Hello fellow followers........it is cold here again in Kentucky. I am enjoying the fireplace a lot today. After church, Russell built a wonderful fire and has kept it going all day.
This past week has been a dozie.....Isaac was sick all week, ended up he was having sinus issues, and he is now on Singular (at $112 a pop, that is what happens when you have an HSA). Darryl left on Friday evening for their annual Klondike outing. It is a weekend camping trip with an Iditarod, where the are the "dogs". It is a lot of hard work, but a good time. He is working hard at getting closer to his Eagle Scout. That will open many doors in the future once he has that. It was pretty cold, but they kept warm and enjoyed themselves. Rachel had all-district Academic Team yesterday. She tested in social studies and arts & humanities. She also participated in Quick Recall. She did well, and beat her personal bests. She was 2 points away from medaling in arts & humanities, and their school came in 1st in Quick Recall, so she received a medal for that. The school as a whole came in 2nd they were undefeated all season. They lost 1st place by 1 point, if they would have done future problem-solving, they would have won. I was very proud of all the students. Darryl has his all-districts this coming weekend, however the portion that he participates in will be on Tuesday night. He competes in the composition portion. He won't be there on Saturday, as we will be at Western Kentucky University all day. He is attending an Oboe day camp, but the coaches said they would call and let us know how well he did.
This will be another busy week with kid schedules, but I continue to be thankful that Russell is able to be available to do all the picking and dropping off. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for them to participate in everything that they do.
This Wednesday will be our 3rd anniversary, and while it hasn't always been easy, we are so very blessed to have found each other. Blending our family and trying to do it well has had challenges, but mostly we each feel like God shined down on us and gave us a wonderful 2nd chance at love.....I'll write more on that Wednesday.
Well, I need to go hang up my load of laundry, and put the next load in the dryer.
Have a great evening and wonderful week!
Love,
Tina
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Latest Happennings
I hadn't realized how long it has been since I updated our blog.......oops! I guess the old saying, time flies is applicable here.
The kids have since returned to school and back to normal routines. Report cards for the 1st semester have been received. All in all not bad! Everyone of them improved most of their grades (this is a first). While Isaac can read, he could care less about getting a good grade, Rachel still finds pre-algebra a bit of a challenge, and Darryl still finds turning in his assignments a quest like climbing Mt. Everest. The joys of parenting, if that is the worst thing that we have to worry about then we are very lucky and blessed.
This past weekend, I had the honor (or should I say bad luck of the draw) to take Rachel to see Twilight. Russell was going to take her, but he ended up getting that nasty stomach virus a week ago Monday and it lasted well through last Saturday. We were to go to the University of Louisville to the All District Band Concert, so while Darryl was in rehearsal, he and Rachel were going to see the movie. I ended up going and while I won't put it up there in my 10 of movies, it wasn't bad. The concert was great.
Isaac spent last weekend in Cincinnati with Christopher who has been home from college and got to hang out with him and play video games and watch movies. We were surprised at how quite the house is when that special 8 year old little boy is gone! We were happy to have him back home.
I hope all of you are staying warm in this incredibly cold weather. I couldn't believe how cold it has been. Rachel even commented that it must be cold if I am wearing the coat to the car and leaving it on while driving (not something I normally do).
Hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend and stays safe and warm!
Love,
Tina
The kids have since returned to school and back to normal routines. Report cards for the 1st semester have been received. All in all not bad! Everyone of them improved most of their grades (this is a first). While Isaac can read, he could care less about getting a good grade, Rachel still finds pre-algebra a bit of a challenge, and Darryl still finds turning in his assignments a quest like climbing Mt. Everest. The joys of parenting, if that is the worst thing that we have to worry about then we are very lucky and blessed.
This past weekend, I had the honor (or should I say bad luck of the draw) to take Rachel to see Twilight. Russell was going to take her, but he ended up getting that nasty stomach virus a week ago Monday and it lasted well through last Saturday. We were to go to the University of Louisville to the All District Band Concert, so while Darryl was in rehearsal, he and Rachel were going to see the movie. I ended up going and while I won't put it up there in my 10 of movies, it wasn't bad. The concert was great.
