Special Gifts 2011

Trenton - Tyler (a very cool UnderArmour climalite shirt)
Tyler - Trenton (IU Basketball shirt and Chipotle card)
Gabi - Ben (Brad Paisley CD and a Notre Dame shirt)
Ben - Cindy (necklace)
Cindy - Gabi (curling iron, teasing comb, G necklace and some hair rollers)

Some got teary eyed for sure this year...it was a good combination.  Still love the fact that we write how we feel on paper for our "special" person that year.  Makes it all worth while.

A great start to Christmas celebration!

Fairly New Tradition

Gabi has a pretty special uncle Dave who has recently started a fairly new tradition of having all his nieces and nephew over for some baking and playing "Clue."  The baking last year was chocolate chip cookies but this year he is doing gingerbread men!  I must say they look like they are having alot of fun :)  Thanks uncle Dave!!!

I have my holiday cheeseball ready for the Christmas Eve happenings on my side tomorrow night.  Only have to put together the Hash Brown Casseroles.  Making a Buttermilk Blueberry Bake (that looks OH SO YUMMY) for brunch, that was suggested by my sister in law's sister (via her blog and I think Pinterest) that I knew my boys would LOVE...definitely looking forward to that!  Lots of traditions to follow from here on out...Special gift exchange tomorrow night within our little family of 5, Christmas Eve at my mom's house, Reading "The Night Before Christmas," Christmas Brunch at my brother's house and gift exchange with Ben's sideon Christmas day, and to top it all, a birthday bash at my brother's house in the evening with munchies and games.  Can't wait for it all to begin!!! 

Ready for Christmas

I do "circle time" with the kiddos at my mom's daycare home on Tuesdays and since Tyler was home this week he offered to be "the big man."  I was a bit worried Reese would recognize him, but after she gave Santa Tyler's Reese's Peanut Butter cups and he left to go back to the North Pole, she was worried about what we were gonna do for Tyler since she gave them to Santa.  It was beyond cute!  It is always a special time for the kids. 

Today was Gabi's Holiday party and I was in charge of this one.  I have to say I got sad thinking that this would be my LAST Holiday party...no more parties next year.  I have certainly been blessed with a job that allows me time off to do such things - and I have been there for ALL my kids.  SO BLESSED.  SO THANKFUL.  We played a few cute games, including a "snowball fight" with toilet paper and had some really great goodies...I even attempted the Melted Snowman Cookies.  Believe it or not, they ended up being a hit, even though they didn't turn out as great as I wanted. 

And Gabi brought home her "Christmas Card Tree" that she has been hard at work on for the past few weeks.  A VERY CUTE IDEA!

All these preparations for the big day... and it is coming sooner than later now.  Both boys are home, presents bought and wrapped, about half the cookies are gone already...We are ready for Christmas :)

Forgot to put the cute pic of the girls with Santa a few weeks ago when they stayed with maw maw and paw paw during their annual overnight.  Adorable.

Girls Gift Exchange

This year, Lina and I decided it would be an awesome idea to take the girls to lunch on a Sunday instead of dinner so we had a bit more time to spend together.  This also worked out perfectly because we also came up with another GREAT idea :)  Obviously Gabi and Emma are growing up and they have quickly grown out of the McDonalds playplace...to Olive Garden.  We did manicures the last couple of years, but this year they have really been into shopping.  Especially Gabi.  We thought it would be a great idea have the girls get each other gift cards to two different stores (two faves...Aeropostale and Claires).  They can take the gift cards after lunch and shop together!!!!  It couldn't have worked out more perfectly!  It was a four hour event, but they loved every minute of walking the mall and shopping.  So glad these two are still close, despite different schools.  And it is even better for me, cuz I am able to spend time with MY bestie, Lina :)  Good times.  Just check out how much they have grown!  2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010!

