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Feb 20, 2008 - Wed:
Heidi
This past weekend we had the huge privilege of hanging out with a great group of teens at the winter retreat. We had such a good weekend that it made it really hard to go back to work and the busy-ness of adult life.
We left on Friday and of course my "luck" with youth group bus rides continued! We were making such great time getting to Pennsylvania that it was going to be the first time arriving at the camp during daylight. We were pretty excited about that until we reached the hill about a mile away from camp. Normally a hill would not pose a problem for a bus but an icy, untreated hill was another story. We knew almost immediately when the bus driver began his decent to the bottom of the hill that we wouldn't be making it back up at the speed we were going. We were right. After multiple back ups and retries, we told all the kids on our bus to play sardines...every body move to the back of the bus. The kids are always up for an adventure!
With all 50 of us crammed into the back of the bus, we begin our fourth attempt. Again, it was a no go. With two buses behind us (we were 1 of 3 buses) unable to reverse because of the ice behind us, we couldn't back up enough to get good speed built up to make it up the hill. Throw into the mix a transmission that is very close to overheating after our numerous attempts. We decide to try unloading our kids out in the cold with two other buses watching on, and see if the bus can make it without the weight. Again, so close.
After messing with the rear axels (that's what I was told!) and a local truck laying some gravel, we finally load our kids back on the bus. I've lost count of how many previous attempts we had but after about two more our bus finally peaks over the hill and we are on the final stretch to camp. So much for being early and unloading in the daylight! But it always makes for a great adventure and bonding with our teens!
The rest of the retreat went smoothly and when I say "smoothly" I mean slippery as we all slipped and slided walking around camp with the melted ice and fresh snowfall. It made things quite interesting and I have to thank many guys for allowing me to hold onto their arms so I wouldn't fall! Thank you!
Some of my highlights included tubing for hours; playing "camp crush" with the teens; bowling a 129; meeting and hanging with Shelby and Rachel Abbott; connecting my girls with "the band" and making their dream come true; visiting Scranton and standing where the cast of "The Office" filmed; spending time with so many awesome teens. I dedicate my retreat to Micah and Morgan!
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This past weekend we had the huge privilege of hanging out with a great group of teens at the winter retreat. We had such a good weekend that it made it really hard to go back to work and the busy-ness of adult life.
We left on Friday and of course my "luck" with youth group bus rides continued! We were making such great time getting to Pennsylvania that it was going to be the first time arriving at the camp during daylight. We were pretty excited about that until we reached the hill about a mile away from camp. Normally a hill would not pose a problem for a bus but an icy, untreated hill was another story. We knew almost immediately when the bus driver began his decent to the bottom of the hill that we wouldn't be making it back up at the speed we were going. We were right. After multiple back ups and retries, we told all the kids on our bus to play sardines...every body move to the back of the bus. The kids are always up for an adventure!
With all 50 of us crammed into the back of the bus, we begin our fourth attempt. Again, it was a no go. With two buses behind us (we were 1 of 3 buses) unable to reverse because of the ice behind us, we couldn't back up enough to get good speed built up to make it up the hill. Throw into the mix a transmission that is very close to overheating after our numerous attempts. We decide to try unloading our kids out in the cold with two other buses watching on, and see if the bus can make it without the weight. Again, so close.
After messing with the rear axels (that's what I was told!) and a local truck laying some gravel, we finally load our kids back on the bus. I've lost count of how many previous attempts we had but after about two more our bus finally peaks over the hill and we are on the final stretch to camp. So much for being early and unloading in the daylight! But it always makes for a great adventure and bonding with our teens!
The rest of the retreat went smoothly and when I say "smoothly" I mean slippery as we all slipped and slided walking around camp with the melted ice and fresh snowfall. It made things quite interesting and I have to thank many guys for allowing me to hold onto their arms so I wouldn't fall! Thank you!
Some of my highlights included tubing for hours; playing "camp crush" with the teens; bowling a 129; meeting and hanging with Shelby and Rachel Abbott; connecting my girls with "the band" and making their dream come true; visiting Scranton and standing where the cast of "The Office" filmed; spending time with so many awesome teens. I dedicate my retreat to Micah and Morgan!
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Feb 19, 2008 - Tue:
Heidi
Our Valentine's : As some of you know Joey loves food and loves to eat...but he also loves greasy, fried foods that I RARELY let him eat! So, for Valentine's Day I decided it would be the perfect time to fill his belly with all his favorite foods he often asks for and rarely gets! My sneaky plan was to hopefully discourage these food choices after a day of junk!