Isaac spent last weekend in Cincinnati with Christopher who has been home from college and got to hang out with him and play video games and watch movies. We were surprised at how quite the house is when that special 8 year old little boy is gone! We were happy to have him back home.
I hope all of you are staying warm in this incredibly cold weather. I couldn't believe how cold it has been. Rachel even commented that it must be cold if I am wearing the coat to the car and leaving it on while driving (not something I normally do).
Hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend and stays safe and warm!
Love,
Tina
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Time to Relax
Happy Saturday....I hope this post finds you all well rested after a busy Christmas holiday. We had a great day and are extremely blessed! All the children enjoyed their gifts and were appreciated everything that they received. Russell & I were up until 3:30 AM Christmas morning wrapping presents (every year we intend to have this finished well before Christmas, however that never seems to quite happen). Rachel & Isaac were the first to wake up at 8:00, so we were thankful for a few extra hours of sleep. We enjoyed our Christmas morning (I'll post pictures later). While Russell fixed breakfast, I got ready so we could begin our morning of cooking for the Spencer family Christmas. We love have everyone for holiday and enjoy the time we spend with them all. Russell & I enjoy cooking together, and we each have our specialities. We made waldorf salad, turkey breast, ham, baked corn, mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, pretzel jello salad, macaroni and cheese and pumpkin pies. Brenda (better known as Queenie) made her famous cheeseball by request - we all love her cheeseball! We munched on all the goodies that we made weeks before, cheeseball and chips and salsa. Everyone appeared to have had a great time! We are so thankful for family and being able to spend time together. We missed our family that could not be with us, but am sure they enjoyed their time with family and friends as well.
The house is now quite and it seems a bit odd, as Rachel and Isaac are visiting their Grandma & PaPa Schwarz in Cincinnati and having Christmas with them. I'm glad that we are able to work things out so that they get to spend quality time with them.
With Isaac gone there have been no garbage truck noises (he wanted this garbage truck so bad, and Santa came through), no nerf gun wars going on - both Darryl & Isaac got a nerf longshot for Christmas. Darryl received a voice recorder that he can use to play back how his music sounds when he is practicing. Rachel has not been nearly as social now that she has her new iPod - this year Santa brought her a Nano (so I get the cast off shuffle - yeah for me!) and reading her new books - the Twilight series, she received the first and second one in the series.
Well, I guess it is time to think about making dinner for the troops that are here, as the 15 year old is always hungry.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the day and weekend!
Love,
Tina
The house is now quite and it seems a bit odd, as Rachel and Isaac are visiting their Grandma & PaPa Schwarz in Cincinnati and having Christmas with them. I'm glad that we are able to work things out so that they get to spend quality time with them.
With Isaac gone there have been no garbage truck noises (he wanted this garbage truck so bad, and Santa came through), no nerf gun wars going on - both Darryl & Isaac got a nerf longshot for Christmas. Darryl received a voice recorder that he can use to play back how his music sounds when he is practicing. Rachel has not been nearly as social now that she has her new iPod - this year Santa brought her a Nano (so I get the cast off shuffle - yeah for me!) and reading her new books - the Twilight series, she received the first and second one in the series.
Well, I guess it is time to think about making dinner for the troops that are here, as the 15 year old is always hungry.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the day and weekend!
Love,
Tina
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas
So much has happened at the Spencer/Schwarz home since my last post. We have been busy preparing for Christmas (as we are sure that everyone else has been too). All the candy has been made; english toffee, bon-bons, chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, chocolate peanut butter fudge, toffee bars, peanut butter blossoms, peanut clusters, white chocolate party mix, Chex mix, seasoned oyster crackers, and lastly Russian tea cakes. It was a lot of fun making all the goodies this year.
