I'm back...at least for now

Well in case you were wondering, the month of February is over so hibernation is officially done. I honestly think the the shortest month of the year is the longest one. One thing Grace and I have done this winter to pass our time is go to Nancy Wulf's for quilting on Tuesdays. Grace plays with Kara's kids and Kara, Susie, and I have been knotting comforters for overseas. Then after supper we have been battling out Monopoly Deal. If you haven't played this game I would recommend it, even if you hate Monopoly.
We have had a straight week of rain so the snow is definitely melting. Now we are back to a lake in the backyard. Oh well atleast Spring is in the air!!!
We made a trip to Illinois at the end of February. It was nice since we hadn't been back since Thanksgiving.
Here's a few px from the month.


Grace and Kylie at a calm moment.


Grace has discovered she loves puddles. Good thing for frog boots.

I can't believe Grace and Abbi would sit in the car together without fighting.

Meadowland is branching out to Morris, so we have been busy with stocking that store. Grand opening is next Friday and we are excited.

Happy Birthday to me

28 years ago my Dad and Mom struggled up the icy road, calling neigbors and uncle for help, so they could safely arrive at the hospital and have their firstborn child. It kind of reminds me of the weather we are having right now. Thank goodness for front-wheel drive and 4wheel drive technology.

Also...we are expecting #2 in early August. Maybe on Grandpa Koch's Aug. 6 birthday! Grace is excited as a 2 year old gets. We are excited for some competition for her!

Our little ballerina

It has been a couple of weeks since the last update, so I guess it's time again.

Rustin got snowed in at Sioux Falls for two days and two nights, one of them happening to be our 3rd anniversary. So Grace and I had a romantic evening at home :) We celebrated a day later by eating out at Bella Cocina. I can hardly believe we are already on our 3rd year.

Last Thursday Susan and Erica came up to visit. They helped a little at the store and then we made homemade pizza for supper. Things just weren't mixing, cooking right so it was more a midnight snack. On Friday we lazed around until Rustin got home from his pig run and then we headed to the Cities. Grace talked all day about going swimming, she even wanted to wear her suit around the house. I decided it was too cold for that. We arrived in time for a stuffing Perkins supper and then we swam for a couple of hours. She loved it and I was glad to work off some supper.

On Saturday we met the UofI/ISU young groups at a tubing hill in Eagan, MN. Grace was reluctant after her first time down, but soon she was heading down by herself in a tube. Where was her mother? I think I was warming up inside. When I first heard it I freaked out, but then I stood at the bottom and realized she did fine. We went to the Mall of America in the afternoon for an hour and then headed back to church for a Mexican Fiesta. Great Food!!! We sang in Spanish and then went to the Dill's for the evening. Grace loved playing with their dog, Nan. She did get a little upset when she claims she dropped her apple (but we think she did it on purpose) and Nan took off with it. Thankfully there was popcorn readily available for Grace to feed Nan. We spent the night at Duane and Bonnie Rocke's and Grace slept great once she got there. We have been having sleeping issues lately.

On Sunday after we said our good-byes we stopped a few places and headed home. We were exhausted when we got there so we all went to bed. What a great weekend!

And now for the post title. I don't think she's my daughter. I don't have those moves!

New Year Visitors

Grace and Maria


The week between Christmas and New Year's went by really fast. We finished up Christmases, and Michelle came up on Tuesday. Grace likes it when 'Chelle' comes. We went shopping all day Wednesday. I'm pretty sure Grace was sick of shopping by the end of the day. Thursday I had to work all day so Michelle went to visit cousin Amber. We went to New Year's service in the evening and stayed up till 2:30 talking. We had a few people over, but they left at 1:30. I don't know what I was thinking because going to bed at 2:30 and waking up at 8 don't go well for me. Tom, Dale, Meg, and Maria arrived at 12:30. Grace immediately took a liking to 'Ria' and was very aware of where she was at all times. Over the course of the day we played many games of Euchre and Monopoly Deal. I realized if we are ever a family of 8 a dish-washer will be a must. As you can see in the video we put together our little jumper thing. Grace likes it better now than at 6 mos. While Maria was in it was the only time Grace was fussing around.

We went to the store and to Rustin's truck on Saturday morning. The guys decided it was a good thing they didn't go ice-fishing this weekend since it was -teens the entire time. They'll have to come up some warm winter:) They left Saturday after lunch to head back to the Cities, and the rest of us crashed for the afternoon. We ate Pizza Hut that night and watched the annual classic 'Christmas Vacation.' Michelle left Sunday morning to pick the Koch's up in the Cities and we are now visitorless for a week. We hardly know what to do with ourselves. I guess laundry keeps calling my name! We are looking forward to Susan coming up next week.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This Christmas was different than any one I have experienced ever in my life. First of all Rustin's sister hasn't made it up from IL due to the weather. Secondly church was cancelled due to the weather. Third, Rustin's Mom was a little under the weather, so we didn't go to their house. But this is all okay because there will be another day to get together with family and friends. It was a good time to reflect on the True Meaning of the Season of Jesus and his birth and sacrifice for all of us. Merry Christmas to you all!

How can it be December already?

We arrived back in cold, somewhat wintery Minnesota on Sunday night. (I saw a few snowflakes today!) It was such a relaxing week in Illinois. We had the perfect amount of visit time and 'home' time. Grace travelled her best on the way home. Strange, since this was the longest she was in the vehicle. Monday she had her 2 year checkup and everything checked well. The shot nurse is one of our friends so I think Grace was a little shocked that she poked her. She didn't cry too long, but I'm sure next time won't be so easy. Last night she was up all night wheezing and coughing. She had a temp. this morning so I decided I better take her in. You never know with all the H1N1 going around. We were waiting for the doctor and she decided to empty her belly all over herself, me, and the floor. I tried to get her to use the wastebasket but she wasn't interested in that. Thankfully they moved us to another room. They swabbed her throat and nose to test for strep and influenza and sent us home with tamiflu. Thankfully both of those tests came back negative. I guess Grace has the good old-fashioned flu. I can tell she's not acting normal because all she wants to do is sleep and snuggle. This too shall pass!

Here are a few px from the week. I put them on backwards chronologically by accident:(



Susan and Grace fed the Baer's cat, Smoky.



The kabob grillers.



We decided to do kabobs for our Christmas dinner.




Grace's favorite toy.

Grace always wanted to feed Jessie a bone. It was quite comical.

Grace playing with Abbi and Avery-a boy ReKeeta watches.

I have proof that ReKeeta does work in the kitchen once in a while!

Now I just have to get motivated to put up Christmas decor. If only there was snow on the ground!!!

The Birthday Girl

Our little peanut turned 2 on Saturday. If you ask her how old she is, she proudly holds up either 1 finger or all five and says "TWO". We celebrated her birthday with Tiffany last weekend, so on her actual day we went shopping in St. Cloud. One of our neighbors made her two of the cookies she's holding. I have to admit they were scrumptious. She is becoming more talkative as the days go by. Her new phrase is "I funny." Although, usually she is doing something she knows she shouldn't be doing. I get my stern face on and die laughing inside. It is interesting in how different boys and girls are. Before going to daycare, Grace didn't have a clue what guns were. Now anything she can get her hands on is a gun. Of course she only shoots 'aminals.' I just have to laugh and hope she is a little more girly than I was.
Two weeks from now I hope to be in Illinois for a week. I am so excited!!!