Christmas Day '10

Steve's Dad & Mom were able to come over and join us Christmas morning.  They have joined us for quite a few years now.  They enjoy watching the kids open their presents and then we have brunch together.

 Trent started us out by reading the Christmas Story out of Luke.  He did a great job.

 We have adopted a one-person-at-a-time opening system.  That way we can enjoy seeing everyone open their presents.  And it makes the present opening time last longer...as you know, the older the kids...the more expensive the gifts...the less they get!!! Anyway, it works for us!

 Troy received a book (which he was dreading!) and it proved to be a favorite gift..The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book.  He read us quite a few entrees!

 Steve had a few gifts too!

Trent gave Grandma a plague that said  "Everything tastes better at Grandma's House".  He was so cute this year, he withdrew money from his account and picked out gifts for everyone.  He even wrapped them!  He loudly announced to everyone in the store, while picking out something for Tyler, it's not about how much you spend, it's about how much they like the gift!!!

 Jaxi even enjoyed her toy pig.  Within 2.5 seconds she had ripped it apart and chewed out he squeaker!

                                                                The boys in front of our tree!

                                                                             The aftermath!

another Christmas closed

Christmas Eve '10

We had a Christmas Eve like never before....meaning, we did some things we had never done! We started out by heading down to Grand Rapids and went ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle.  I have always wanted to go there...it's just one of those unique things you can do in Michigan...outdoor ice skating!   They have skate rental for $1....unfortunately, we only had an hour to skate...which actually was perfect for us newbies!  We also were promised a spot on the local TV.  WZZM 13 was there filming people skating and asked our family to make a Christmas wish to someone..we agreed!  Shortly after we filmed our greeting, a guy got down on bended knee and proposed to his girlfriend...we were immediately edited!  Oh well..how can you compete with a proposal!

Trent was not afraid to fall...I guess when your short you don't have far to fall!On our way down, Alisha had said she had never been skating before...she did good...she never fell....but had someones arm to hang on the whole time!

From there we headed over to Richmond hill.  It is a large hill at a park in GR.  We had the whole hill to ourselves.  It was very icy and we had a lot of fun!  Steve did some fun video taping.  I didn't get a lot of pictures, as I was sledding!  Here is what we have....

I think that might be Tyler

This is Alisha going down in Stealth mode...BTW...she went really far!  That is Tyler, at the bottom, waiting for her by the bushes.

 Troy getting ready to head down

Tyler and Alisha looking cute

Trent going down on the saucer

                                                                            Steve & Joanne

This isn't a very good picture of us...but we are on a horse drawn carriage ride....take my word for it!  It was in Sparta around Harper drive.  It was all decorated up & they had luminaries out all around the street....very nice Sparta!

We had a great great night together making fun memories together!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010 Merry Christmas to all my bloggie readers...whether friend or foe!

We have had a good start to the holidays. Trent was in the churches kids play last Sunday night....he was in the choir part....next year he says he is going to try out for a part?!?! I still have some wrapping to do and would like to bake a few more things.

I let myself off the hook this year....I didn't make & send Christmas cards....and I didn't make Poppy Seed bread for my neighbors and friends. Part of me feels bad...part of me is okay with it. well enough about that.

Wishing we could all be together for Christmas...Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! Remember the greatest gift of all...Jesus Christ!

Delivery Day...

Wednesday was "Delivery Day" for Big Rapids Township Fire Department! Merry Christmas to them! Yesterday they took delivery on a fire truck they had wait for for over a year!

Steve had to deliver it to their fire house. Most of the time a fd will bring down a couple of guys to bring it home...but they opted for a delivery to their fire house. So, here is what I looked at as I followed Steve from South Haven to Big Rapids....he kind of wanted to come home after delivering it!Here is their new toy. That is the Chief, getting out of the passenger side, after taking it for a spin around town! I have never seen more guys get pumped about something! Men and trucks and power and buttons and lights and horns...their crazy! Especially fire guys they are crazy about fire stuff!

Steve showing them some of the features....

Steve has the best job in the world! and he does a great job at it! Great Job Steve!

Dad Says So...

Dad says we have to have a REAL tree and we have to go cut it down. NO exceptions! Steve doesn't demand too many things but this is one of those things that he doesn't bend on!

I believe it stretches back to his childhood. You see, his Grandpa had a tree farm and every Christmas they spent their spare time cutting and selling Christmas trees at Austins Tree Farm. He has fond memories of those years and often shares those stories with our boys. I'm not so sure he enjoyed work in the cold when he was 15...but they say, time fads your memories..lol!

Trent wanted to do the honors of cutting it down this year. He says he was suppose to do it last year but Tyler reached in to help and he says Tyler cut it down...so has been bummed all year. So this year no one got near the saw handle! Trent insisted on hauling it out too. Trent wanted to put it in the truck but Tyler threw it in....while we chased Jaxi around.

The final tree. It's not huge but works for us. And I picked on out that was flat on the back so we could push it up closer to the window....lol! I told Boyd that we should get it for half price because it was only half a tree...ha ha ha!

