Here I Am Finally: December 2007

Schroeder Family Christmas - 2007 Style

Why didn't I take a picture of Opa with all the kids again? I didn't, but here are some other pictures of the action.

The Family Gathering:

Opa and Jane:

Opa sharing Tom's baby book:

Addison and Lucy get acquainted:

The cookies are so near, yet so far!

Matt plans a fun balloon game:

Mary had cool crafts:

More fun:

Lucy Gets a Ride:

Everyone was there except Craig and little Bailey. We had a great time!

Christmas Pictures

Patiently Waiting While Grampy Reads the Christmas Story:

The Opening Begins:

Christmas Cousins

Avery and Julia:

Lucy Gets a Purse:

Lucy Testing a Bed:

Quinn as a tunnel:

Christmas at the Pattersons:

Christmas Elves at Work!

Christmas Cookie Baking? Sunday afternoon we baked cookies! (And licked cookies, and licked utensils, etc.) Warning to Santa! If you don't want cooties from 6 small children, you may not want to eat the cookies they leave you! Your reindeer might enjoy them, however!

Warning! Heidi and Emily Don't Read This When Your Children Are Around!
Elf Grampy and Elf Grammy have been busy with doll bed making for the four oldest granddaughters. Here are the results:
Ella's bed:

Avery's:

Sophie's:

Kaleigh's:

Another One Done!

Yes, the Children's Christmas Service is over for another year! Phew! For the most part it went very well except for: a wayward pre-school boy egging Kaleigh on to push him--which, she, of course, did; (Like Heidi said, she finally wised up and moved away from him.); a choir director (that would be me) who absent-mindedly started the Kindergardeners on the third verse of "Away in a Manger" instead of the second and got us quite messed up! OOPS!; and a pair of itchy pants that caused Quinn to dig in places he shouldn't when standing in front of a large audience. Aunt Mary and Opa came and the final little glitch was that there was a parent there who had had dealings with Mary today at her middle school and seemed intent on carrying on the dealings after the service. Sorry I don't have any pictures of the event--I was too busy wagging my arms!

Let It Snow! But Wait Until I'm Home

It's 7:00 on Sunday morning and I'm here at church. Rather than us having two cars out in this snow--I rode in with Tom. It's supposed to be a very busy day. Two Praise Team church services, Sunday School Program practice between services, a wedding at 1:30, an open house at Brecon Village from 3-5 and the Children's Christmas Program at 6:30. But who knows how the day will work out. I feel sorry for the people who are having the wedding. We most likely will postpone the Christmas Program until Wednesday. My hope is that all God's children will be safe and warm this day! And, I guess I can hope for a day off school tomorrow as well.

Happy Birthday to Kaleigh! Now I have two favorite 3 year old girls!

Last Christmas!

Speedy!

Call me "speedy"! I did it! I switched to AT&T Yahoo high speed internet. So far it's been more confusing for me than anything. I'll just have to get used to figuring out how I get at things. I need a tutor! Call me "slow"! When I got to school this morning, at first I couldn't even get on the internet any which way. Our secretary came to help me see what could be done and neither of us knows why, but now I can get on! I'm sure I'll like this once I get it all figured out.

"Dashing Through the....Nothing"

My hopes were dashed this morning. I really was hoping for a day off school! I'm going to quit listening to the "WINTER ALERTS"!

I was hoping for the day off so that I could go with Tom to Historic Trinity in downtown Detroit. He will be speaking at their weekly noontime Advent service.

I was hoping for a day off to get started on my Christmas cards (which I haven't even purchased). It's looking more and more like they will be Epiphany cards.

I was hoping for a day off to work on the Christmas projects we have planned for our grandchildren.

Because I didn't have the day off, I left home at 6:15 this morning and will not return home until ten this evening: school; staff meeting; watch Lucy and Sophia while Mom goes to school in the early evening with Ella to make a gingerbread house; Advent dinner; church; choir.

Have a great day as you "dash" through it!

