The big 5-0

This is Jeremy’s year.  I mean, it is really just another year, but it is a milestone.  Since my sister-in-law did a big shindig for my brother, I felt like I couldn’t be a slacker.  Nate’s was a surprise party, but I didn’t have it in me to pull that off.  So, Jeremy and I talked about whether he would like an open house or just a special family outing.  He said open house might be fun here at our house.  So, I tried to curate a guest list where I invited people closer to him, but didn’t invite the whole church – that is very hard!  I also wanted to invite some friends of his from college, but I figured many wouldn’t be able to come because they lived at a distance.  I started with coney dogs as the main dish, and at the last minute, switched it up to meatball subs – and I am so glad I did… no one wanted leftover hot dogs! 

The girls were so helpful in helping me get everything ready.  Friday night we knocked out slicing vegetables in less than 30 minutes.

And then had a dance party to finish out the night.  Angele was trying to teach the girls the steps to Beat it by Michael Jackson. 

The next day, we did cleaning, moved tables and chairs so they could go outside, and then rerouted them inside when it looked like rain, put up cross net for people.  Jeremy did an excellent job weeding, mowing, and putting up the volleyball net.  I prepped all the other food and showered at the very last minute.   They also went through pictures to put up as a walk down memory lane, and they put up all the decorations. 

Meatball subs, veggies and dip, potato chips and Smith’s French onion dip,

and pies… apple, cherry, and pumpkin made by Steph R, and chocolate pudding and peanut butter made by my mom.  Also, grab and go chocolate chip cookies and rice Krispie treats made by me. 

I have few pictures of the actual people who attended the party.  Greg and Maggie and their kids (Elena and Nora) came from Columbus and someone took their picture with Madison and Ellie.  That was so nice of them to make the trip. 

Mike and Anja and two of their kids also came from Columbus.  Mike was Jeremy’s roommate after college and they are good friends.  I am so glad he took the time to come; it is a long drive. 

Sometime during the party, it was discovered we had a bat in the compost trash can.  Jeremy put his skills to use and rescued it and was entertainment for the kids.

    

We had about 50 people total, so there was a lot of in and out and some just settled in and enjoyed the night.  The kids braved the outdoors between the rain showers. 

All in all it went really well and makes me want to do this kind of thing more often.  It is so nice to just get people together.  In this case, it was to celebrate a really cool guy!

On Sunday, we went to The Barn restaurant in Smithville to celebrate a little more.  While there, we drove past Jeremy’s parents’ old house and it was as if they knew it was his birthday!  It was kind of a neat coincidence. 

 

Here’s to another half century with this fun, history loving, trivia master who does so many things to keep our family going.  I am the stingy drill sergeant who keeps all the things in order while he challenges me to have fun, to be flexible, to spend a little of our hard earned money, to enjoy things a little more.  It helps our kids know balance, and I appreciate it.  Thanks for the gift you are to me as a husband, to our kids as a dad, and to those around you that you give and care for unselfishly.

All the Little Things

The past weeks since school started have had a lot of transitions – transition to school responsibilities, transition to a volleyball schedule with games, transition with another kid in the house, and more.  But we are making it, and things have actually gone really well.

The girls have worked to get to know each other – looking at yearbooks, playing volleyball with neighbors and each other, going out for drinks, riding to and from school together, and more.

Pepper has adjusted with the times – sitting nicely with Madison! and eyeing where Angele went… he has his eye on her a lot… in a good way!

    

Angele is not playing a sport this season although she did play volleyball in France!  So, she has done a nice job blending in at home – she takes Pepper out for short walks after school, helps with the chores, and has time to cook a meal during the week.  (The girls will take this on in the winter in their off season!)  She made a pasta dish for us with noodles, parmesan, oil, bacon, and a raw egg on top.  It had a very good flavor – and looked pretty!  She made us crepes two nights ago.  A very French thing I am sure, but it is just a different name for what we eat called flap jacks.  Call them what you will – they are good!

    

We have tried to introduce her to some things here as well.  She had eaten marshmallows before, but never as a s’more.  I think she enjoyed it.  Corn on the cob was a new treat.  We all loved the corn Chuck and Patty gave us – so good!  The Dariette  for ice cream and some photos in the new big chair.  We also made her waffles with white sauce, but it was not our best effort because I used the wrong type of flour for the white sauce (white whole wheat vs all purpose).  She wasn’t necessarily a fan of the white sauce, but it makes sense because she doesn’t like pudding, and it is the same texture.

         

And we had our first HOME football game.  Ellie had some girls over to get ready.  Angele joined in on the fun – USA was the theme and they went all out – body paint, hair stuff, and more!  There was a lot happening, but they managed to take pictures and eat tacos before heading out.

    

These are things that just happen – eating, hanging out, making food, being together.  And while I don’t think everything needs a picture, these remind me that even in the mundane, life happens, relationships grow, and we have opportunity to find joy. 

House (and Van) Drama

So, as previously mentioned, our sump pump didn’t work way back in February.  We worked to sort that all out, but we wanted to change the guest room a bit before we put in new carpet.  We planned on the guest room reno, but not this quickly after the kitchen.  Anyway, we are done.  We have the kitchen done, the new furnace in, the patio leak fixed, the sump pump backed up with a second pump + a sound alert + a battery backup, the guest room done, and new carpet.  Whew! 

