JaciAnna turns 11

On February 10th Jaci turned 11 years old.  Jaci is a planner, and has been planning her birthday with her mom for many months now...  many celebrations took place the week before her birthday!  She started out with an "American Doll" party with some friends from school that she carefully choose.  They all attended an ECFE family night together and fun was had by all.  Then she had a neighbor party at her house the next morning followed by dad picking up some other friends and going out to eat at McDonald's... now it is on to Becker for the family celebration!  What a good party planner Ms. Jaci Anna is!  HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY JACANNA!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Where are you going my little one, little one, where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and your one, turn around and your two

turn around and your four

turn around and your a young girl going out of the door...

student of the month!  11th birthday sweater!

Cassie Grace turns two!

Party from Cassie's 1st birthday, time flys!

Cassie swimming in her toy box

Cassie outside enjoying January weather in Minnesota

Cassie in her new car that goes beep beep!

Cassie saying "do it again!"

Now, how do I do this dad?

A new vanity/piano for the birthday princess!

Our youngest granddaughter celebrated her 2nd year of life with her family on Saturday January 26th!  She had her grandma and grandpa Johnson and aunt Jenna come and celebrate at her house with cake!  When daddy lit the candles she wasn't quite sure what to do so he gently blew them out for her...  her reply?  Do again daddy!  So they lit the two little candles and blew them out together... yummy cake!!  Cassie got calls from her other family and some cards in the mail with the promise that we would all get together again and celebrate this wonderful day!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASSIE GRACE JOHNSON!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Cassie on her 1st birthday, time flys!

Heart songs...

Sometimes when you see things with your heart...
You are not sure in your mind what it is saying...
but,
you know it is something beautiful!

Cassie Grace helps make Ginger snaps!

Casey Grace reads from Gramma D's recipe book

Are you listening momma?

The end product

My mother has always been an exquisite cook.  I remember having her in the kitchen and how special she would make each meal.  She did baking at Christmas, made special things for birthdays and actually, each meal we had seemed special.
My favorites as a child were...   macaroni and cheese, poor mans lobster, swiss steak and buttered noodles....
We will often joke about the girls all calling Grandma D for her buttered noodle recipe.
I did not take after her with the cooking or the baking.

It does seem however,  that through the years one of the girls has taken on some of her recipes with a serious attitude...
making some pretty awesome cookies and cakes..
and look who's helping!

JORDYN NOEL TURNS 4!

Jordyn Noel Harren 1/11/11 preschool picture

Jordyn at her first birthday sleepover

The party

Jordie with uncle Doug - Labor day 2014

labor day 2014

labor day 2014 - dancing with Jeff

It seems as though the years all begin to come together after you turn 50.  So, I sit and think about it all... remembering those gentle times when my babies turned four.
Chris and Emily have the Coborns Christmas party in Foley.  So grammie pammie heads to Foley arriving about 4:00 on Saturday January 10th.  It is Rachele, JaciAnna, Emma and me that will be at the house for the night.  We pack up and head out to McDonalds for supper.  Our birthday girl is having a sleep over at her friends house tonight.  With her being gone, the girls and I decide to stop at the dollar store and pick up a few things for the Sunday birthday party.  We pick up an out fit for her, a nice birthday sack for gifts, a pink table cloth and some birthday plates and napkins.  When we get home the girls and I finish painting her "birthday pig".  It is a piggy bank that has been waiting for many years for the right day, and the perfect little girl.  We set up the table and go to bed.
The next morning it is time for dad, Jaci and Emma to go and pick up our little birthday surprise.
Four years ago this very day our little smiley Jordyn Noel Harren came in to the world.
Her dad predicted that she would be a girl and would look just like Jaci when she was born.
He was right.
He also predicted that she would be the one to complete their little family.
He was right.
And oh what a time we had...
opening presents,
eating cupcakes...
and loving our little smileyJordie cakes!

Baby Jordie - look at that smile!

Perfect princess of the Most High King!

