whatever

Blog

Category Archives: family fun

finally we have SNOW!!!

February 21, 2013

i have been waiting for several years for this kind of snow.
i LOVE snow storms.
i love snow…. love being stuck inside for snow days… baking on snow days… hot chocolate… hot coffee….snuggling under blankets…taking the kids sledding…watching our crazy dog run like a maniac.
it is all my favorite part of winter.

yesterday we had a little snow… not much.
and they called off school for today.
i said out loud many times "it had better be a huge snow storm if we are not having school!"
i got my wish.

our road was completely snowed in.
my kids thought it was very cool to be able to LAY DOWN in the road and not have to worry about cars coming.
and then they found deer tracks and got really excited.

i was very happy that mr. duerksen got snowed in today too!

we could not find any of our snow gear.
i think it's in the basement at the craft house.
oops.
but seriously it has been so long since we have had enough snow to need our boots and pants that i doubt any of it would have fit anyone anyway, especially my big growing boys.
so we had to just keep adding layers and use any gloves and hats we could find.
it worked.

remember we used to play that game called find-the-teenager…..

this is how snow gets removed when you live in the country.
🙂
i had never thought about it until this morning.

scott and sean covered in snow from sledding…

and sean helping his sister put on her goggles.

and then this happened…. our road an hour or so later.

that is A LOT of snow!

and we are off of school again tomorrow.
i am excited about it.

we will definitely be getting crafty over here.

show hide 57 comments

add a comment

josy - Wow, your oldest looks like a model in a J. Crew ad in the picture! Glad you had fun in the snow!

Sandy - I will be sad when Talby gets older and no longer wants to play with Annie. I hope they remain close FOREVER! Love the picture of Annie sitting in front of Talby and the sky is behind them. Cool!

shauna reed - i want a snow day.
no?

Jacqueline Goelst - Love reading your family stories 🙂 surreal sitting here at the bottom of the globe in Tasmania, Australia with our hottest summers day at 32 degrees Celsius! (90 degrees fahrenheit) Tasmania (unlike the mainland of Australia) is usually cold due to how close it is to Antarctica, but this is hot for us!
Enjoy your snow 🙂

beth - I am a rather new fan of your blog and I sbsolutely LOVED each and every photo on this blog post….I live in Minnesota where it snows and snows and still I love it so! I too blog about all the beauty to be found outside in this winter wonderland of ours- thanks for all the smiles. : ) : ) : )
xo beth
http://brownsparrowstudio.blogspot.com

Melissa - I love your beautiful pictures of the kids playing in the snow! Isn’t it fantastic?! Here in Michigan, we have had 7 snow days already- this is probably a new record! Since I’m a teacher, though, I don’t mind 😉 Snow days mean lots of sledding and hot chocolate and my kids sneaking more marshmallows when they think I’m not looking. love it all!

Verna Lantz - How fun! Such beautiful pictures. I adore the contrast with the kids bright colored snow clothes and the pure white snow. It would be so much fun to play in that much snow. Alas, Texas usually doesn’t get that. 🙂

Carrie - Beautiful pics! I love find the teenager. 😉
I live in SW MO and we got sleet and freezing rain. Like 3 inches. But the blizzard we had back in 2011 gave me enough snow to last awhile… still I would rather have snow over ice!

Jacci in Ohio - These are such SUPER happy photos!!! I grinned from ear to ear when I saw them on my phone earlier today, and just had to come back on my laptop to see them BIG! 🙂 I love, love, love seeing you all together… enjoying one another. And Annie’s hat. She’s so much fun!

Tiffany - What great memories you helped create with your kids! Looks like you all loved the day! Happy for you!

Andrea - Meg
How fun……it looks like waffle enjoyed the day as much as you all did! Hope you got to get crafty and just be together!

JulianneB - Gorgeous pics….when I heard Kansas was getting lots of snow I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t wait to see the snow pics on Meg’s blog”. You never fail to come through girl. A couple of weeks ago my sister in Michigan had 3 ft of snow….Southern Indiana we have nada so I will live vicariously through others.

