Wizard of Oz

Last night we sat down and watched the Wizard of OZ. We explained to Harper that Wizard of Oz was one of Grandma Jeri's favorite movies. She sat through the whole thing, but had many questions of what was going on during the movie. At this very moments she and Matt and upstairs watching it again. We had been talking about the lollypop kids and how funny we thought they were... That part came and she sat and watched without a word... and then said "I want to go in there and lick them".

Baking cookies with mommy!

On Monday I have organized a cookie exchange with all of the people in my office. Each of us are to bring in 3 dozen cookies. So today Harper and I decided that today would be a great day to bake cookies - since it was so darn cold out! The recipe was so easy - 1 box of devils food cake, 2 eggs, 1/2 butter (melted) 1/2 cup quick oats and 1 cup chocolate chips. Mix all together and back 12 minutes at 350. As you can see, she even helped with the clean up!

Been busy at our house!

The last few weeks have been busy at our house. Trying to finish up all of the Christmas shopping, get gifts together for all of Harper's teachers (pre-school, speech & dance - 7 in all), get the office decorated and trying to plan the 1st Annual Cookie Exchange. Below are a few recent pictures - the first is the Tree that Westminster Preschool decorated the Festival of Trees. Harper, Jayne and I went and looked at all of the trees decorated in the church. There were many theme trees decorated by different agencies in and around Lincoln. My favorite was MADD DADS tree that had tires and chains and the a very little bike on the top! My boss gave Harper and Nativity project. She and I sat at the table for probably an hour and put it together. Matt wasn't helping us - so it isn't very perfect and lined up all nice and neat... Those of you who know Matt understand! The next 2 as of Harper and her Gingerbread House. She made it when we went to our annual afternoon of Desserts at the Hughes. Thank you so much for having us over - It's great to see you all. Harper just loves the girls.

Christmas is coming!

Preschool Christmas Tree

Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus

Harper's first GingerBread house

Harper's Humor Chapter 3 page 2

Since it has gotten colder, Harper likes to go outside and see her breathe. This morning on the way to preschool she got very excited and said "mommy, I can see that trucks breathe". If you haven't figured it out, she was talking about the exhaust of the truck in front of us.

Living Veteran Award

On November 11, 2008 (VETERANS DAY) Harper and I headed to Albion for the Veteran's Day Program. They were honoring "Albion Grandpa" with the Living Veteran Award at the annual Veteran's Day Program at Boone Central where I graduated in 1988. Jim, Jacob, Scott & Marlene, Miechelle, Madison, Caleb, Abby, Harper and I all were able to go. "Albion Grandpa" had no idea that he was receiving the award or that we were all coming. Below is what was read aloud about "Albion Grandpa"

Today's honoree was born in Albion on November 10, 1927. He graduated from Albion High School in May 1947. Active in sports, he played football, basketball and was a commencement speaker. While in high school, he began working for the Albion News as a printer, where he remained for 27 years.

In 1950, he was married at the Immanuel Zion Luther Church in rural Albion. He is a father of three children, a proud grandfather to four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He entered the U.S. Army during the Korea Was on February 15, 1952 and was honorably dis-charged on January 26, 1954. As an Infantry corporal, he was in the Bomb Disposal Squad stationed in Hanua, Germany, earning the Occupational and Defense Medals. He is a active member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served as commander, and for many years was in the Honor Guard.

From 1973 to 1993, he was the Boone County Sheriff, the Civil Defense Director and the Outstanding Student at Lay Enforcement Training. A man of high morals, he treats all people equally.

He is an active member of the Immanuel Zion Lutheran Church and headed an archery club for many years. He enjoys fishing, hunting rattle snakes, collecting arrowheads and Indian artifacts, as well as delighting audiences with poems he recites from memory, dating back to his childhood.
He loves children. For many years he and his wife have donated American flags and leaflets to all third graders students in Boone County.

THE LIVING VETERAN AWARD FOR 2008 IS PRESENTED TO DICK JOHNSON.

Our family is very proud of him for all he has done over the years for the community.

Harper's Humor Chapter 3 page 1

There is a new saying on our house..... Apparently either Matt or I must have said "What in the world?" at one time or another. The other day Harper was playing (with dad) Mario Cart Wii. She crasher or something and looks at Matt and says "What in the name of the world" It was so funny - She said it at the correct time & with the correct enunciation. (did I spell that right?)

