this and that

Anyone who knows me will verify that I am not a

"hair" person.  I've never had the knack.  But 

Everleigh has some days when her hair just

"flies" so I do try.  Above is a picture from a recent

morning.  Below is my attempt to "fix" it.

Briggs loved his swing...this picture was taken

mid-swing.  He has since gotten tired of it

but it worked as a good baby tender for a while...

Andrew has started a new class in Eagan.

It's called Bright Beginnings and combines

play time, crafts, snacks and stories every Monday.

Here he is during snack time with some

classmates.

If you look closely you can see his little penguin.

Briggs is Baptized

Briggs with his Godmothers...Jesse and Ami's sister, Cara

What a lucky boy! (the little cross bracelet visible on his right

wrist is a baptism gift from Jesse)

Briggs listened carefully to his baptismal vows.

He was such a good boy...wide awake and cooing at

the Deacon the whole time.  Big sister Everleigh with

his mom and dad...

Jesse's Day!

31 years ago on January 21, it was

a bitter cold day (much like today), 

but our hearts got warmed by the

gift of a beautiful baby girl.

Some things never change....

Happy Birthday, Nathaniel January 20

I used to be able to say that Nathaniel was my favorite

Minnesota Ketcher boy, because he was the only

one actually Born here, but now Briggs is also

a Minnesota=born Ketcher boy.  So let's say N is

my favorite 9-year-old Minnesota boy.

Hope it's a great day, N!  Love you...

Things that make me go hmmmm.....

How do the Duggars (20 kids & counting) get everyone ready to go outside to play in the snow?  It took Andrew and me a good ten minutes and there are just 2 of us!

 Someone needs to invent a device to carry your cell phone w/o a pocket..like a wrist corsage or a belly bag for a cell phone...I don't think there is such a thing and it would be great.

I wonder how many Christmas books for children have been published.  Do they all make money?  There are a ton of them.

People often say "our thoughts and prayers are with you"....even people on tv.  I wonder how many actually pray.

Is Kohl's always having a sale?


Does anyone really think $3.17/gallon for gas is a bargain?


Jesse had a dream the other night that she named her new baby "Leon".

(Leon is Noel spelled backwards :)

How does the Dollar Store sell all that stuff for just $1?


How can anyone be "pro-life" and want to murder a doctor?


How can we have 500 channels on tv and I still prefer re-runs
of Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke?


Is it just me or is good grammar, punctuation and spelling becoming
a dying art?


I'm starting to sound like a grumpy old woman....I digress...

 Andrew and some new train pieces

 He loves to listen to the animal sounds at the zoo.

Briggs and Everleigh chillin'

Day One

It looks like Briggs is in a snow globe, but really

it's just his bouncy seat with curved bar over it :)

I was able to take a quick picture Wed morning.

Andrew decided to check out Briggs' bumble seat....not such a good fit any more.

Briggs

So...how's it going with 3 little ones? 

Good news..bad news...

good news...Briggs slept 2 hours Wed morning,

giving Everleigh and Briggs a chance to

get reacquainted.

bad news....I forgot my camera at home.

good news...my phone has a camera (sort of)

bad news....poo-tastrophe

good news....I wish I had been able to

take a picture of Everleigh's welcome

when Andrew arrived.  They were so

excited to see each other!

bad news...I had to leave Scott's a little early

to go to a wake in Northfield.

Mother of Greg's good friend died last week.

good news....We all did just fine.

Everleigh got to show off all her new toys.

Andrew loved them!

and Briggs is a real charmer...those eyes!

that smile!...

and I think Ami's co-workers were very glad to see her!

(better pictures next time)

later in the week...

 lunch time on Thursday

 Andrew and Everleigh even had time for a little craft

project...made with their shoe prints.

see what I mean about those eyes?

A Christmas Card from Cousin Jane...

These pictures came in the mail today from our 

Cousin Jane for our mom.  

But since mom is already back in AZ, 

I'll post here and then mail on to her.  

Thanks for thinking of us, Jane!

Hope your Christmas was merry as well!

 Charlie (Jane's son), Jane, Mom and MaryEllen (Jane's sister)

 Mom and MaryEllen (Mom's brother Henry's daughter)

 Jane's first grandchild....Isaac, born in September

Cousin Vickie (Mom's sister Joyce's daughter)

Jane and mom at mom's place in AZ

I'll share the note inside as we might not all see each other

for a while:

Dear Aunt LaVerne & all, 

2011 has certainly required adjusting to the loss from mom's death,

especially for dad.  Thanks, LaVerne, for being there for him at the

funeral and for your letters.  When his hearing aid works, he is like a

different person.  (When I talked to him over Thanksgiving, he told

of a recent visit with Joyce and said, "she was full of stories"

and then he laughed!)

The other side of the story-God's version-is how joyful it has been to have

a grandchild enter the world!  Tell your family that I now "get it", why

they chose to retire so they could take care of the grandbabies!  I was

witness to little Isaac's birth in September, then just had him here for

2 weeks & already look forward to his return at Christmas.  (Marie's

family will spend the winter in the Rio Grande Valley, so never too far away!)

He'll be 3 months old by then, and if he makes as many changes as

he did in 2 weeks, I'll barely recognize him!  Good thing our cell

phones can transmit photos daily!

Hope you all enjoy your Christmas together and stay warm!

My prayer is that we are blessed with true peace - the kind only God

can bring...much love, Jane