Daybook (an interesting idea)

I've been doing some blog surfing today. And have hopes to try out this daybook idea I found on Peggy's page.


FOR TODAY
Monday, January 18th, 2010
Outside my window...there is still lingering fog from this morning and many of the trees are painted in frost. A great day for outdoor pictures if I had a camera that wasn't being held hostage with all of my vacation an Christmas pictures.





I am thinking...I should turn off the computer after this and spend some more time with my little one. Though I am impressed at her ability to entertain herself recently.





I am thankful for...having a four day weekend with my husband. We're going to have dinner with friends tonight and he's watching Kate this afternoon so I can shop by myself for once.





From the learning room...Kate has been working on singing some more children's songs. She's quite good at Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Old McDonald, Happy Birthday, and Baa, Baa Black Sheep. She needs more practice on The Alphabet Song but its coming along! Oh and she's addicted to the Song of the Saboo (spelling) from a Veggie Tales CD we have in the van.









From the kitchen...the breakfast dishes still need to be done and are cluttering up the counter. We're bringing French bread and oil dippers tonight for dinner- not much prep on my part.





I am wearing...one of my last pair of real pants that fit, khakis; a black maternity shirt with buttons, black earrings from our night out last night and my standard black shoes picked up in San Francisco on our vacation because my feet were so sore from the heals I'd brought.





I am creating...my special pb&j sandwiches for lunch today.





I am going...to Target for the first time in I'd bet a year. I used to be in love with the store in college but shopping with Katie has limited my time and energy to groceries and thrift stores. I'm curious if I'll find anything to my likings.





I am reading...The Friday Night Knitting Club (from the library). Its ok so far not what I expected. I was looking for a book recommended to me by a friend (The Wednesday Letters) but forgot which day of the week was in the title and came home with this instead. Perhaps on our next library visit I'll have more success.





I am hoping... to get to play with Katie outside this week. We've been reading about snowmen and I have been wanting to make one with her but it hadn't been warm enough till now. Should be an adventure!





I am hearing...Kate play with her shapes and now a "Mommy" plea for help in putting them into the right slots. Momentary pause....





Around the house... there are lots of things that need to be put in their place including toys, books, and some filing that's gathering dust. That is a BIG GOAL for the week.





One of my favorite things...is Katie and her budding vocabulary. She's not afraid to try out new words (encyclopedia, aluminum, radio etc.) and the now common response to my, "I love you." "Love you, too"





A few plans for the rest of the week:




Holy Name Christmas Party Tuesday night




Mom's group Thursday




a couple of Dr's. apts.




and that pesky filing.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...



I took this shot the morning of our wedding makes a cold winter day a bit warmer! Have a marvelous Monday and rest of the week!!

Cell Phone Submissions and an update

Things have been busy and will continue to be busy here at home in Kieler. I am amazed at how quickly our calendar is filling up these days. With Mom's group, visits from friends, library visits, doctors appointments, work for R.E. and Kurt's activities with the Fire Dept. and 1st Responders the week has been a full one. Though I am not complaining it was a good one!

I enjoyed catching up with our friend Natalie on Monday. We hadn't enjoyed egg salad sandwiches together in eons it seemed and the conversation was good, too. We also hosted a belated Epiphany party for our Mom's group on Thursday. It was a hoot! The kids made crowns, we had king cake and us mom's caught up a bit from the Christmas season lapse. There was plenty of mass chaos to be shared in one small house! Truly a great time was had by all!

Yesterday Kate and I had a La Leche League meeting and in the evening we all worked to prepare for the Jamestown 1st Responders Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup supper (Saturday). Kate got to see one of her friends Jeffery and the two of them played happily in the school gym for much of the evening with a chaperone.

Today, I took down our Christmas decorations (everything but the cards some of which I still have intentions of sending out cards in return because all of mine didn't get sent yet!). Kate helped and it went pretty smoothly. Together we also made a cookie cake for the supper tonight. She really liked helping with that especially the part where she got to sample the chocolate chips! Tonight we'll head to Mass (if Kate wakes up in time) and supper. And tomorrow and Monday are still weekend, too for us with dinner out with Kurt's work friends tomorrow night and shopping and dinner with friends Monday, as well. I didn't realize as the week began that Kurt would have MLK Day off but it certainly is a perk! I'll get Monday afternoon off as a Katie break!

