It's Been A Busy, Busy December

Recognize this beautiful stain glass picture? Monday the 19th was a big moving day. The church in Houstonia is no longer meeting and the instruments were graciously given to our family. I was expecting to fight back tears and lots of emotion, but I was so nervous watching the movers that all tears were held in check!

The organ was first to be moved....on its side, no less! A huge "Thank You" to Pat Wood that ended up assisting the movers.

Then the piano was next. I'm not sure why the plywood planks weren't used on the first group of steps, but everything was moved successfully.

Patty was helping steady the piano with the mover as it came down the last steps. The instruments were on their way to DeSoto!

Dad and I on Christmas Day, 2011. We miss Mother this holiday season.

As sad as it was to see the organ being moved out of the church at Houstonia, it was exciting to see it in place at Marilyn's church to be played once again for services. How fitting that the first Sunday to be played again was Christmas Day!

Marilyn did a great job that first service!

After church we had lunch at Marilyn and Barry's before heading back home to Kansas.

Merry Christmas! Just waiting for the kids to arrive on Monday.

Tyler, Joshua, and Kayla opening up their stockings before lunch.

Yes, that would be Joshua checking out all the packages under the tree. We couldn't see his head.....just his legs were sticking out!

Joshua, Rebecca, and Jonny.

Tyler looking at his new tool box. I feel so blessed. We had a fun day together. Two days later little Westin was born and now we patiently wait for our little Indiana baby to arrive!

Welcome Little Westin

Westin Chrysler Varner. Born 5:40 PM, December 28. He weighed 8 lbs, 7 ozs (so much for the little 6 lb baby the doctor was predicting!!) It was a loooong, hard day and we're thankful we have a healthy baby. He's a "pretty" baby....even though he's a boy :)

Mommy with her new baby, 2 hours old.

Proud Daddy! I was told he was a super coach!

Our Mommies and their Babies

Brian and Carly......due Christmas Day. (They move into their house on Friday!)

Stephen and Freya.....due December 23. I'm guessing December 28???

Rebecca and Jonny.....due March 5th. Our family will have exciting days ahead!

It Was Merry Christmas in Brement, Indiana

Richard and I made a quick trip to Steve and Freya's before the big "birth day" the first weekend in December. We had such a good time, and my, we do squeeze a lot of things in a short amount of time. We celebrated Christmas and before we opened gifts, Freya read "What to Give God for Christmas." It was just the perfect script to use with Sparks last week at Awana. Here is Max, Henry & Lena.

I made "super-hero" capes for the boys and even personalized them with their own letters! It was so much fun watching Max, especially, wear his around the house the rest of the day.

Max trying out his new game.

Henry loading up his Match car semi trailer.

Lena giving her new baby doll a stroller ride around and around the circle.

Speaking of Birthdays!

Now let's backup to October when Max and Henry were here. We not only celebrated with Rebecca and Jonny's wedding, but we even squeezed a birthday party since we don't usually get to be with Max and Henry in October!

After playing "Birthday Bingo" and "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," it was time to open birthday gifts.

Here's Henry waiting for his turn to open a birthday gift.

Ummmm, Grandpa, do you want to play with me???

Happy 5th Birthday, Miss Kayla!

How did Kayla get to be 5 years old so quickly?

You go, girl! Blow out those candles!

A fun gift from Aunt Carly/Uncle Brian was an chef's hat and apron.

Another fun gift from Uncle Jonny/Aunt Bem!

It's Been a Loooong Time!

What a busy July and August! Very Fun.....but very Busy! We had Joshua, Kayla and Tyler for a week while their mommy & daddy were celebrating their 10th anniversary. The kids just did great, but oh, it was hot! We did a lot of inside activities and Tyler.....well, he was just concerned that he had his tow truck in hand!

We did several craft projects during the week. These were little bird houses that the kids painted.

Lots and lots of bead projects. I had a slight panic attack when Kayla chewed on one of the beads and it slipped down over a tooth like a spacer. Thankfully it popped off eventually.

Their mommy left this wonderful treat......a 100 piece puzzle. The puzzle pieces were itsy, bitsy. Didn't make a lot of progress very quickly.

Stephen and his family arrived at the end of the week and here they all are looking out the window. I think they were watching Uncle Ryan on the 4-wheeler! In case you are wondering there was a 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 year old.

Henry and Max patiently waiting for their pizza at CiCi's!

The kids took advantage of Brian and Carly's pool those hot, hot days. The kids are getting more and more confident in the water. Just makes Grandma nervous!

Lena just happy to be on board in her own little "boat!"

Henry was ready for all kinds of fun and splashes.

Max

Another day we visited the new "Discovery Center," a hands on museum for children. There were many really neat centers and the kids enjoyed it. This was the woodworking center where the boys put on their goggles and gloves and began sawing, hammering nails, etc.

Tyler joined us for this outing and this was at the "grain" exhibit.

There were exhibits Lena enjoyed doing as well. This one was painting on the glass walls.

This was the automotive exhibit where you can change the tires, add oil, and work on the exhaust underneath the car.

I was hungry for a fruit pizza and Freya did the honors of decorating the top! It was delicious and it was devoured in one meal!

And finally......a trip to Chuck E Cheese. Lena was chillin' with Aunt Carly!

Catching Up!

These first pictures go back to March when Brian, Carly, Richard and I made a trip to Stephen and Freya's to be there for Lena's baby dedication service. Wouldn't you know I forgot my memory card, all the pictures went to my hard drive, and it has taken me this long to get them transferred over to my memory card and on to the computer. We had such a good time together. The pictures from the church aren't very good, so we will just remember the memories. Henry was on the platform as well.....not sure who he was hiding behind.

Lena was decked out all in pink! Cute, Cute!

Lena Mae

Mr. Max

Henry

Now let's jump forward to June 17. Rebecca and Jonny have been playing coed slow-pitch softball for several years. Jonny chose this night at the bottom of the 5th evening to propose, "Rebecca Susanne, will you marry me?"

And the answer was "Yes!"

Took this picture before I left for St Louis last week. The yellow lilies, some of the orange lilies, and the red spirea were in full bloom. With all the color, I almost forget how cold and how much snow we had last winter.

The garden is growing well. First two rows are potatoes, then green beans, tomatoes, more green beans, then the corn.

One day last week I had zuchinni, fresh potatoes, and new green beans. I didn't even fix myself a hamburger like the guys had. I could easily go without meat!! Love that garden stuff!! Waiting for the tomatoes to ripen.