I am so greatful to God for being so selfless that he sent his son to earth to give us hope. While the holiday comes with mixed emotions and really missing family members who have passed this year, I know that they are having the best Christmas ever as they get to spend it with Jesus!
Just wanted to send you all a Merry Christmas wish as we are getting ready to start the process of getting ready for church. Once we return from church the children will get to unwrap one present. It is the present that Russell purchased and wrapped without my being involved. This is a really neat tradition that we are starting this year. Growing up we always go to unwrap one present too, and it was always from Daddy. Daddy was always on the road (he was a truck driver) and he would purchase something special for my sister and I. Those were always extra special to me, so we are hoping to pass that tradition on to our children.
Tomorrow will be very busy as we prepare for Russell's family to come and spend Christmas afternoon with us and have dinner. Russell and I love having his family are excited about being able to cook together in the kitchen.
We wish all our family could be with us tomorrow, but know that you will be with us in spirit.
So, for now I must leave you and I'll try and post shortly after Christmas.
With much love!
Tina
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM RUSSELL - TINA - DARRYL - RACHEL - ISAAC
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Busy Week
Good Evening.....
I hope this finds everyone doing well. We have had a hectic week at the Spencer/Schwarz house. Isaac's had his Christmas program on Tuesday night. I am so thankful that we attend a public school that isn't afraid to remember the reason that we have the season - Jesus Christ. It was awesome to hear them sing music that I remember singing growing up when you could call it a Christmas Concert and not a Holiday concert. We had practice on Wednesday for both the elementary and Jr./Sr. High Christmas program that was today. Friday night Russell and I had a date night and went to Cracker Barrel for dinner (my all time favorite place). We then finished up the majority of our shopping. All I need to pick up are a few odds and ends and stocking stuffers to round everything out. Saturday we spent the day rearranging furniture in the parent family room and cleaning top to bottom. I hadn't really cleaned that well since I've gotten better.
Today we all attended church as a family. I sang a solo this morning that went okay - I always manage to get a cold right before I am suppose to perform. Tonight we had the Children's program. I had about 15 elementary children who performed Majesty and then sang 3 songs. The Jr./Sr. High group did readings, scripture reading, Rachel sand a solo and then did a little skit. It was really simple, but nicely done.
I am soon off to bed, I am fighting this cold and we have a hectic week that will start again on Monday. Darryl's holiday concert is Monday, we have a band board meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday is the Jr./Sr. High for Christmas caroling at the nursing home and then their Christmas party at the Pastor's house. Thursday evening is Rachel's holiday concert, and on Friday we are going to just veg and then I will hit hard again on Saturday to finish up my baking.
Well, I'm off to take my medicine and get snuggled up on the couch.
Love to all of you!
Tina
P.S. I will try and post pictures before I hit the bed tonight, if not I'll post pictures tomorrow with time permitting.
I hope this finds everyone doing well. We have had a hectic week at the Spencer/Schwarz house. Isaac's had his Christmas program on Tuesday night. I am so thankful that we attend a public school that isn't afraid to remember the reason that we have the season - Jesus Christ. It was awesome to hear them sing music that I remember singing growing up when you could call it a Christmas Concert and not a Holiday concert. We had practice on Wednesday for both the elementary and Jr./Sr. High Christmas program that was today. Friday night Russell and I had a date night and went to Cracker Barrel for dinner (my all time favorite place). We then finished up the majority of our shopping. All I need to pick up are a few odds and ends and stocking stuffers to round everything out. Saturday we spent the day rearranging furniture in the parent family room and cleaning top to bottom. I hadn't really cleaned that well since I've gotten better.
Today we all attended church as a family. I sang a solo this morning that went okay - I always manage to get a cold right before I am suppose to perform. Tonight we had the Children's program. I had about 15 elementary children who performed Majesty and then sang 3 songs. The Jr./Sr. High group did readings, scripture reading, Rachel sand a solo and then did a little skit. It was really simple, but nicely done.
