reunion.
Every year has it's thing, to hot, to buggy to whatever; this year it was way to windy, so the kids weren't in the water as much. They found other ways to stay occupied.
On Sunday, Micah went for his 2nd water skiing experience. He did great! He went quite a ways this time, however, he didn't quite stand all the way up. He had fun, but didn't want to do it again.
Dad giving M a 5 for a job well done.
Well, Dad couldn't let his son have all the fun...