Grandbabies Are Home and Doing Well 3-3-2011

Proud Grandparents



















The Happy Family at Home






Holli and Ginger Finally get to hold their Nephews

The Hobbs Family are happy to be home. The twins are growing and doing well. Mandi has recovered well also. Mandi and Bryce are doing a wonderful job taking care of their new babies. God has blessed our family so much over the past month since Asher and Ryder's birth.

Grandbabies 2-11-2011

Mandi and Bryce's babies were born on Friday, February, 11, 2011.


Asher Allen, 5lbs. 10oz. was born at 9:17pm and Ryder Lane was born at 9:18pm.
The boys were born early at 34 weeks, but they are doing well.
It feels wonderful to be a Grandma. I think I'm going to love this new phase of my life.

2011 Reading List

January:
1. Rags to Riches by Mary Pope Osborn
2. Ghost Tales for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborn
3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
4. A Christmas Carol Illustrated Classics Edition
5. Giants of Science; Marie Curie by Kathleen Krull

February:
6. The Chronicles of Narnia; Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
7. The Chronicles of Narnia; Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
8. The Chronicles of Narnia; The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

March:
9. The Chronicles of Narnia; The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

SUMMER 2010

We have had so much going on the last couple of months. I will attempt to catch every one up.



JUNE:
-Turned in 4-H Record Books


Kids with some of their Chouteau Club Friends at 4-H Special Awards Interviews

-All three of the kids received invitations for 4-H Special Awards Interviews.














-Ginger attended the Mayes County 4-H Food Preservation Workshop


-Yoda got a hair cut and decided to play the piano. Just between us, he's not very good.


-Kids attended the Bread Baking Workshop at the Mayes County AG Center in Pryor

-The girls and I gave a beginner's sewing workshop at the AG Center in Pryor. We made Fleece Hats, a Sewing Tools Poster & a Parts of the Sewing Machine Poster.



Holli teaching a "Parts of a Sewing Machine" Workshop








Ginger teaching a "Sewing Tools" Workshop





Me teaching how to use a Sewing Machine to make Fleece Hats


-We attended the Addison Road Open Air Concert on the River Walk in Jenks



Addison Road



Kids with friends at Concert

-We attended the 4-H Multi County Camp in Chouteau at Camp Christian.


JULY:
-I had a wonderful & Simple 4th of July with Jeff and the kids.

-Mayes County 4-H Summer Break Trip


Touring Grand River Dam



Checking out the Lab at Grand River Dam Ecosystem Building



Workshop on how a Dam Works



Holli holding a lizard at the Wildlife Workshop at Grand River Dam Ecosystem Building


-I got the kids homeschool year planned out and ordered books. Holli is a Senior, Anthony is a Sophomore, and Ginger is in the 7th Grade this Year.

-I gave an Intermediate Sewing Workshop at the AG Center in Pryor we made 4-H Autograph Elephants

-Ginger performed in the Pinocchio Play in Pryor





-Spent time in Miami with 4-H Friends from Ottowa County


Playing in the pool




Having a picnic at the park











-Holli & Anthony went to Falls Creek with Adair Baptist Youth


Holli, Jeremy & Anthony fixing to head out to Falls Creek

-Holli has her first parent's okay-ed boyfriend, Jacob Wood of Converse Oklahoma

-Found out Mandi and Bryce are expecting a baby around the 24th of March


-Attended my nephew Kevin's Wedding, I now have a beautiful new niece Kasey

The Johnson's at Kevin's Wedding



-Holli & Anthony went to Champions 4 Christ Camp in Branson MO with Jubilee Youth Group

Jubilee Youth Group

-Ginger tested for and got her Orange Belt in Soo Bahk Do


Ginger Breaking her first board during Soo Bahk Do Test



Ginger sporting her Orange Belt









AUGUST:
-We started Back to School on August 2nd
-Jacob spent the weekend with us
-We bought Anthony his first vehicle; a teal 1992 Ford Ranger
-Holli made her first car purchase; a white KIA Sportage (her bug bit the dust)


-Attended the Mayes County 4-H Banquet; the kids and Chouteau Club did very well.


Chouteau 4-H Club

Ginger received a Gold Medal in her Fashion & Fabrics Project along with a Bronze in her Visual Arts Project. She also received a special award for the 2010 Outstanding Junior Record Book.

Anthony received a Gold Medal in his Computers & Technology Project. He also received three special awards, the 2010 First Year Senior Award of a $50 Savings Bond, the 2010 Senior Achievement Award of a $50 Savings Bond & the Blue Award where he was awarded a 4-H Medallion and a 5x7 photo of himself form Bonea Photography.

Holli received a Gold Medal for her Digital Photography Project. She also received the Blue Award where she was awarded a 4-H Medallion and a 5x7 photo of herself from Bonea Photography. She also won the 2010 Hall of Fame Award where she received a $50 Savings Bond and a 11x14 photo of herself taken by Bonea Photography.

-Found out Mandi & Bryce are going to have twins in March

Our Family is Growing!

We recently learned that our family is growing. Our oldest daughter Mandi and her husband Bryce are expecting twins in March. We are very Excited and Thankful!
At Mandi's last check up all was well. The babies have good strong heart beats and are growing right on schedule. We are all looking forward to the day we can hold them in our arms.

Here is a pictures of our beautiful babies together.

The Wind in the Willows

"Friendships bring a goodness and grace into our lives whose value transcends material measure." Vigen Guroian

Finished reading aloud The Wind in the Willows to my kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs an example of true friendship or to be reminded of what true friendship is. This was my second time to read this book. I Loved it even more the second time around. I had forgotten what a gem it is. So happy I had the opportunity to share it with my kids. Had fun going on adventures with Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad. Forgot how that the best of friendships are sometimes with those that aren't exactly like me. Was reminded that true friends are patient, forgiving, helpful and there for each other when things get crazy...and they get real crazy with a friend like Toad. Through all the ups and downs Rat, Mole and Badger where there for Toad, but they also helped him to be a better toad.

In Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination, Guroian recommends three books as the best books to read on friends and mentors: The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web, and Bambi.

Yummy Summer Fruit Pudding

Don't really know what this is called, but my family loves this for a Summer Time Desert.

Ingredients:
Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
Tub of Whipped Topping
Canned Mandarin Oranges
Canned Fruit Cocktail

Mix pudding mix into whipped topping in a large bowl.
Drain canned fruits and mix them into whipped topping and pudding mixture.

Refrigerate for one hour then Serve. Yummy!!!