Nora's first swimming lesson/winter fun/Froehle Family Get Together

Nora had her first swimming lesson last Thursday. Since she wasn't 3 when lessons started I had to call to have someone at the YMCA register her. Unfortunately there was a mix-up and she was accidentally registered for the Tuesday night class so that left 5 in her class on Thursday. I talked to some people and we moved Bishop to a different class on Tuesday night so they now both have lessons on Tuesday night instead.  Nora loved her lesson-she listened to her teacher--did everything that was asked and had no hesitations about getting in the pool, etc. 

Bishop is doing great in his lesson too and he's excited to be learning more strokes!

We had a pretty quiet weekend in terms of plans, so we went to the zoo on Saturday! It was fun to run around the zoo and burn off some energy! 

On Sunday there was a Froehle Family Get Together at Art and Rosemary's for lunch. It was fun to see the cousins/aunts and uncles/kids that were there! After we ate Bishop complained that his stomach hurt and while he is very sensitive to sugar (if he eats too much sugar he gets a pretty bad stomach ache) we didn't want to risk him getting sick there and/or infecting anyone else. Especially since 2 kids got sick at school when I dropped the kids off on Friday! :( We made a very quick exit and headed for home. Bishop drank a bunch of water and relaxed in front of a movie....and he was feeling better. Whew! I am so thankful it wasn't the stomach flu!

Excited for her first lesson!

Nora is the 2nd from the left

Playing with the Busy Box from the Bormann's! They LOVE it!

Hanging out at the zoo

The "kid" cousins! :)

Enjoying tea with her giggly baby!

Remembering Marlys Loken

On Monday we gathered together to celebrate the life of Marlys Loken. She was 87 years old and she brought so much love into the lives of so many in her time here with us. Her services were held at LeSueur River Lutheran Church where she was bapitzed, affirmed, married and now laid to rest.  The church has extra special meaning to our family because it sits right next to the farm where my Grandma lived a lot of her life. The visitation was held one hour prior to the service on Monday at 1pm with the funeral beginning at 2pm. We drove to Owatonna in the morning, had lunch and then headed over to the church. It was a very cold day with snow predicted in the afternoon/evening. There were a number of people who couldn't make it due to the weather. It was a very nice service. My dad said a few words in remembrance of my Grandma, pastor Brian did a very nice job of honoring her and we all enjoyed the beautiful singing by Jim Hoffman. The big kids got a little antsy during the service (Jack fell asleep on his mom), but they did well. We all had lunch downstairs after the service and caught up with many family and friends. My Grandma was cremated so we will return to bury her ashes sometime this spring. 

It was a beautiful service and my mom did such a nice job organizing all the details (choosing songs, verses, pictures, etc). I am so impressed with how well she handles everything--she has taught me so much and I am so thankful for her in my life! 

I know my Grandma was smiling down at all the people who came to honor and remember her life. She wouldn't have wanted the attention, but nothing made her more happy than to have her family together--and that is the most important thing she taught me--the importance of family.

Bishop and Luke's Ice Fishing Weekend

While Nora and I enjoyed a girls weekend at home together, Bishop and Luke were ice fishing in the Lake of the Woods. Bishop was dropped off at our house on New Years Day and he had a hard time saying good bye and turning around to leave again. He rallied and ended up having a great time! There were 4 dads and 8 kids on the trip--all in 2 cars. Bishop started in the car with Luke, Dan, Logan and Amelia.....and after a couple stops they switched things up and Bishop went in the "boys" van.

It was a long drive, but the kids had fun together. They finally arrived on Thursday night and did some ice fishing on Friday and Saturday. Bishop was so excited--he caught 2 fish! They made a snow fort, played in the igloo, made snow angels and had a great time together with all the other kids! 

Bishop and Logan at Mikkel Donalds!

Bishop taking a nap in the back left corner!

Excited to go fishing!

Relaxing in the lodge after fishing!

Bishop's first walleye!

Snow angels!

Arts and crafts time!

Hanging out in the snow fort!

Girls Weekend with Nora and Madelyn!

Bishop and Nora spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma's on New Years Eve and Gpa and Gma brought them back home the morning of New Years Day as they had a party in the cities. There was a little back and forth about the plans, especially for Bishop-as Bishop and Luke went ice fishing for the weekend. That left a girls weekend for Nora and I.....and Madelyn joined us too!

Nora and I spent New Years Day playing at home together! We took care of her babies, Nora played mommy and I played the baby for awhile, we worked on her Busy Box that she got from the Bormann's for Christmas (it is awesome and I highly recommend it)! We made puppets and lots of other art projects from it! We finished our night by going out to dinner--to Mikkel Donald's, of course! Nora really wanted to eat there, so we did! I loved having time just the 2 of us and while I had envisioned going out and doing something together, I think we both enjoyed being home and having time to play, just the 2 of us! I suggested we go sledding, but she was very happy to stay home and play!

