Wintertime Farming

So, two "big" events for local farmers in the winter is servicing your combine and attending the Ag Show in Spokane.

They're especially big events for a 4 year old. And they're also BIG for the older generations when 1. it's a new (to you) combine and 2. a first time for a child to go to the Ag Show.

Grant, Dwayne and Grandpa John got to enjoy both on the same day! (Mom tagged along to take photos and do some downtown Spokane shopping BY HERSELF!!!)

We first stopped at the dealership where Grandpa was working on his new-to-him John Deere combine. Dwayne and Grant HAD to check out the cab.

(Not sure what the spots on the photo are??? Floating dust???)

After a small arm twist, we got Grandpa to agree to leave the work for the day and take his grandson to the farm show. I guess that Grant got to crawl onto lots of the equipment and was all grins.

That much farm work in one day can really exhaust a boy! Gotta get some sleep before spring work...

Another Winter Pastime

We're tired of rain and muck. And mom's willing to sacrifice her carpet to play doh in order to prevent extra hours in front of the television. They came up with this one on their own... play doh bowling.


What creative activities are being done at your house?

Muck... Yuck.

The weather in Pullman has left much to be desired for kids who love snow. If only it were a few degrees colder, we'd have repeats of the last two years' mountains of snow.

And the kids would be playing outside.

But it is just mud out there, and although Grant enjoys playing in it... even he says it's "too deep" right now.

So Mommy had to go to extreme measures to entertain indoors. We resurrected the rice tub (yup, the tub AND rice we got when Sadie wasn't even yet two. Not recommended to be eaten...).


And we've had rice in places you can only imagine. But my kids (particularly Grant) have been busy. And are spending a few less hours in front of the TV.
But when the rice runs out, the muck better skidaddle too. I'm ready for the sun!

The Joy of the Lord

A little boy praising God as he does his chores. What could be better?

Merry Christmas!

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

You hear people say that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", and that's definitely true! However, Christmas is really about YOU. God sent his son to be born on this earth in order that YOU may have eternal life.

Read the Christmas story in Luke 2 today. And know that Jesus was born for you.

Here's some Christmas entertainment for you... (press pause on our playlist at the side to hear the music that goes with this video)

Sadie in 09

Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Sadie is a third grader this year. She just loves school! Sadie's talents in piano continue to grow, and she is in T&T at AWANA this year.

Sadie's favorites from 2009:
Fieldtrips with teachers and classmates
Going fishing with Dad (I usually get big ones!)
Playing outside in nature
Love hanging out with my family and learning about God
She became a Christian at VBS this year!!!

Allison in 09

Matthew 2:11-- "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

Allison is in first grade this year and did a super job transitioning to that all day activity. She stays busy with Daisy Troop and crafty projects and hopes to take gymnastics again soon.

Allison's favorites from 2009:
New cousins!?! Trent and Lana
Enjoying cousin Mya before and after surgery
Playing with other cousins in our short times together
Losing her first teeth

Grant in 09

Luke 2:7--
"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Grant started preschool this fall and loves to go two mornings a week. He's a little lonely with his sisters gone all day, but he and Mom stay busy running all over the place for activities and errands. He also enjoys AWANA and just finished up with swim lessons.

Grant's favorites from 2009:

LOTS of snow last winter... waiting for it again this winter
Playing on the farm with Grandpa
Riding 4 wheelers (large and small)
Harvest-- all day every day
Swimming at the aquatic center
Wrestling w/ uncles, grandpa, dad, sisters, cousins, aunts, mom...
Playing in the sand at the river/lake

Angela in 09

Luke 1:38--"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Angela is still a stay at home mom who is never at home. She did a little more freelance design work for WSU and is keeping her eye out for the possibility of regular employment sometime in the next couple of years.

Angela's favorites of 2009:
Celebration of 12 years of wedded bliss
Arrival of Nephew Trent and Niece Lana
Sadie became a Christian
Allison learned to be more brave
Grant went to preschool
Trips to visit family in Western Washington
Scrapbooking opportunities at Paper Pals and CKC Seattle
Spent time blogging here and at Mom-e-Memoirs
Angela grew in her Christian faith

Blessings all around!

Dwayne in 09

Here's the first of our holiday/year end posts so you can see what we've been up to.


Matthew 1:20--"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."

First up is Dwayne!

Still working as a fieldman at Wilbur Ellis and helping his father in law with farming any chance he can get.

His favorites from 2009:

Come back soon to hear more about our family this year!

A Blessed Thanksgiving

There was not one person that I heard who had a crummy Thanksgiving. All the people I have talked to were so blessed with family and health on this holiday. And the Lenssens Thanksgiving was no exception!
(See Mark and Brittany posing via Skype on the laptop in the background? They got to join us virtually for dinner. :)


We counted down the days to get Mya and Trent time. The kids were so very anxious to see Mya whom they had prayed for all these months but not seen her. And having adorable Trent come on down was a giggle and a half too! I can't believe the joy between all the cousins as they hung out at Grandpa and Grandma's house for the long weekend.



We have so much to be thankful for this year!

October Birthdays

We celebrated two kids' birthdays in October... Sadie turned 9 and Grant turned 4. They both had some fun celebrations and we are so grateful to enjoy our kids for another year.







What a joy birthdays can be!

Halloween in review... before Thanksgiving gets here!

Okay, there have been requests for our costumery (is that a word?) of halloween. The kids dressed up as usual, and Angela decided to dress up once again this year too.

Here were the costumes of choice:
Sadie, a detective
Allison, a gymnast
Grant, an astronaut


and...

Angela, a 1991 prom queen.
Yup, really.
And she wore her 1991 prom dress (although she never really was the prom queen...). And, the before and after photos:




Ha ha ha!

Cousins came to Visit!

Back in October (I'll catch up on my blogging here eventually) we were lucky enough to enjoy cousins coming to visit!

They came for Lana's dedication at church and were able to celebrate Sadie's birthday with us too. We all "took in" a Coug game (stood outside the stadium peeking in for about 10 minutes... unwilling to pay for tickets knowing the kids wouldn't have put up with the cold wind for any longer than this) and generally enjoyed our time together.






Thanks for coming to play!

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

So... think back about 6 weeks... and remember Labor Day...

We went to Priest Lake! So much fun for all of us. We hung out with some family and met some new friends.






It was a great way to end the summer!