      

In June we got a used 2020 Honda Odyssey to replace our old van; we were tired of the tiny repairs that were needed frequently.  We wanted something more reliable and less costly.  We got it in time to take to Myrtle.  And it drove beautifully.  Then, two weeks later, I took it to have a nice lunch with my coworkers, and the entire thing felt like it fell apart at the stoplight at 30 and 94.  As it struggled across the intersection as though it were dragging something underneath, I pulled it over cautiously on the side of the road.  I looked under the car and saw nothing.  I got back in and slowly manipulated it back on the road and managed to get it to Jim’s Transmission.  When I explained it to Nate (one of the mechanics), I suggested it was my transmission – although, seriously, I know nothing about cars!  He went out to test drive it and it wouldn’t shift into reverse which I assumed solidified my hunch.  And it was the transmission – one of the most expensive parts of a car!  And the Honda transmissions were on back order.  Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of Nate’s search; he found a used transmission (40,000 miles) that would work.  So, a month later, with a new/used transmission installed, I went to go get our “more reliable” van…. only it wouldn’t start.  I am not making this up… it was completely dead.  Nate jumped it for me, told me to let it run for 30 minutes, and it should be good.  I did it.  Then, I went to fill it up with gas since it was pretty much empty, and … it was dead as soon as I turned it off.  Nate sent someone to come jump it again.  And it went back to the shop.  It was a dead battery that had to be replaced.  I picked it up a few days later.  And now, we are hoping for the best.  Fingers crossed.  It is comfortable.  It should be a great van.  I do like it.  I just don’t trust it.  Hoping it can earn my trust back.

Wrapping Things Up

We have worked in spurts at Gloria’s to try to clean out the house – donating, saving, selling, auctioning, throwing away, etc.  Jennifer stayed for about the entire month of December organizing and sorting things.  Jason has come for some whirlwind weekend trips.  The whole Minnesota Yoh family came over spring break for some days and did some work.  Jeremy has been over there consistently doing many things – meeting people for Marketplace sales, cleaning ladies, small clean out days, big clean out days, and more.  Then, I rounded up a few willing souls to put in time and energy and who wouldn’t be afraid to just get things done.  A HUGE shout out to Chris Daniels, my mom, Sandy, Steph M., David Bricker (hauling stuff one day), Madison, and Ellie.  Here are just some pictures from this time… (note that we did have fun… my button, Jeremy fitting in the trunk, dress up with the girls)

         

And then the house was empty, staged, and put up for sale (along with the 4 other condos in the allotment!).  We were beyond blessed that it sold for asking price quickly.  Working with Laura Martin, our relator from buying/selling our home, was a joy.

The secretary at my school was also selling her father-in-law’s condo across the street from Gloria’s.  She captured this photo one evening when they were there.  A reminder of the promises of God that we will be together again one day. 

Advent: Week 1 and 2

And I finally made it to the blog I was going to post tonight.  That’s what happens when you are at least a month behind on blogging – one blog, turns into 5 or 6.  But I am persevering and finishing this tonight.  So, buckle up as I walk you through the start of our Advent calendar fun! 

Day 1 – Decorate the house.  We had mostly done this on Saturday, but the girls did help Jeremy put up outdoor lights.  We went and watched Wicked instead of putting off decoration.

Day 2 – Unwrap a gift.  No, they didn’t get register blowers.  They were boxes that held comfy PJ pants.

Day 3 – Attend a band concert (Ellie’s).

Day 4 – Shopping spree for canned food drives.  They each had $30 to spend for cans for their school.  They have fun trying to get as close to $30 as possible.  Ellie was at $29 and some change, and Madison was over by a few cents.  Pretty good!

Day 5 – Write a letter.  Ellie chose to write to Ashel, our Compassion friend; she also wrote notes for me to include in our annual Christmas letter (still needs to be written…).  Madison chose to write her cousins, Theo, Miles, and Zadie. 

Day 6 – Attend a festival.  The plan was to go to the downtown open houses in Dalton.  However, Jennifer had bid on and won tickets to the Steven Curtis Chapman Christmas concert, and she wanted to take us.  So, we went there instead.  It was a fun night of music.  Madison got herself hot chocolate beforehand.  And this image reminds me that she is growing up!

    

Day 7 – Make an aromatic toy – gingerbread play dough.  We didn’t get this done today, but we did do it on Sunday.  It does smell really good, and it has really good texture. 

Day 8 – Snowman Pancakes.  One of the girls most anticipated days.  It has been even better the past two years since inviting others to join us!  Bess, Miles, Luke, Amelia, and Briggs came, and so did Ben, Steph, Cale, and Landen.  We moved couches, linked the tables up, had the grill going, and two griddles.  Most people knew what to expect and contributed toppings and fun.  The kids made good use of the basement for awhile before supper.  And then we got out the play dough to calm down a bit (intentionally made the play dough for this purpose!).  The pictures are many because everyone has to be photographed with their snowman (but somehow, we missed Bess’s snowman!).  So, enjoy!

                                            

Day 9 – Holiday books from the library.  Madison was looking for chapter books that were holiday themed.  I think that is only the chick lit/romance ones.  But we did check out some fun picture books that you can’t help but read when they are laying out. 

Day 10 – Attend a choir/band concert (Madison’s)

Day 11 – Dip ritz bits crackers with Grandma and Grandpa

    

About halfway through with some exciting things to come.  It is fun to hear the girls try and predict what the next day might be.  They have some dates in mind where they know, some activities that they are anticipating to show up, and some they have no idea about.  I try to keep a good mix of things happening.  And as we have gotten older, I have learned to be flexible with the days – sometimes I am swapping things around at the last minute to make it work with other things that pop up.  They still have fun doing it.  And it helps me be intentional with spending time with them.  Otherwise, this season is so crazy, I probably wouldn’t spend as much time creating memories with them if I didn’t have this.  So, we’ll keep going!