Christmas 2007

We all enjoyed our Christmas Season this year. After a month of programs, concerts and parties, it was nice to celebrate our Saviour's birth with the family. The girls were very excited when Santa showed up at the house. We weren't home but he left crumbs from the cookies and the reindeer left some chewed up carrots in the yard! We were able to visit with both sides of the family this year for Christmas. It was nice to see everyone. We hope you have a blessed New Year!

Sarah's Birthday!

Here are some pictures from Sarah's 4th birthday party. We had a nice party with the family. Sarah wanted a "heart" cake so that is what Todd made her. He even made little heart cakes for all of the little girls.

Halloween

We had a very nice Halloween. The girls enjoyed carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating at the neighbors. In the country, we jump in the van and drive from house to house. The kids get a whole bag of treats at each house!

Candids and Cats

The girls love their kittens. It is a surprise that all of them managed to stick around this summer. There are so many dangers on the farm for little kittens. Sarah is holding the favorite of the family named "Peaches."

Jordan loves to play the piano. I think I have a picture of Rachel in the same dress at the piano when she was Jordan's age. Maybe we have another musician in our family. Hopefully she washes her hands and face before she plays her masterpiece!

Sarah's First Day of School

Sarah (aka The Bear) started Pre-school this fall! She attends school one day a week. She loves her teacher, the activites and getting to ride the school bus back to daycare! Here are a few pictures of Sarah's first day.

Rachel's First Day of School

I realize it has been over a month since the girls have started school!! Where has the time gone? Rachel began 1st grade this year. She has been a super speller 3 times already and has really neat handwriting. Piano Lessons and Girls Scouts are also a part of Rachel's schedule. It keeps us busy!

Rachel is standing next to her tree she received at the end of Kindergarten. Every student in the school was given a tree to plant. I am planning on taking her "first day of school" picture next to the tree every year until she graduates. It will be interesting to see how tall our little girl and our little tree get to be in about 11 years!

Apples Abound!

We had a TON of apples on our trees this year. I have spent many hours making and freezing apples and applesauce. The girls helped me make our favorite "Swedish Apple Pie." Here is the receipe (taken from "Cooking for your Style of Living") if you would like to try it:

Ingredients:
Apples (peeled and sliced) - enough to fill a pie plate
1 T. Sugar
1 t. Cinnamon
3/4 c. butter (melted)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. flour
1/4 t. salt

Spray pie plate. Fill pie plate with apples to about 3/4 full. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and pour over apples. Mix together butter, sugar, egg, flour and salt. Pour this mixture over apples. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Sunflowers

We took the girls up to one of the sunflower fields for some pictures. Poor Jordan looks like she was a little lost but they all loved to play with the huge leaves! The sunflowers are sun beautiful to look at in the field against the setting sun.

"Calfing" Around

The girls were helping their Dad in the calf barn. Rachel has taken one of the calves as her pet and is practicing "walking" it around the pen. Sarah loves to climb in the barn! Jordan somehow was able to get her pants and shoes off before she got into the barn. Good thing Dad had almost all of the manure cleaned out!

Remember

Please keep all those affected by the horrific I-35W bridge collapse on August 1, 2007 in your thoughts and prayers. Our hearts go out to them.

Helping Dad

The girls were helping Todd load corn into the trucks this morning and were able to ride with him to the elevator in town. I think they liked playing in the bin more than anything! It is so precious that they want to "help" their Dad with his work. They are already little farmer girls!

Baby Elizabeth

ie

Congratulations to Todd's sister, Kristi (and her husband, Jeff) on the arrival of Elizabeth Ann! She was born on July 3 at 8:40 AM. She weighed 8 lbs 1 oz and is 21 inches long. Mom and Elizabeth are doing well. We are so happy to have another niece. That makes one grandson and 9 granddaughters for Todd's parents! By the way - the grandson came first and the rest have all been girls! We can't wait to see this little one in person in a couple of weeks.

Cruisin'

Thanks to Grandpa Printz and Grandma Karen, the girls have a Barbie Jeep to cruise around in! They love to drive around the farm and take their baby sister for a ride. I guess this is good practice for driving the tractors someday!

"Catting" Around

One of the farm cats had 5 kittens. Rachel has taken the role of "Human Mother". The kittens also seem to think that Todd's work boots are a nice place for a cat nap!