Winter Fun

So far our southwest Wisconsin winter has been super cold with hardly any snow.

I think some southern states have had more snow than we have!

We finally got a bit of snow and some temperatures that gave the kiddos a chance to play in it.

It made their Mama happy too!

To look at this photo, all I see is ALL that our sweet Eliza has overcome!

Just look at her LAYING in the snow!

Our views off the deck are beautiful!

Especially first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening!

Since that afternoon of play in the snow, the snow has all melted.

We are hoping that we will still get some big snow days before winter is over…and I have this feeling that we will.

Because we live in Wisconsin after all!

Right now we are hunkered down still dealing with illness.

We are hoping and praying to be all well very soon!

Hope you all have been able to stay well as illness just seems to be everywhere right now!

Have a great start to your week!

A New Year

It may be a new year, but a lot of things are still the same!

Like my love for cooking and baking!

I made waffles, warmed berries, warm syrup, coconut cream, and breakfast sausage for breakfast the day after we arrived home from our weekend away.

We had eaten a lot of cold food for three days, and the kids ooohed and aaahed over their breakfast like never before!

There is one guy who lives here who seems to hug the insides of trucks all day.

Or something like that.

Glad Addie does all the laundry!

Christmas break brought a lot of free time for some kiddos to play!

This young lady came to take my order one afternoon!

Most restaurants don’t make you spell everything you want to order – just saying!

Isn’t she cute, though?!

New lego sets from big sis Kayla have been a hit!

These two cherubs.

Always, always together.

Big sissy runs errands for us a lot before and after work!

You can’t bring home a new pile of library books without reading some right away!

We worked on lots of thank you notes over break!

I let them always do their own thing – and for the two littles, I write what they want to say.

Super cute.

Chad had an orthodontist appointment!

We moved it up from March once Eliza’s surgery was cancelled.

He got spacers put in that day, and gets his second set of braces on Monday morning.

This is Blake’s “Please stop taking my photo” face.

Sorry, honey!!

Sadie is the kind of dog that knows just what you need.

That fact that Eliza can nurture this pup of ours the way she does, pretty much takes our breath away.

Kayla had my name for Christmas!

She bought me a new planner…specifically saying it might cure my sticky note habit – ahem!

I may have used sticky notes in excess, yes.

But they were my brains!!

And everyone knew to NEVER touch them or move them!

I am love, loving this planner though.

Sorry sticky note manufacturer!

You just lost your best customer!

This is usually a Tuesday thing – left over chicken parts making stock in a crock pot!

We are so predictable that way.

Someone, who was blessing his Mama by putting this stock away after dinner that night, forgot to put the bowl under the strainer in the sink, and all of that liquid gold went down the drain!

We laughed.

It was funny!

This guy talks my ears off.

I love listening to him!

Being a good listener – and looking into his eyes as he speaks to me – is probably the number one things that has made my and Tate’s bond so tight!

He has a HUGE need to express himself this way!

I think that is why he would get so frustrated when he first came home….it wasn’t about this crazy new family who loved him to pieces….he just wanted to TALK to us, and he did not know English yet!

We have a lot of goals around here – and one of them is getting laying hens come this spring!

Nothing like farm fresh eggs!

I have been spending more time downstairs, and the afternoon sunlight is DIVINE.

Did I mention we like to eat?

I might eat chocolate everyday.

Just a small bit, though!!

We have had some illness here this week, and the sore throat that came with this virus is fierce.

Chad was in bed from Saturday afternoon until yesterday morning – five full days.

Now it is Lane’s turn.

Praying it stops there!

I have been making lots of soft and soothing foods for my patients this week.

Our weekend plans just got cancelled.

I am sure I will still find plenty to do – beings that the kitchen is always calling my name!

Hope you all will have a blessed weekend too!!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Blake!!

This past Sunday was my husband’s birthday!

What a GREAT privilege to celebrate Blake!

We split up for church on Sunday morning because Chad was (and still is) sick with a fever and a really bad sore throat.

We still kept our birthday celebration plans for Sunday evening after sending out a warning to our favorite people about Chad’s illness!

Keeping with tradition, we would have a meal and dessert for Blake’s birthday.

Blake is not very good at telling you the things that would bless him!

I planned a baked potato bar with lots of yummy toppings after many failed attempts to get Blake to say what he would like for dinner.

He texted me on Friday (after grocery was already picked up!) to tell me he would like a baked potato bar for his celebration!

PHEW!

I guess I have this guy all figured out!

Dinner was delicious!

But we like to eat!

Having some of our favorite people over is always, always our joy.

I took this photo of these two smiley ones!