Market 101

Snow Dancing

Today I was on my way to Amberfield Apts.  Cassie Grace is in Arlington and I am going down to grandma D's to stay with her while her mom takes Jeff Christmas shopping.
My thoughts are Heaven bound as I am thinking how blessed I am.
I came up to the T-road and put my blinkers on to turn left...
I looked to my right to check for cars...
and there she was...
this little girl with long curly hair and winter attire.
The snow flakes were falling big and wet around her,
and she was twirling in the snow.
First to the right and then to the left.
The smile on her face would have lit up the sanctuary on a silent night.
I smiled at her, and she stopped.  As I turned the car to the left, our little snow dancer continued with her dance in my review mirror.  She was smiling at me, as the gentle arms of Jesus surrounded the whole area.  I continued on the drive, and thought of the Snow Dance all day, and smiled.

Cassie Grace showing her dance moves

Jordyn Noel and Jeff dancing

Cassie Grace doing the side step

Nola Jean dream dancing

His favorite

His favorite!

It was a beautiful Sunday in Foley.  Grams, Jeff, Lila and I had spent the week-end, and this morning gathered up and headed to New Life church.   JaciAnna and Jordyn went to Sunday school and Conner stayed in church with us and listened to their wonderful worship team, then a Spirit lead sermon called "Keep Swinging". 
When we left the sanctuary, I saw him.  A man who belongs to their church...
I don't know his name,
but, every Sunday he has a bag, he stands in the foyer and hands candy out to everyone.
On this beautiful Sunday filled with the spirit of God - he was there.
He was graciously handing out treats from his bag and he looked at me and said...
"do you see that girl right there?" (he pointed to Jaci Anna)
I said "yes, that is my grand daughter"
he said "SHE IS MY FAVORITE"...
it was said with this strong voice and beautiful smile, and as Jaci Anna took her piece of candy, she smiled.
We left church and went back home.
Jaci Anna went straight to  the big ole recliner and was processing something in her mind, something that made her smile a Kingdom like smile...
she said "mom, you know that man that hands out candy at church? He told me that I was his favorite!"
In that instant I felt the power behind our words in a way that I never had.  This man had no idea that this is exactly what this little girl needed to hear in a human voice.
There is no doubt in my mind that it was God using this man to reach out to her.
I will forever be thank-ful for this day in the Foley church, for this moment of God's voice reaching through another human to touch the heart of a child...
and He whispered...
SHE'S MY FAVORITE.

Nola turns 4

Nola celebrated her 4th year of life in Foley with her friends and family.
There was food, gifts, friends, love
and a pinata.
Jordyn and Nola played the day away as friends gathered around and enjoyed
the beautiful day - there was rain.
Chris hung the pinata in the garage, and the kids took turns until it busted and
sprayed candy on the floor...
The busted up pinata made for a great pair of shoes for the girls to wear out in the
wet yard.
pictures were taken by Nola's daddy and will be added soon.

Conner turns 7

This year again, Conner and Nola celebrated thier birthdays together in Foley.
It was a wonderful time together with our family and friends.
The big surprise was his bike and batting gloves.
Many gifts and cupcakes,
a pinata hanging in the garage.
A daddy grilling and a pot luck.
It was a very fine 7 year old day!
Pictures to be added.
June 21, 2014

TRICKY HORSE

It was time to walk Chloe and Nola wanted to come along.
Today her choice of walking would be to use her red tricycle.
She got it for Christmas from her Gramma Doris and Jeffrey when she was 2 years old, she is now 4.
Well, who am I to say she can't ride her trike? She is peddling with the best of them, keeping up with me and Chloe, taking her turns with ease.
We went a long ways our little Nola and me
Smelling the fresh breeze on our cheeks as Chloe smells the fire hydrants...
That night when she laid down to sleep, she slept well.
However, in the morning she told her mom that she had a
"tricky horse".
With those little legs moving the way they were, I have no doubt that the horse was tricky!
One week later she brought her pink bike that she got from "Bubcha and Jadeck".  It has training wheels and a colorful pinwheel on the handles.  This bike is very much her size and she takes the corners with the sense of a well seasoned biker.  Walking Chloe for many blocks, her little sunflower dress waving in the breeze.
The next morning there was no trickey horse!