Breaks

Every now and then, you need a break from life....


Thanksgiving Week-end we went out to the movies and for pizza.


We went to the metropolis of Fremont to see Tangled (the boys were less than thrilled about the movie selection). We told the boys they would have to go home and watch Rambo to make-up for all the sappiness in Tangled. If you have ever been to Fremont Cinemas..you understand the selections of movies playing...I believe they have 4 screens..and about 100 seats in each theatre...similar to watching it in your living room...ha ha ha! Here was one of our rows..you would have thought we had never been to the movies with me taking pictures!!!


Kristi was the planner....she invited her two sisters and their families. I invited Kelly Wilson and her kids..all in all we had 19!

Then we headed across the street to Spanky's Pizza. They have newly built a restaurant..so I've been told...I had never been to Spanky's before! My maiden voyage! Best of all they now serve Gluten Free Pizza....a special treat for Troy & Trent. They got so tired of eating a hamburger minus the bun...or scrambled eggs! It was delicious!

Dakota, Trent & NicOne half the table....The other half....Kristi and her sisters, Jill & Juli..don't they look great! wish I had got a better background for them

Admissions & TGiving...

I know I know...where have I been?...well, pretty much everywhere but here!

It seems to be, that writing on my blog, has become some what of a problem...a time and priority problem! I've even wondered if I would keep doing it??? It just seems to take time. I enjoy doing it and the ability I have to keep in touch with family and friends. I love knowing that my family can see what we are up to. They can 'tune in' when it is convenient for them. Although, we all are far apart we can seem close by keep up with each others busy lives and not only with words but pictures!

Now that so may have a Facebook page, I could feasibly post the pictures on FB and not do "double duty". BUT...someday I may print this out and make a yearly log of what we have been up to. I've never been a good record keeper...my boys baby books barely have their first tooth recorded! Sooo...for now, I plan to forge ahead and keep writing my "online journal" ONWARD....



Thanksgiving 2010....
We celebrated at Steve's Dad & Mom's house. This is a pre-diner picture of some laughs...
The Adult table...well kind of...lol!One of the 'teen' table...Tyler, cousin Drew and his GF Nikki. More kids.....Florin, Maddie &Troy.....

After dinner,
Some of the girls played Phase 10. Carrie, Kristi, Nikki, Maddie & JoanneThe three brothers....not in birth order! Steve, Craig & Mike. Let me defend their attire for a minute. These boys get up early Thanksgiving morning to go hunting...so this is what was left after they pealed off there hunting clothes! Father and Son is now dressing alike...ha ha ha!

Joanne was looking through the sale ads....The kids took time to play some Euchre together...Then there was picture time...

Here is the Buckner family...well, the Steve Buckner Family...Trying to get a picture of my three boys..need I say more....All the Grandkids...let me just say how painful this was...for them and us!Some went hunting together...let me hear all of you now....AWWWW!The meat locker...a.k.a, the garage... Craig, Florin & Steve's meatI will leave you with one last picture..one of my favorites..... Cousins sharing a moment together. These moments are few and far between these days...but priceless!

So much to be Thankful for!

Lost my camera..but found it yesterday..so I will soon upload Thanskgiving pics!

Hey..I'm still here!!

I haven't given up on Blogging! Nothing in my life seems to be 'blog worthy' I know this is going to be a busy month so I will try to post some pictures...for Julie...even if it seems boring!

What we have been up too....
-taking down pumpkin light outside
-getting Senior pictures taken
-celebrating Alisha's 17th Birthday
-hanging snowflake lights outside
-cleaning houses
-hunting
-hunting
-hunting
-oh..did I already type that..oops!
-New Attendees Lunch at church
-Annual exam & Mammogram...Joanne..haha!
-cleaning kids room..they do have a floor!
-laundry
-getting front end work done & 2 new tires on the van...poor girl..she's getting tired!

Well that about sums it up! Our life exciting as it is!

An Operation....

Not the kind of Operation you are thinking of...this is a different kind of operation. It's Operation Christmas Child. Every year we assemble boxes for children overseas under the Samaritans Purse Organization.

If you are unfamiliar with these boxes....let me briefly explain. In short, you make a "Christmas Gift" for a child...the things we put in the boxes range from toys, Beanie Babies, toothbrush, soap, socks....each box is different...no two are the same....packed with love! We pre-wrap the box in Christmas wrap and then the filling begins.

Here is Shelly and Kathy wrapping boxes with a smile.... Some of the boxes being filled...with love of course!

The Beanie Baby table

So, here we are with all the filled boxes.....can you guess how many?? This is the biggest year we have had! There are about 5+ ladies that had to leave early that did not make the picture.

We packed 113 BOXES!!!! I know, that it doesn't look like that many in the picture but this is about 4 hours of work...oh and a little break for tacos!

What a great felling, knowing we are meeting the physical needs of those little ones in another country. I can't go there but this box of goodies can!!!!