Finally, since announcing my lack of camera these days I've received a few cell phone pictures from friends in sympathy and much to my appreciation since they're shots I didn't know existed!

This one perhaps needs a little explanation. In the summer months our Tuesday morning prayer group doesn't meet but the same crowd moves to the "social center" in Kieler that is the Kieler BP (yes its a gas station- and so much more!) for coffee after Mass. This summer Kate and I were frequently in attendance. JoAnn, one of our dear friends (seen in previous post) gave this monkey to Kate as Mass and post-Mass entertainment. The best game we played with monkey was to put him on our head and let him fall off. Its hilarious to a one year old! So here's a picture courtesy of another friend, Elaine.

Elaine also submitted this shot from this summer. She's pictured here with Kate we're guessing around the 4th of July. Elaine will sometimes help me out with babysitting during the day. She and her husband Jim live on a farm not far from here and Katie loves to visit her house because she has grand kid toys to play with and COWS along with a dog named Charlie that I hear about frequently though she hasn't visited in months!

My second submissions come from Kate's godmother and my sister-in-law Karen.

Here are the two of them reading a story. I think it was Little Cricket's Song if I remember correctly.

And here's the smiling girl with ponytails!

Thanks for reading and keep those pictures coming. ;-) Signing off from Kieler- Angie

Retro Post #2

On Labor Day weekend of 2007 Kurt and I along with my parents (and my aunt Kate and Gramma Gelhaus for part of the trip) went to San Francisco and Sonoma to vacation and celebrate my cousin Marla's wedding. It was quite a trip. Especially if you ask Kurt- you go for 5 days with your in-laws as newly weds and share a hotel room, rental car and every waking hour and see what you think, he might say.

While in San Fran we hit the Pier and saw the sea lions (which I hear are not around these days). Here are Dad, Kurt and Kate checking out the view.

We all thought it sounded like they were saying Kurt's name. "Kurt, Kurt, Kurt Kurt!"

Riding the trolleys- Dad, Mom, me and Kurt

On the square, the newly weds, love is in the air!

Hitting the wine country on our way to the rehearsal dinner (that was FANTASTIC and out of a storybook). We really enjoyed the tasting. I had just 2 months earlier found out we were expecting Kate. But the sips were small!

The wedding was outdoors looking over the Sonoma scenery. It was a beautiful day! And it was a chance that we all too infrequently have to enjoy extended Harris family. I was able to enjoy my aunt and uncles and a few cousins to boot! And we welcomed Jason Greenberg to our family.

Girl cousins at Marla's wedding- Anita, Marla and me.

Me, Anita and Mom enjoyed the live band and dancing!

So did Anna, Anita's daughter as seen here with Patrick aka her Dad.

The only really "scary" part of the trip was on our departing day as we headed to breakfast in the city. Kurt was a wee bit nervous of the route Mom picked to the restaurant. The street people were encroaching on our space a bit and it was kind of a seedy neighborhood. He went home with a story. And because of it he is not so sure about me wanting to take a trip to New York City eventually. :-)

Retro Post #1

Inspired by my blogging friends I'm taking a stab at doing a retro post. It seemed fitting since I, too don't have a camera at my disposal at the moment. So I dug this shots out of the My Pictures archives-

December 2007 Belly Shots

I was due with Kate on April 1. I am due with #2 the beginning of June and though I don't have a camera I think I might be nearly as big now with 2 more months to go on the calendar. We had our first OB appointment a week ago tomorrow. Things are looking good thus far and I am off the Prometrium at least for two weeks then another blood test. This babe has been kicking a lot more than I remember Kate moving at this point. No karate chops or flips yet but it is a great feeling to know they're moving in there. I feel blessed.

Caption: I love this maternity sweater- I have another one in purple! Got to love Target sales!

Ok so I'm probably not quite this big yet but I can't wait to get my camera back and take some shots just to see.

A Holy Scene

Before Christmas Kate and I were part of the group that helped to decorate the church for the Holy Days. I actually was busy with other things and one of the ladies from our prayer group was watching her while another lady took these pictures on her cell and sent them just yesterday. I love the interaction between her and the sheep and shepherds. A beautiful Christmas scene!


Kate and Vi petting sheep in the manger.

Vi shows Kate the shepherds. Too, cute!

Ok so I don't have a camera but I'm feeling really guilty for not updating this more often....

Big title, huh? So I couldn't update the pics but I thought I might update the look of the blog. I like it! How about you?