North Dakota July 8th, 2014

A couple of years ago Carol had mentioned Medora, North Dakota.  Her and Du had went on a trip touring all the national parks and she remembers this as her favorite.  She tells us she knows Curt will like it and that it will be a wonderful relaxing vacation...
So, the wheels got turning and we saved up money and Duey did the planning.  One of the best parts was the 10 hour drive there and home!  We had our cheeto's, a car DVD player that Carol found, magazines, and sunflower seeds.
The motel we stayed at was a great place and Carol brought 4 matching folding red chairs that we set outside on the "veranda" - this is where we gathered in the morning and in the evening - taking in the beautiful sites of rolling hills, rocks, mustard grass, clouds and beautiful weather.
I am trying to think if there could have been any better way to spend our 35th anniversary...
and there just isn't...
it was perfect!!
Driving through the Roosevelt National park, we dodged wild horses and buffalo and searched out wild flowers.   The sunset was breathtaking and the sunrise beautiful...
we ate stake fondu, and pizza...
we built on our relationship with each other and with our friends.
The whole trip went off without a hitch and I am so thank-ful to Duey for planning and to God our creator for letting us see this magical place here on earth.

NIMROD 2014

The whole gang

best buddies

The path to the river

Jeff and Jordyn at the dance

Doug and his new friend Jordyn

Chris meets up with an old Roseau friend

Jordyn loving on her wiwwy wiewd gwampa

JaciAnna and grandma Schmidt are great pals

Jordyn Noel and me!

Emi sent out a TXT quite awhile ago ... her plans were to go to the cabin for Labor Day week-end before school starts.  We have not been up there sense Jordyn was 10 months old.  It seems the week-end takes us to other places the last two years, we have spent it organizing for the upcoming school year.  With Emily being a teacher and 3 kids - I just think it is to hard...
well, who matters what I think!??!!?
We are heading to Nimrod for the 2014 JUBILEE days.

  Curt left and went up on Friday night... he worked, got ready, and stopped and talked along the way - arriving about 12:00 midnight - so, we will still call it Friday.

Lindsey came to my work on Friday and picked up Gramma Dorius.  They will be heading to South Dakota.  Curtis's son Jordan got married and they are having a reception at their new farm site in Colton, SD.  Lindsey has a friend who is getting married in _____________, SD and it is only a few hours from Clark.  About 12:00 noon they take off for their adventure.  They meet up with Shirley and George.  Grams goes with them and Lindsey heads on to her wedding making it at 6:00 just in time for the grooms dinner.  Have fun everyone!!

Lacey and family will be staying in Mpls.  It is time for her to "organize" and spend some time at home.  K has some work and is offered overtime, they will do a little "park" hopping and family adventure.  Have fun everyone!!

Jeff, Lila and I head up on Saturday morning - we leave approximately 9:30.  I decide we will take the Foley way and we stop in and have dinner with Chris at the store.  He has to work and will come up on Sunday afternoon for the horseshoe tournament (he has won it every year he has gone!)
When we arrive we walk uptown find Emi and the kids.  There are many events going on... Nimrod being a small town (to say the least) - we find them right away!  There was a dance at the community center that Emi, Lila, Jeff, JaciAnna, Jordyn go to.  Conner is at the cabin with grandpa.  We mainly have supper at Jubilee days and then head back to the cabin and meet up with everyone else.  Doug starts a fire and we all sit down to enjoy our family time.  The long time neighbors come over to join in conversation around the camp fire.  About 8:30, Jeff, Conner, Lila and myself head off to stay the night in the Motley motel!  Jeff has a twin bed, Lila and I on the double and I have made Conner a nice sleeper on the floor.  Tickling his legs and arms for about 30 seconds, the little guy falls fast asleep.  We all sleep well and get up, showering, loading the car and off at 11:00.  Well, lets stop at the dollar store to get things for smore's and then to McDonald's in Staples to eat, arriving at the cabin about 1:00 and walk up to meet with Chris, Emi, Jordyn, and JaciAnna.  They are up watching the horseshoes, and now it is time for the "girls" to head up to the citizens center and play bingo.  Grandma Schmidt and JaciAnna have bonded quite well as Jaci talks with her openly.  I am so happy about that!  All of us head back to the cabin and make supper - bbq's, pork chops, brats, salad, tomatoes... well, just name your favorite food it was probably there.  Doug and Conner start another fire... it seems they have bonded well also! Jordyn wewlly likes her "great gwandpa  that is kind of wewrd" and after she cleans up she asks her grandpa Curt " Gwanpa, is gween your flavorite color?" To have a tape recorder and just talk this all out - would be perfect,
it was such a wiwwly  perfecct week-end...

Next year the weddings in South Dakota and the organizing in Mpls will have to wait - as we are all heading out again to the Great North woods in Nimrod, Minnesota!!