Freezing-Cold-Day

I would say it was a snow-day, but we really didn't get any new snow. Just no school because the temp was -23 this morning, -40 if you factor in the wind chill. The kids danced for joy this morning when they found out, and we had fun making a pinata (for Shayla's b-day) and going swimming and playing basketball at the YMCA. I forgot to take any pictures--sorry. So we are freezing up here--how about all of you?

Garrett strikes again...

Garrett woke up from his nap the other day with a big smile on his face and said, "Mommy, do we really have a gorilla or was that just a dream?" I wish I could have seen that dream.

Catching Up...

Hello, friends! Yes, we are still alive here. Just taking a blogging break. I never did get to post about our wonderful Thanksgiving Wagner Reunion in Cleveland, so I'm just going to cheat and steal the link to Angie's wonderful post about it. She spoke my heart exactly, so I feel like it's okay to steal her blog :) Click here to read about our fun time together. And enjoy our wacky family portrait--it captures so much personality.

Shayla, Ty, Garrett and Grant displaying their gingerbread houses.

We had a wonderful Christmas and then gathered with 18 members of Tyler's family for an after-Christmas celebration. And celebrate we did! The stomach flu slowly made its way through our party, 2 people at a time until only Trevor and Lani remained. We have proclaimed ourselves the ultimate survivors. In spite of the sickness, we still enjoyed each others company, and came up with the top 5 reasons we LOVED having the flu together.

1. Extra holiday weight getting you down? Not us--no one could eat much of anything-- the perfect holiday diet!
2. Movie viewing--we caught up on all the flicks we hadn't seen--Wall-e, Fly Me to the Moon, Narnia, Madagascar, Get Smart, and on a healthy day we enjoyed an outing to Madagascar 2.
3. All the pop you could drink--my kids were in heaven!
4. Leftovers. Since no one could eat, we had TONS of food leftover so i didn't have to cook much the next week. Sweet!
5. My Green Machine wet-vac was put to the test once again and did not let us down.

So, if you haven't shared the flu with your family over the holidays, we highly recommend trying it--quite a bonding experience.

Merry Christmas--here's to a wonderful new year
(and more photos to come once I retrieve my camera)

Freebie from Oprah and Snapfish!!!

If you go to Oprah.com and click on "Peter's Clutter Crew" there is a link to Snapfish and you can order a FREE 20 page photo book. Just upload your favorite photos and they will make a book for you. I think you still have to pay shipping costs, but that's it. But I think the offer is only good for the next 48 hours. I'm going to check it out--you should, too!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

It's starting to get cold here. But I can't complain--we had such a nice fall that I hope I'm ready for the winter hibernation to begin. Here is our favorite chicken noodle soup recipe-it's delicious! (and it makes a ton, so you can feed an army or freeze some for later)

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
5 small chicken breasts
12 cups water
12 bouillon cubes
1 large onion, chopped
8 stalks celery
3 cups sliced carrots
1/2 cup butter (I use 1/4 and it's still really creamy)
1/2 cup flour
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 cups milk
1/2 t. garlic salt
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. parsley
3/4 to 1 bag (16 oz.) noodles

Combine chicken, water, bouillon cubes, onion, celery and carrots. Simmer for 30 minutes. Remove chicken and chop, then return to mixture. Add noodles and boil until al dente. In a sauce pan melt butter, and add flour to make a paste. Add a little water to paste then slowly add paste into chicken and vegetables stirring constantly. Add cream of chicken soup and milk. After thickened add seasonings.

I survived my 11 mile run...

I've been training for a marathon (to be run on Jan. 17th in Milwaukee) and today was my 11 mile run. So this morning I drove to my halfway point, planted my delicious homemade powerbar and water bottle, and drove home to start. It was pretty cold (30's), but it felt great once I got going. I was at about the 6.5 mile mark when I saw a van coming towards me. I ran onto the shoulder before I realized it was MY van. Yes, Tyler loaded up all the kids and came to find me, honking the horn, flashing the lights and cheering just to give me some moral support. I love my husband--he rocks! So, Ty hopped out of the van in running gear and started running with me.

Long story short, Ty ended up running the last 4.5 miles with me (I was so proud of him!) and Tyler just followed us all the way in the van. Grant fell asleep in his carseat, and Shayla and Garrett were unbuckled and running all over the van like it was a party (and watching cartoons on Tyler's phone). It was by far my funnest run yet. I just wish I had a picture to post :)

Actually, I'll just post a picture of Grant. Later when we had lunch we were watching Sports Bloopers on TV, and I was blocking his view. So this is a picture of him leaning out so he could see around his mom's big head :)

Playing Catch-up...

So I forgot I had a blog for a while, and thought I'd finally post some pictures again! Here is starting in September and catching up through October. Enjoy! Shayla's first day of Kindergarten. So grown up!

Garrett and Grant manning the garage sale food stand. Garrett sold a lot of bananas/apples--he's quite the persuasive salesman.

Tyler biked 100 miles in the Jessie James bike race. What an accomplishment!

Garrett and Grant trying to catch a grasshopper hiding under the van.
Partners in crime.

Garrett's first day of Joy School! (this is my 5th consecutive year teaching co-op preschool and I love it! It's a good thing, because as soon as Garrett is done, Grant will be up...maybe I'll open my own preschool someday :)

This happy, fiesty boy loves to throw everything! Notice the tomato stains on his shirt--he loved to pick fresh tomatoes from the garden and eat them when no one was looking.

Happy 32nd, Lani!

On the hayride at the apple orchard--kindergarten field trip

Shayla at the orchard

Enjoying a nature center with cousins--a weekend of conference fun, too

Grant LOVED feeding and grabbing the goat

Apple picking with Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jack--what a fun visit!

Ty finished up a fun season of flag football--his favorite sport so far.

Tyler and his Dad painted and fixed everything in the house during Tyler's week off--
I love my new house!!!

Dad and Ty painting and bonding

The Fab Four

Garrett's field trip to the grocery store--lots of fun and samples for all!

Reading time for the Grants

Happy 32nd b-day, Tyler!!!

Garrett (Peter Pan) with his preschool buddies on Halloween

Vampire Ty, Queen of Hearts Shayla, Ninja Garrett and Bam-bam Grant

This was the best pic we could get of the kids. Grant was not happy, but cheered up when he started trick-or-treating and saw his candy stash grow. It was a warm night--no jackets for the kids and they loved every minute of it.
Happy Halloween!