On Friday morning we got up and as a last minute decision we picked up Madelyn from school and she joined us in Owatonna for the day/night! We had so much fun! We had a tea party with Nana, rode the horsey at Owatonna Shoe (and the girls got new shoes too), played at the library and picked out a few new books, and had a slumber party/movie night! The girls had so much fun playing together! I helped my mom make some of the poster boards for my Grandma's funeral and it was nice being home to spend time together. Madelyn got a little home sick on Friday night--I think she was exhausted and missed her mom and dad. I'm sure it wasn't easy for her that Nora's mom was there and hers wasn't, but she was fine after a good nights sleep! On Saturday morning we got donuts (a tradition when staying at Nana and Papa's!) :) The girls and I then met the Bormann's at St. Olaf and we watched the Gustie Women's basketball team beat the Oles! The kids had a great time together and it was a fun game to watch! After the game Nora and I went to the Bormann's for dinner. The kids played, we ate dinner and then headed home. It was a very fun time together!

On Sunday Nora and I went to church, ran some errands and played at home together. We were excited to have the boys back home and to hear all about their fishing trip! 

Feeding her baby in her princess castle!

Her Busy Box creations!

Dinner date at Mikkel Donald's! :)

And we're off for girls weekend!

The Elsa girls having a tea party!

Nana and I were invited to the tea party too!

Sisters! :)

Playing grocery store at the library!

Doing a little fishing of their own!

Cuddling up to watch a movie before bedtime!

Sleeping beauties!

Sweet, happy girls in the morning!

Reading books with Nana!

Reading books with Papa!

The basketball game with Auntie!

Checking out the game with their treats!

Getting groceries with her baby!

New Years Eve!

Our yearly Holiday Dinner with friends was scheduled for a New Years Eve party this year--as that was the date that worked best for everyone. It was a tough start to the week with losing my Grandma and I came down with an ear infection (and had little sleep 2 nights in a row). On Tuesday (12/30) I wasn't sure how I felt about hosting 20 people on New Years Eve. I really wanted to see everyone and go through with the party--and I really didn't have to prepare a lot ahead of time. We went on with the party and it was wonderful! Raul cooked another fantastic dinner and the set up was easier than in the past as he made everything ahead of time, so it freed up his time in the kitchen and it left a lot less of a mess to clean up! I was happy that it felt more like our annual Holiday Party and it's still hard for me to believe that 2014 is over! 

The silly picture

Best dressed?

Ben can wear my heels!

Visiting Great Grandma Marlys

My mom called on our way home from the Danielson's on Sunday to let me know that my Grandma was not doing well. She has been on hospice for a few months (since August, I think) and she's had a couple set backs, so we never know exactly what it means. She tested positive for Influenza A a few weeks ago, but recovered and was out of isolation last week. My mom visited her on Christmas Day and she asked where the family was. She seemed to be doing relatively well that day. My sister and her family visited her on the 26th and she wasn't as responsive as she usually is. She was pretty quiet, but was sitting up in her chair. Over the weekend she continued to decline and I went down on Monday to visit her. My mom and I spent a good part of the afternoon at Clarebridge and I'm so thankful for my time with her. She was laying in bed and when I came in and gave her a kiss and told her I loved her she turned and said "I love you". I will remember that forever! She was pretty sleepy and seemed a little uncomfortable. There were lots of hugs and tears shed and it was determined that her time was coming. I called Luke and he brought the kids down to say good-bye to Great Marlys. Shelly and her family were able to come as well. I had gone back to my parents so Luke and the kids picked me up and we went back out to visit her. She was sleeping even more at this point and seemed to have declined even from the afternoon. She knew we were there though--and would open her eyes slightly to see us and turn her head so we knew she knew we were there.

We spent time with her, hugging her, kissing her forehead and telling her stories. We all went back to my parents for dinner and headed back home that night.

My grandma passed away at 11:30pm on Monday, December 29th. I am so thankful for her sake that it went as quickly as it did. She was such a wonderful Grandma and I will miss her dearly. I'm so glad my kids were able to get to spend time with her. We take comfort in knowing she's back with my Grandpa again....and I'm sure they're dancing the night away! As my Grandma always said....."I love you....always have....always will"! We will always remember you, Grandma! We love you!

Thanksgiving weekend 2014

The kids watching a movie before heading back home on Dec. 29th

Jack riding the horsey!