Holy Walk

We loaded up and headed out with one of Gabi's friends, Lindsay to the Holy Walk in Bremen, Indiana.  If you have never been to this event, it is a MUST.  I first went to this walk when I was in my youth group at church.  I was so impressed with it, that I told my parents about it and we have tried to go every year that we could from there on out (unfortunately, with wrestling all these years, it has been put on hold).  It started out as a Sunday School project for one of the area churches in Bremen, Indiana and about 200 people visited at first.  It has grown to have nearly 3500 visitors now!  It is always held the second weekend of December on Friday and Saturday nights.  GREAT TIME.  Especially for little ones.  It was especially fun this year because Gabi's friend had never been there.  We warned her about the Roman soldiers and how we must remember our family's name, how many in our family and our family's occupation, etc etc or we would be thrown in jail. 

This year Ben was the holder of the lantern for our family.  It is always fun to go through the renactment of the journey to Bethlehem.  Seeing the shepherds, asking the innkeeper for a room, going through a Jewish Synogogue, seeing the Wise men on their way to see the Baby Jesus, the marketplaces and sampling old foods, bartering with the marketplace owners, paying our taxes to Ceasar and of course, getting to the stable where we are able to see Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.  Gabi and Lindsay even got to try and barter with the bread makers and show them how they could grind wheat!

It is certainly moving standing in silence looking on at the stable and knowing what happened many, many years ago, taking it all in, knowing it was a REAL event that we had just portrayed.

How awesome that this community gives this kind of dedication and testimony to all kinds of people who come to go through the Holy Walk. 

Choir Concert

Last night was Gabi's last choir concert in the elementary school (yikes) .  She was grinning ear to ear the whole night...why?  Because of her audience of course...so excited that Grandpa R, Uncle Dave, maw maw and paw paw AND TYLER were all there to watch. 

Cookies

We have been busy baking this past week to get ready for our boys to come home. Peanut butter blossoms, buckeyes, peppermint crunch cookies, and a family recipe for cutout cookies were on the to do list.  And we got them done!  We are ready for our boys to come home :)

MRI Results

Trenton finally got his MRI results back yesterday and our prayers have definitely been answered.  No scarring or permanent damage was found.  The doctor did, however, have the results from his big test he took at his neuropsychologist and was told that he had been trying to get a hold of Trenton to discuss.  In short, his testing was not the best and he did score less than average when it came to memory and concentration issues.  The neuropsychologist is certain that it is result of so many concussions and would be considered post concussion issues.  Trenton is to continue his medication for his headaches and is to follow up with his neuropsychologist.  Please continue to pray for the best possible outcome.  Looking forward to having him and Tyler both home for the holidays for some R & R.   

Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

I guess what IU lacks in football, they are certainly making up for in basketball this year.  And Tyler is right there for the ride!  We watched IU beat #1 ranked Kentucky with a last second three point basket last night winning 73-72!!!  It DOES NOT get any better than that!  Tyler said the atmosphere was like no other!!!  Loud and crowded! 

Tyler's last text to me before sending me this AWESOME photo of the fans rushing the court was "Bloomington is about to be nuts tonight!" 

The official video the team comes out to at Assembly Hall....AWESOME

"We got banners on the wall....and this is how we baaaaalllllllll!" :)

Congrats IU!!!! Keep the streak going!  We will be watching!

Reinoehl Side

Sunday was the Reinoehl Family Christmas.  Always fun to get together with Ben's side of the family for the holidays.  The food is always awesome with everybody bringing their own special items and it's fun to see how much the kids change from year to year.  It is a shame that some of us only see each other this time of year, but I am thankful we have this opportunity.  The grown ups sat around and caught up, while the kids ran around having fun.  Notice little red faced Bren... :)

Good times.  Loving this time of year and lots more family time to come!!!!

December Already

Can't believe December has snuck up on us.  Ben put the lights up on the house this past week so I was able to get some pics of the Christmas decorations.  We are almost ready for Christmas.  Most of the shopping is done...most I was able to do online, which was nice (relaxing).  Just some odds and ends and a couple of people yet to get for.  Some baking to do before my boys come home.  Not bad for it being the first week into December!
Now all we need is a little snow....notice...I said, a LITTLE.  And it can stay until the day after Christmas ;) 

BUTTTTT...I am super excited about our 20th anniversary coming up FAAAST and the trip we have planned....more details on that later.  After 20 years of marriage, we finally get our "get away."  SUPER EXCITED about that!  So even if the snow does stick around longer than the day after Christmas...there definitely won't be snow where we are headed!!! :)