I am soon off to bed, I am fighting this cold and we have a hectic week that will start again on Monday. Darryl's holiday concert is Monday, we have a band board meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday is the Jr./Sr. High for Christmas caroling at the nursing home and then their Christmas party at the Pastor's house. Thursday evening is Rachel's holiday concert, and on Friday we are going to just veg and then I will hit hard again on Saturday to finish up my baking.
Well, I'm off to take my medicine and get snuggled up on the couch.
Love to all of you!
Tina
P.S. I will try and post pictures before I hit the bed tonight, if not I'll post pictures tomorrow with time permitting.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Holiday Baking
Happy Tuesday.......
Well today is a vacation day from work, but has been busy thus far. Russell and I attended the school performance for Isaac today at 9:30 (he was the back-up for the cow) because he was performing (back-ups perform in the morning). He did a great job and we found out today that he had to "try-out"! He is coming into his own. When we returned home, we started on the holiday baking. I try to do this with Laura, but it didn't work out this year...:( On Sunday I went through all the recipes and put together a list of ingredients. For those who don't know this fact, when I was growing up Christmas was a big thing in our family. We could count on Mom and Granny to make all sorts of goodies. Mom would never make sugar cookies, because a friend of hers did them so well, she would pay her to make them (I sure wish I had Krista McWhirter's recipe), but we made all sorts of other goodies. We would play Christmas music and go to town on making things. My favorite as child, was making bon-bons. I actually got to help and would roll the balls and get to dip them in the chocolate.....I'm sure I've bored you with my walk down memory lane!
So we have made chex mix, seasoned oyster crackers, and new recipe this year, cheesy ranch chex mix, up next is good chunk of the fudge and a couple of Swedish Tea Rings (Grandma Barcus used to always make these - one of the few things of hers that I mastered the recipe).
The greatest thing about today, is that Russell and I are getting to do it together. We both enjoy cooking and it is fun to do it with the love of my life....we are of course listening to Christmas music (not his favorite, but for my benefit he is tolerating it). As soon as the chex mix comes out of the oven, we will be running up to little local grocery store to purchase a few things that we forgot, I am not certain how we could have forgotten something with a list that 2 pages long!!
Well, I must sign off for now, the timer is beeping at me and that signals time to stir the chex mix.
Love,
Tina
Well today is a vacation day from work, but has been busy thus far. Russell and I attended the school performance for Isaac today at 9:30 (he was the back-up for the cow) because he was performing (back-ups perform in the morning). He did a great job and we found out today that he had to "try-out"! He is coming into his own. When we returned home, we started on the holiday baking. I try to do this with Laura, but it didn't work out this year...:( On Sunday I went through all the recipes and put together a list of ingredients. For those who don't know this fact, when I was growing up Christmas was a big thing in our family. We could count on Mom and Granny to make all sorts of goodies. Mom would never make sugar cookies, because a friend of hers did them so well, she would pay her to make them (I sure wish I had Krista McWhirter's recipe), but we made all sorts of other goodies. We would play Christmas music and go to town on making things. My favorite as child, was making bon-bons. I actually got to help and would roll the balls and get to dip them in the chocolate.....I'm sure I've bored you with my walk down memory lane!
So we have made chex mix, seasoned oyster crackers, and new recipe this year, cheesy ranch chex mix, up next is good chunk of the fudge and a couple of Swedish Tea Rings (Grandma Barcus used to always make these - one of the few things of hers that I mastered the recipe).
The greatest thing about today, is that Russell and I are getting to do it together. We both enjoy cooking and it is fun to do it with the love of my life....we are of course listening to Christmas music (not his favorite, but for my benefit he is tolerating it). As soon as the chex mix comes out of the oven, we will be running up to little local grocery store to purchase a few things that we forgot, I am not certain how we could have forgotten something with a list that 2 pages long!!
Well, I must sign off for now, the timer is beeping at me and that signals time to stir the chex mix.
Love,
Tina
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