Our 1st Parent Teachers Conference

On Tuesday Matt and I went to our very first Parent Teachers Conference Westminister Preschool. The only problem was..... those damn little chairs we had to sit on. Just imagine Matt & I sitting on those chairs! Anyhow - Harper is doing great! They said she really enjoys playing with their dress up cloths, the kitchen & house area. They said she is a good friend and once in a while she needs encouragement to share. During group time her attention to the teacher is getting much better - she loves to talk but is learning when it is her time to talk and when it is the teachers time to talk. All in all it was a good conference - which I figured it would be!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (almost)

Easter 2005 wearing the dress given to her by

Grandma Jeri & Aunt Jayne!

Harper's Humor Chapter 2 page 1

Yesterday - on the way from Preschool to DD's - BIG MONKEY came back into our lives. For those of you who do not know who Big Monkey is - he is Harper's imaginary friend who comes and goes. At times he/she is purple with a red hat and other times he/she is huge, then small. Just really depends. We have not heard about Big Monkey for some time, but he/she is BACK.

Harper just started talking about Big Monkey and how 'she' has a boyfriend who was is a 'he' and 'he' had a girlfriend ????? For the life of me I cannot remember the name that she gave Big Monkey - Just remembered it was James Bond??? She then went on to tell me that Big Monkey lives in the East with the Easter Bunny. I'm sure there will more Big Monkey stories and I'll keep you posted.

Harper rides a combine!

Saturday after dance class, Matt took Harper so Les's ( a guy that Matt works with) farm so she could ride the combine. He was in the process of getting the corn out of the fields and had invited us to come and go for a ride. I wasn't feeling well so Matt and Harper headed out for a day of fun. They got to ride on the combine and even helped unload all of corn at the local elevator. She loved it and even brought home a couple of ears of corn that she and Matt used when they built a squirrel feeder.

Halloween

After Matt got off of work on Halloween, he brought Harper into my office to do a little Trick-or-Treating. She was a hit and had a great time also came home with a sack full of goodies. After I got home from work we went around our neighborhood, then headed to DD's and off to Grandpa's. Finally we headed to Uncle Mitch & Aunt Brandy's house where Matt and Mitch took her around their neighborhood. Harper was then able to play with Brandy and all of Brandy's snow globes. They take each one off of the shelf, play with them, look at them and then put them back. Harper just loves them and Brandy is so good with her. THEN is was time to play some Guitar Hero. I had never played or even knew how it really worked. Mitch showed Matt and they played a couple of songs and Harper even got in on the action as you can see my the pictures below! It was just to funny - Harper really got into it and loved it!

Guitar Hero

Harper's Humor Chapter 1 page 5

Harper was running though the house playing - she ran into the kitchen and said "mommy, feel my heart it's BEEPING"

Fun Facts

I have been "tagged" by a friend to post 7 fun facts about myself that people my not be aware of

• I played the trumpet in High School Marching Band
• As a Sophmore I ran the 100 yard hurdles in track
• I love to Color with my darling daughter
• Out of high school I managed a Video Store for my brother in St. Paul Ne
• I once got in the car and drove to Chicago all myself for no reason at all
• One nickname in High School was CRASH - because I wrecked so many cars
• Never thought it would happen - but I recently started drinking Coffee

Here are a few fun facts about Harper

• She was born at 2:32 pm was 8.5 lbs and 21 inches long
• She loves to fish with her dad
• Is the tallest in her Preschool class
• She is the oldest at Daycare and is DD's special helper
• She loves to paint!
• Doesn't like it when I call her dear - her response is... I'm not a deer, I'm Harper

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Halloween 2008

Last week we went over to John & Vickie's back yard and took some pictures. I needed to get some Halloween cards out in the mail. We had a good time until the very end. Once we got back home and I asked for one more pictures - she sat on the step and said... Mommy, I'd done! I'm sure that I will have more pictures when we go to Boo at the Zoo...

Halloween Costume!

Mommy - I'm done!

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Tuesday night the 3 of us were sitting on the couch watching and Nebraska vs. Texas volleyball game. Harper was asking questions about what they were doing and why. She then asked who is in the white - we replied the Huskers. Then she asked who the other girls were. I said that they were the players from Texas. Harper then says - Oh you mean they are from Texas like "Sandy Checks". For those of you who watch Sponge Bob you get it! For those of you who do not watch Sponge Bob, Sandy Checks in a squirrel that lives in a bubble in Bikini Bottom on the Sponge Bob cartoon.