Back HandSpring

Gabi has been trying since summer to get her back handspring.  We had some time for a month back in July or so for her to do some gymnastics.  We sent her to ICE because we know a couple of the trainers there and knew they would be good for her.  Kelly Brown was actually a cheerleader for me when I coached them for the Cowboys teams when my boys played Rocket Football!  So, Gabi was close then but we had to stop ICE for other commitments.  I promised her we would take another class later in the year and November turned out to be perfect.  She chose a Cheer class this time which would help concentrate on fundamentals of cheer AND work on tumbling.  The last night of the class was last night and I walk in as Gabi is walking out with a HUGE smile.  Kelly comes running out after her and breaks out her cell phone.  Gabi got her back handspring and I got it for you to see!  We were all sooo excited. Gabi's hard work has payed off!  So proud of her!

Black Friday and Pizza

Hit up 7 stores in 2 hours starting at 9 am.  Got 6 out of 8 things bought on the list.  Not too bad.  Was home and ready to put up the Christmas decor by 11:30 am.  Gabi stayed the night with Mackenzy, Travis, and Aunt Jenny at Aunt Pam's house on Thanksgiving evening so it was easy to get up, get around and get going by 9 am.  It was even nice to sleep in a bit.  I thought the crowds were not nearly as bad as at 5 am in years past. 

Visited with Jenny, Travis and Mackenzy for a bit in the afternoon to say our goodbyes (leaving at 8 am the next morning) and it was off to Chad/Amber's house for pizza from Brunos.  Had planned to play some board games but the boys preferred a little Rock Band instead. 

Amber and Chad hosted her side for Thanksgiving this year so it was nice to visit with them before the boys head back to school.

Thankful For Family

Thanksgiving 2011....This year I can honestly say I am so very thankful for family.  We can count on everyone in our family for anything at anytime and that is something to be cherished.  It is so nice having Trenton and Tyler home for the weekend and especially them able to actually enjoy eating their food...and AS MUCH of it!  lol  It's been a while.  No more wrestling...no more weight watching.  They enjoyed this Thanksgiving like no other.  And the spread this year...wow.  Outstanding.  Ham (dad R), turkey and dressing, broccoli/rice/cheese casserole (mom), cranberries, mashed potatoes (jenny), sweet potatoes, noodles, biscuits, green bean casserole/green beans with bacon (pam), corn casserole, pumpkin and apple pies (mom) and ice box cake (pam).  So many favorites and traditions!  I love watching Ben and my dad carve up the turkey...and so does Maizy!

 

And an extra this year was having Jenny, Travis and Mackenzy here with us!  SO MUCH FUN!  After dinner activities included MadGab, played the wii (Just Dance games), looked through ads (planned out Black Friday) and watched some football (Ben's Packers). 

Later that evening Trenton found Elf on television...a perfect ending to a perfect day! 

Family....Food....Fun

Story Behind Our Tree

So all this pre holiday festivity going on forced my hand at putting up our tree!  Yes, before Thanksgiving.  I look at it as though it will be one less thing to do when I start decorating for Christmas since it does take a while.  Less stress ;)  Gabi and I put the Christmas brownies in the oven, turned on the holiday music and went to town. 

And let me tell you...there were tears this year...as I got out all the ornaments.  You see, our tree is one of lots of memories.  Its of tradition.  Love.

We usually decorate our tree silver or red...or both for the past few years.  Whatever I am in the mood for at the moment.  Ribbon and solid colored ornaments of that color.  Next comes the tradition.  You see, we collect ornaments from every vacation we go on.  This, so we can reminisce.  Remember.  We also have ornaments that represent where we come from.  Mishawaka football, IU, North Central. 
And ornaments that represent our first Christmases.
Ornaments that remember the ones that have gone before us...
Ornaments that were started as a tradition (mom R) - our old residences
And ornaments that were hand made special for us...

So many different things to reminisce and remember and talk about.  And in my case...sit and shed a few tears over.  I love it.  And honestly, could not think about changing up the decorating we have had for so many years....tradition.  Love.  So looking forward to the holidays with family.