We're finally getting unpacked and reorganized from the hustle and bustle. Kate and I are attempting to get into our regular schedule. There have been some adjustments. Kate is enjoying new found independence and a swiftly growing vocabulary. I am enjoying our weaning process. Kate is nursing mainly at naps and bedtime though I don't think there is much milk to be had. She has been "supplementing" with lots of snacking, books and play. Her new favorite spot is at the toddler table she received for Christmas from her godparents. It is the home of her crayons and paper, playdough and coffee, kitchen dishes and supplies. Needless to say, we sit there often. She has also started the habit of manners. She's gotten so used to saying "_____, please Mommy" whether its food, drink or a toy that she'll even ask in the same way to Dad! It's pretty funny!

Ok, Kurt's in from the garage. Gotta go!

Pity Post

Well, dear readers, if there are any left. I mailed out only half of my Christmas letters (which is another post all together) and in them told friends and family to check my blog for updated pictures. Ha! I've since left my camera at my folks home in Medford, grrrr.



But for your faithful reading- here is the Christmas letter with some exciting news to boot.



Hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas and continue to have a blessed 2010! And I will post pictures as soon as I've got 'em on line, I promise!


Written early December (believe it or not)--

Christmas Greetings from Kieler!

It’s nap time here at the Snyder house and this is the time to get something done. So, rather than snuggle down for a nap myself I’m determined to get this Christmas letter started (and finished) so I can send it out with a package to some friends. Yes, it is early for me to be writing about or even mentioning Christmas-since we’re only in the first week of Advent but a mom has to take advantage of nap time when the opportunity presents itself!

I hardly remember married life before Kate’s arrival. She has become so much a part of our life these days. At 1½ years old she’s quite the little lady with plenty to say and an opinion about everything (I don’t know where she gets that!). This has been a year of milestones for her though I haven’t been the best at recording them, here are a few firsts since I last wrote- she’s walking, talking, singing, climbing, sliding, praying, typing, writing and farming. Can you have a first farming? She and I are busy together most days with regular outings to the library, Mass, Prayer Group, coffee, and our small gathering of Catholic mom’s. The girl as the expression goes is a sponge- WOW! There is never a dull moment and the things she says and comes up with leave me in awe. She would want me to type “Hello” and probably tell you something about, Gram, Pop, Elmo, “Ree” aka Ann Marie her doll or Uncle Ronnie. She might show you how she counts from 2 to 10 (usually leaving out 1 and 9) or sing you her latest rendition of “Rain, rain, go away” I wish I had a video camera some days- you’d laugh! If I think of it after I’m through I’ll let her write a bit on these letters for you.

My year has also included some changes. I feel blessed to have a circle of moms with kids that I meet with weekly- they are all gift to me! I continue to be part of Tuesday Bible study and prayer group and La Leche League. And still blog at “Life in Kieler” so to see recent pictures go to kielersnyder.blogspot.com . Be sure to leave your comments. I’ve also joined the work force again. This fall I took on a part-time job heading up the Religious Education at our parish for 1-8th grades. It has been a challenge but nothing I haven’t been up to yet

Kurt has accomplished much this year. He still works at John Deere in Dubuque and things though they slowed a bit are still busy at least for him. He joined the rank of Master this May with a Masters in Engineering from UW-Platteville! I don’t think he misses homework or studying at all! He has also been keeping up with some favorite hobbies- firefighter, first responder, assistant farmer, home remodeler, amateur gardener, chef and of course super dad! Kate hardly notices when I leave when Dad is home and well I like it that way! On a sadder note, we continue to mourn the loss of Kurt’s mom, Mary. She died this June and is certainly missed. I feel blessed to have had the chance to know her and record some of her stories for Katie and future grandkids. May she rest in peace.

Being a family has been such a blessing to Kurt and me. We are excited to be welcoming another addition to our family in June 2010, God willing. We’ll keep you posted. Thus far both I and the little one are well and growing. I am already feeling movement which is way earlier than I did with Kate. And beyond having a full bladder and being tired (which is typical after chasing a toddler all day) I am feeling great.

We are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with our families. We'll join the Harris crew for our longest vacation yet in Arizona over the holy days. And we'll have Snyder Christmas after we return. We hope and pray this note finds you and yours well. May you have a blessed Christmas and 2010!

Much Love,
The Snyders ~ Kurt, Angie and Katie and baby #2