Happy New Year!

Bring on 2014!  Always nice to start anew.  May God bless us this year with good health, joy and happiness.  Looking back on 2013...........

 

 

Reese's 4th birthday party in the park.

 

 

Relatives, friends and neighbors came in droves, as did Aunt Melissa and Uncle Adam.

 

 

Grandma and Grandpa Schel wouldn't miss it!

 

 

Grandma got a new car which looks black, but is Kodiak Brown!

 

 

Annual Easter Egg hunt on Shirlmar.

 

Attending church with son Scott, the Deacon!

  

 

Fun trip to Santa Barbara for Paul and Jeannie's anniversary.

 

 

Attending Maddie's annual dance recital.  She did a great job, as usual.

 

 

Multi-talented Maddie was also in the school play.  Mom and Dad were so proud.

 

 

Attended Duane's 50th class reunion in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.  Here he is with his three best friends from high school Ken Allen,  Jeff Deeley and Don Peloquin.

 

 

Duane couldn't wait to come home and grill some more bratwurst.

 

 

My niece, Chantelle came to visit on Labor Day weekend.  We had a ball.

 

 

Went down to Laguna Beach for a family vacation.

 

 

The weather was perfect!

 

 

Maddie plays soccer too!  The Pink Pandas were great to watch.

 

 

Then, before you knew it, Halloween was in the air, and we bobbed for apples.

Valerie got hers!

 

 

Turkey day was a hit, especially with those hats Melissa got.

 

 

Before you knew it, the Christmas tree was up.

 

My New Year's Resolution?????  Take even more pictures this year!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Was Christmas?

This year, with the short period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I had a tendency to rush everything.  Got most of the presents early (check), did not bring out all decorations---so decorated quickly (check), did not bake cookies (check), only put one lone small artificial tree on the front porch (check), and generally was not in the spirit of things.  Didn't even take any pictures!  

 

One of the problems was that my wonderful son-in-law, Jason had to work both Christmas and Christmas Eve!!!  Bummer!!!

 

 

 

Also, it was Melissa's family's turn to have Adam and Melissa with them for Christmas.  We missed them so much!

 

 

 

My beloved friend, Marian Koranda, was dying of cancer, which put a damper on the whole season.

 

 

 

 

And then, one of my favorite cousins, George Furphy, passed away suddenly the Friday before Christmas.  He is in the middle in this photo between Mary Ann and me.

 

 

 

But, all in all, my faith in God was strengthened, and I was reminded that no matter what happens, Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

 

Christmas Memories

                  Christmas is the time for memories, and I have so many good ones......

 

Like the time when Lindsey and Kevin came over on Christmas Eve with their new baby, Peyton.  Melissa was in heaven holding that bundle of joy.

 

 

Our precious granddaughters who always bring joy to the season.

 

 

What more could you ask for----a happy grandpa, holiday cheer, and a fire in the fireplace!

 

 

Cutie pie Reese with his proud papa.

 

 

My sister, Darlene, our poodle, Pompie, and me at our house in McHenry, Illinois.

 

 

 

Like mother, like daughter----always wear red at Christmas....

 

 

Little girls always wear frills.....Love my memories of tinsel covered trees.

 

 

A bewildered Adam opening a Fisher Price Airplane.

By the way, Reese got the same airplane for Christmas a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

But, who can top being an angel in a Nutcracker Ballet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Turkey!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had.  Our hosts, Adam and Melissa, outdid themselves.  The house and the table were decorated to perfection, and the food was scrumptious. 

 

It all started in the entry way, with a welcoming display of seasonal items and wines of all kinds.

 

 

 

They even listed the wine selection on the cute blackboard that they made.

 

 

 

They were able to put 3 tables together to make a spacious grouping of place settings.

 

 

 

Heather added a crudite tray artfully designed to resemble a turkey.

 

 

 

 

Then, Scott challenged Grandpa to a game of corn hole.

 

The object of the game is to get 4 bean bags into the hole in the plywood beds.

 

 

 

Grandpa won and was crowned "The Turkey".

 

 

 

Lots of fun was had with those turkey hats.

 

 

 

Then, on to the meal with Adam expertly carving the beast.

 

 

 

Grandpa mashed the mounds of potatoes.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed the delicious meal (not one side dish was left out), and then Grandma passed out nightshirts to Amanda and Valerie, and P.J.s to Reese and Maddie.

 

 

Best picture of the day.....love those hats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Fashioned Fun

After the Halloween rush, we were in the mood for some good old fashioned fun, so we invited all of the kids over for a weenie roast.  Scott and Dad had the perfect shirts.

 

When we told Amanda and Valerie that we wanted to roast hot dogs and bob for apples, they couldn't wait.

 

 

Before the roast, we had our usual gab fest, and lots of laughs.  Here is Jason imitating Heather when she is on her cell phone in the evening.

 

 

The roast commenced, with Dad and Scott having a great time.

 

 

 

While the hot dogs were roasting, we bobbed for apples.  Scott was the first to volunteer.

 

 

 

Melissa showed great skill, and got her apple.

 

 

Amanda dove right in.

 

 

I think Kim got a nose full.

 

Then, on to the beanbag toss.  Maddie showed great talent.

 

 

Grandpa even got into the act.

 

 

It wasn't an easy task to get each color beanbag into its own color pail.

 

 

But, a good time was had by all, especially Reese who stole all the left over apples.