Harper's Humor Chapter 1 page 3

This one is something that Harper has said before in a little different way - and it came up again today. Harper and I were on our way to Preschool this morning... There was a lot of traffic heading south on 27th with us. I can see that she is looking around at the other cars, 'thinking'. She says: "Mommy, why are all these people going to my Preschool? There won't be enough toys for us to play with."

Our trip to Roca Berry Farms Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Pumpkin Patch at Roca and had a great time. We got there at a good time as is wasn't all that crowded. They have all sorts of kid friendly things to do. They had a huge sand box, all sorts of little buildings kids can go in and out off, tails, trikes kids can ride on trails, bouncing things with a huge slide (which she loved). The String Beans also played and she loved to get up front with all the other kids and dance. She also won one of the dance contest. The String Beans are a singing group of 3 guys that play kids music. We brought home 3 pumpkins ( a daddy, mommy and Harper size ) What a fun day!

Sliding down the huge slide

Riding through a kid size tunnel

Dancing while The String Beans play

Harper's Humor Chapter 1 page 2

Harper has been going to dance class in Waverly every Saturday morning for the last month. There is a gas station on 84th and Cornhusker that flies has a HUGE flag. When the Husker's play at home they have a HUGH Husker flag they fly. We talk about the American Flag and the Husker when we drive by and I have tried to explain each to her. The Husker's played at Iowa yesterday so the American flag was flying. As we drove by Harper says - 'Mommy, I know the the American flag means" I was surprised and 'thought' she remember what we had talked about, she then says "it means there is no Husker home game today."

Harper's Humor Chapter 1 page 1

I'm going to try something a little new. As some of you may know - I have many pages of the funny things that Matt had said while talking in his sleep. (let me know and I'll let you read them sometime) I am goign to start keeping track of the funny things that Harper says/does in this blog and title it Harper's Humor.

Chapter 1-----October 2008

This morning on the way to Preschool I needed to stop at Walgreens. Harper asked why we were stopping at Walgreens and I told her that it was Boss's Day and I needed to get a card for my boss. She ask who my boss was and I told her that it was the Kathy that I work with - she then ask me if Kathy makes me go to TimeOut like DD does at daycare........... We often joke around the house and ask Harper "who's the boss" and 9 out of 10 times she says DD!

Just checking in..

The last couple of weeks have been about the same.... Harper goes to Speech Therapy on Monday afternoons, Preschool on Tuesday & Thursday mornings and dance class on Saturday morning. Last week she had her 6 month check at the dentist. The apt went well and she did great. No cavities and they said she is brushing well.... I usually doing the brushing and then the next time she does it and so on. That seems to keep her happy. The Halloween costume is all ready to go - she is going to be a Ladybug this year. I plan on having pictures posted in the next week or so. We are going to go to the neighbor's back yard and take some pictures. We are also planning on going to Roca Berry Farms this weekend. She had such a great time at the Dairy Farm that I want to take her to as much stuff like that as we can. Grandpa, Cousin Craig, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Jan & Aunt Jayne and of course Baby Holden stopped by the other night. Everyone had a good visit and Harper and Holder played and really enjoyed themselves. I had a meeting last night and didn't get home until after 7:00. The house was all dark when I drove up and I wondered what was going on.... Matt and Harper will sitting on the couch 'relaxing' with all of the lights out. The had a pretty busy night. It had been raining most of the day and Harper played in it when they got home. She wore her new raincoat from Aunt Carrie, had an umbrella and mittens... and then decided to stomp in the puddles.... I'm not sure how long it will take to dry out her shoes....

Albion Grandma & Grandpa came for a visit

A couple of weeks ago Mom & Dad or Albion Grandma & Grandpa came down for the weekend. Matt, Mitch & Steve were in MN fishing so it was just the four of us here at home. We didn't do a whole lot, but had a nice time catching up.

Where did September go???

I can't believe that the month of September is gone already. I didn't even post one single blog the whole month. And it's not like I was THAT busy. Work has been pretty busy and I have on the computer a lot - so I when I come home the last thing I want to do is be on the computer... every time I come down here Harper is right there ready to play on her FisherPrice website. So we usually end up doing that anyhow.

She is still enjoying Pre-School and has recently started taking Dance. We are going to the Anderson-Hoxie Studio in Waverly. She has a Creative Movement class every Saturday from 10:00 - 10:30.

She LOVES it. Last week she was up at about 7:00 and already asking when we can leave to go to her dance class. There are 5 little girls in the class and Harper (as usaul) is the outgoing one who does most of the talking, which means she is usually the one the teacher needs to ask to be quiet!

I will do a better job of keeping you up to date on what is happening and also keeping pictures posted.