They certainly know what to do for their Mama’s camera!

Clyde and Ellie saw us do that and wanted in on the action!

But I could not get them to sit in one spot or look at the camera!

Isn’t it funny how Eliza and Tate just kept smiling for the camera!!

No worries – NaiNai is a little photo crazy – Clyde and Ellie will have lots more practice, I am sure!

Look at this photo of Auntie Gail and Tate!

Isn’t it adorable?!

Except for that tiny photo bomber in between their heads?!

Can you see him there?

The BIGGEST kid we have?

Oh my word, we were laughing….how did he make that happen so perfectly?!!

This is more like what I was hoping for!

After that yummy meal, Blake had a crew of helpers opening his gift from David, Kayla and his grand babies!

I also planned dessert without Blake saying what he would like.

But we have this every year for his birthday!

Roasted bananas in a honey glaze with vanilla ice cream!

My guy is so easy to please, I tell ya.

I started a new tradition!

Last year on Blake’s birthday we took a photo of the “original” Moschels!

I love that photo so much we decided to do it again!

We even had Chad wake-up and come upstairs for this photo – poor guy!

All of these blessings piled on one bench….I could hardly hold back the tears.

Just look at them!!

I have been rather reflective lately.

A new year can do that to you.

A birthday celebration can do that to you too.

The last 15 months specifically have been rolling through my mind.

WOW.

Wow, wow, wow.

So many things.

The good and the very, very hard.

Take a look at this photo though.

What you cannot see here is the One who has carried us both through it all……but what you can see here is my better half – the most amazing man I have ever known.

What is asked of Blake on a daily basis….I have no words.

He handles every. single. thing. with more wisdom, patience, and grace than is imaginable.

He truly is a reflection of the One who created him.

Truly.

You want to know the best part?

He is my husband!

It is my hope and prayer that we will celebrate many more birthdays together!!

And that we will be able to grow old together as heirs in the grace of life!

Happy, happy birthday, Blake!

We love you SO VERY MUCH!!

A Road Trip

This past weekend we were super blessed to ALL take a road trip together!

Even David, Kayla and the babies!!

YAY!!!

It was COLD though.

Dangerously cold – with temperatures as low as 22 below zero and wind chills as low as 39 below zero.

That is COLD.

And Grant’s car was still in the shop due to a major issue that I cannot verbalize here without asking one of the guys again what was truly wrong with it – but it was broken!

We knew our 2003 van was not an option to take on a long trip in the bitter temperatures, so at the last minute we were blessed to be able to rent a big van and had some Christmas gift money to pay for it!

Being all together in the same van was super duper fun!

Wish we could have fit all of Kay’s with us too!!!!

After a quick four hour drive, the first thing on the agenda was a beautiful wedding!

It was beautiful.

The reception was beautiful too!

We had a lot of friends that traveled in for this wedding, which made it very fun!

These are the only photos I took the whole day!

The next morning we all went to church together.

I am still meditating on things I heard preached Sunday morning.

The music had me all in tears too!

WOW. Good, good stuff!

Someone missed the sermon though!

Sunday afternoon was a time to nap all the little people, and then Sunday evening we all headed to a school gym to celebrate the New Year together!

The middle boys had some tablet time while Blake napped the littles in our other hotel room.

I might have used this during nap time.

We don’t travel light, ahem.

But it was COLD, remember!

Look at the ice that formed on the inside of our hotel door!

Here is our kitchen!

All in one tote!!

And our hydration station!

(I just made that up!)

But seriously, keeping enough water flowing for eight people is not an easy task!

We brought one bag of books, coloring books, and a few toys.

See how happy little people look after good naps?!

Sunday evening started at 6 p.m. with pizza and finger foods.

Then there were some very encouraging speakers.

We had a hymn sing as well!

I was singing while I played with my grand babies!

Then the kids played and we visited!

It was an evening blessed beyond compare.

We saw old friends, and we met new friends.

It left us feeling encouraged, challenged, loved, and our hearts SO full!

We did not stay out until midnight, but by the time we got everyone settled in bed it was past midnight.

The next morning we packed up and headed home!

We were SO blessed with safe travels.

We were MORE blessed to be invited and included in a very, very special day for two very special people!

As we pulled away from Twin Oaks on Saturday morning, I looked at Blake and said “We’re doing it!”

He knew exactly what I meant – we feel Tate and Eliza are ready to handle weekends like the one we just had!

We are not on the farm anymore and life looks different for us now.

We are burdened to try to be able to travel more!

And we DID IT!

The Lord blessed it immensely!!

Looking forward to many more road trips!!