I woke up before Joe (6am) to run to McDonalds and the grocery store before taking him to work. When I picked him up he had TWO sausage, egg and cheese biscuits and TWO donuts waiting on his seat in the car. He ate his sandwiches on the drive to work and then informed me he would save the donuts for his mid-morning snack. I picked him up from work around 6:00 and dropped him off at home while I ran my last errand. I went to Chili's to get the boneless buffalo wings he likes and the Awesome Blossom which Chili's apparently doesn't carry anymore even though it's on all their menus. Anyway, after waiting almost an hour for my to-go order, the manager comped my food and I got out of there with free food! I had also put together a meat, cheese and cracker tray earlier in the day that consisted of (gross) salomi, pepparoni and summer sausage. He had root beer to drink and cheesecake for dessert while we watched Lost together. I don't think I've ever heard "You're the best wife ever" so many times in one day! The boy loves his food!
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Our Valentine's : As some of you know Joey loves food and loves to eat...but he also loves greasy, fried foods that I RARELY let him eat! So, for Valentine's Day I decided it would be the perfect time to fill his belly with all his favorite foods he often asks for and rarely gets! My sneaky plan was to hopefully discourage these food choices after a day of junk!
I woke up before Joe (6am) to run to McDonalds and the grocery store before taking him to work. When I picked him up he had TWO sausage, egg and cheese biscuits and TWO donuts waiting on his seat in the car. He ate his sandwiches on the drive to work and then informed me he would save the donuts for his mid-morning snack. I picked him up from work around 6:00 and dropped him off at home while I ran my last errand. I went to Chili's to get the boneless buffalo wings he likes and the Awesome Blossom which Chili's apparently doesn't carry anymore even though it's on all their menus. Anyway, after waiting almost an hour for my to-go order, the manager comped my food and I got out of there with free food! I had also put together a meat, cheese and cracker tray earlier in the day that consisted of (gross) salomi, pepparoni and summer sausage. He had root beer to drink and cheesecake for dessert while we watched Lost together. I don't think I've ever heard "You're the best wife ever" so many times in one day! The boy loves his food!
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Feb 13, 2008 - Wed:
Heidi
This past weekend we had the huge privilege of taking care of our precious 11-month old niece Naomi while Christian and Nina went to New York for a conference. Christian dropped her off Saturday afternoon and we spent the rest of the weekend as pretend parents. First of all, Naomi is THE most laid back, easy-going kid so it is not hard taking care of her in any way. She was just so precious to have in our home. We had lots of cuddle time and tons of feeding time since that girl can eat...probably the Elliot genes in her! We took her to church on Sunday and got some confused looks from people when we came walking in with a baby carrier. We also got to introduce Naomi to our crew at youth group.
Naomi spent more time playing with our TV remote and cell phones than any other thing or toy in the house. We got a little concerned as she crawled across the kitchen floor with Joe's cell phone in hand banging it along the way. Our phones did come out alive and will forever have Naomi's drool as a part of them.
Joey and I learned over the weekend that it won't be Heidi but it will be Joey who gets up numerous times throughout the night to check on our own kids, not because they wake up but because Joey is such a nurturer (or is it a "worrier"?!). Even though Naomi sleeps through the night, Joey was up about 3 times each night to check on her! He's so precious and will be the best dad ever!
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This past weekend we had the huge privilege of taking care of our precious 11-month old niece Naomi while Christian and Nina went to New York for a conference. Christian dropped her off Saturday afternoon and we spent the rest of the weekend as pretend parents. First of all, Naomi is THE most laid back, easy-going kid so it is not hard taking care of her in any way. She was just so precious to have in our home. We had lots of cuddle time and tons of feeding time since that girl can eat...probably the Elliot genes in her! We took her to church on Sunday and got some confused looks from people when we came walking in with a baby carrier. We also got to introduce Naomi to our crew at youth group.
Naomi spent more time playing with our TV remote and cell phones than any other thing or toy in the house. We got a little concerned as she crawled across the kitchen floor with Joe's cell phone in hand banging it along the way. Our phones did come out alive and will forever have Naomi's drool as a part of them.
Joey and I learned over the weekend that it won't be Heidi but it will be Joey who gets up numerous times throughout the night to check on our own kids, not because they wake up but because Joey is such a nurturer (or is it a "worrier"?!). Even though Naomi sleeps through the night, Joey was up about 3 times each night to check on her! He's so precious and will be the best dad ever!
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