Christmas Comes Again

It's hard to believe that it's Christmas time again! The year flew by so fast. One of the things I miss most about my Dad is his interaction with the kids (when they'll sit still long enough). Here he is almost a year ago discussing the intricacies of building with Avery. He was really good for getting us all to figure things out and think about things. The look on his face was very typical when he was with kids-- a combination of delight in being with them and the joy and curiousity of teaching. I'll miss you this Christmas, Dad!

Constant Motion

This isn't a very exciting video, but I thought I'd try posting one. I haven't done it before. This is the "constant motion" that is my grandchildren when they're all together. This is the fun, the madness, and the mayhem talked about in my last blog. In other news, I see Joyce has a day off today--good for her! Milan was off also, but even though I live in Milan, I still had to go to school. Actually the roads weren't near as bad as they were a week ago. Have a good day, everyone!

Well, that didn't happen! After a few attempts, they told me there was an error uploading my video--oh well! Here's another picture instead:

This is a sleigh that Aunt Mary bought for Heidi and Emily (formerly owned by a school teacher that Oma knew, and used for decorations at a Christmas dance that Mary was in charge of decorating). It is in our yard for now and the McClelland's came over for a picture taking session for their Christmas cards. I won't publish the great pictures of their whole family or I'd spoil their Christmas card debut.

Decorating Help

We picked out our Christmas tree from our backyard this year. The pine trees were planted in 1999 - leftovers from Emily and Bob's wedding favors. Friday night we had some help decorating- the usual fun, madness, and mayhem! Here are some pictures!

Men of Grace

I wish I had Andy's talent for writing about music. We had a real Advent treat last night. It was our annual "Advent by Candlelight" service for the ladies. This group came to sing. They are from the Grace Center for Hope in Pontiac which is a ministry which has a drug and alcohol treatment center, homeless shelter, learning center for children, and other ministries. This group of singers are from the center (former addicts, homeless, etc.). It was terrific! For the most part the ladies' really liked it, but it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. I loved it. I've never heard our church filled with so much "soul". The a cappella harmonies were amazing! The saxophonist was soulful! What a treat!

Advent Prayer

It was a treat to sit with the McClelland children during the Advent service last night. They quietly colored during most of the service. But it was obvious that Mom or Dad must have had a talk with Quinn about participating in the service at least while we were praying. And with a slight prompt from Mom, and after he quickly finished the horse he was coloring, he stood up, folded is hands, and participated in the prayer time. Good for you, Quinn!

It's Beautiful! It's Yucky!

It was beautiful outside in our yard this morning (this picture was from last winter). BUT-the roads were yucky, traffic was slow, and halfway to school my windshield washer fluid ran out! It was not a fun drive! But, I'm here--safe and sound, thank you Lord! Have a good day everyone!

It's Tuesday!

And here's a happy picture of Avery!

On a not-so-happy note, I'm praying this morning as I blog. My school is directly behind the rest area going north of Ann Arbor on 23. As soon as I got here this morning-30 minutes ago, I started hearing sirens - first police cars, then fire trucks, and now I can hear what I presume to be a Lifeflight helicopter. I'm praying for the person/s involved in what sounds like a serious accident this morning. Yesterday morning there were three people killed on the "black icy" roads in Washtenaw county. The roads were fine this morning. I'm not looking forward to this drive throughout the winter. God be with the accident victims and with the families of the victims yesterday. And all of you drivers out there, stay safe!

A Cold Fun Evening

Pasadena has nothing on Saline. Last night was the annual Christmas Parade. I'm guessing that it probably lasted longer than the Rose Parade. Sophie, Avery, and Emily were 10th in the parade and the church float was 72nd out of 75 total entries. It was a longggggg parade! Afterwards we were at Heidi and Scott's for Kaleigh's birthday celebration. They've never had so many in their house since there were not only all the party guests but about 15 others warming up after marching or riding with the church's float.

The Saline Co-Op Pre-School Float with Emily, Sophie, and Avery?