Rach - I agree with everything you said in the first part. Makes me wonder why I’m in So Cal some days. 🙂 Thanks for sharing. I got up and made myself a cup of hot chocolate after I read it because, you know, its a chilly 59 degrees here.

ira lee - yes!! snow days are the BEST!!!!!!! love all these pix! i agree with above comment, that bench is cool! and i love bright colored coats and hats against the pretty white snow!

jen - i love that you get excited! i did too when we lived on the westcoast but now in quebec it looks like your house around here for 4 months of the year and we are supposed to get more this weekend {we have a man made skating rink in our backyard http://gronicktales.blogspot.ca/2013/02/my-boys-and-rink.html} …i guess what is hitting you is coming our way! love the “make-do” suits and all the fun! you guys always seem to be having a blast!

Kari - ** by “that” i meant I’d call my husband by Mr. Shadrick, not Mr. Duerksen ;]

Kari - I just wanted to say that I LOVE the fact that you call your husband mr. duerksen, instead of his first name. It’s adorable, and I think I may start calling my husband that.

Tracey - Wow you take amazing photos!

Jeri - Sweet! You are so lucky. We should have got that snow that Kansas got…

Holly - Great pics! I love seeing kids’ reactions to rare snow falls. Over in my neck of the woods (up in Alberta, Canada), the wonder of winter and lots of snow wore off just after Christmas. We are currently on ‘let’s just survive this winter’ mode with probably a good month and a half left. Daily, my 2 yr. looks out the window and says, “snow, go away!” 🙂 ha ha! So, there’s another perspective on snow for you when winter lasts 7 months.

Lindsey - Enjoy your day at home! Great pictures! Love the one of the turquoise bench in the snow. PRETTY!

Gina - Fun photos!! Have a fun weekend!

tiffany gardner - so awesome. we live in ok and got a little… but with 3 sick kids we didn’t get to play in it!

Jenn - Magical and exciting! Makes me want to move to move to Kansas.

Gale - We had 12″ and loved it but your pictures make me really miss having my kids at home! Their favorite thing used to be putting water colored with food coloring in spray bottles and spray snow sculptures! You all definitely looked like you were having fun!!! HOORAY FOR SNOW DAYS!

Gail - And the thunder snow was awesome too. Enjoying my snow days too.

Penny - Now that’s what I am talking about! Snow, real snow days. Here where we live in Michigan we have not had a good snow storm. We have had no school due to cold and a little ice. This is what I remember growing up with, SNOW! I love the joy on your kids faces! And Waffle. Oh, my, that is one Happy Dog. That really is what doodles are though, Happy Dogs. He looks like he is in heaven. His people are with him in a joyous playground of snow. Great photos, thank you so much for sharing and making my morning!

Kat - These pictures are just beautiful.
Amazing to see all of that snow when we live by the beach and it is summer here in sunny Tasmania, Australia.
Looks like lots of fun.
Awesome pics, truly awesome!

Sarah - Love all the pictures and of course love the snow! so jealous.

Lisa - Love these pictures!!! And I love snow days!!! Have fun!

Stephanie - Wow!! I have not seen snow like that since living in Mo as a teenager. It looks cold and wonderful. What winter should be, at least once!!

the.mrs - Of course you could even excite this lifelong Minnesotan about snow with those adorable photos! I think it’s headed our way, so I will be NON excited tomorrow. They don’t close school here unless it’s multiple FEET of snow, so it’s just a pain. I like living fun snow days vicariously through your blog! 😉 ha.

Amy K. - I am jealous! I live in MINNESOTA & we can’t get a good snowstorm to save our lives this year, much less a snow day! The one time it snowed a decent amount (not quite a foot) was on a Sunday. wa-waaaaa.

Sonja - That looks so fabulous! I’m jealous. Though I am glad that I won’t have to take the baby out in snow like that. 😉

Seriously Sassy Mama - It is beautiful, but I am very happy it stayed up north and did not find its way to Texas.

Tracy Fisher - fabulous!!!!!!!!! -tracy

Alicia @ La Famille - good thing you got all those groceries!!! i love being snowed in too. what a fun day! have fun tomorrow!

Shannon - My girls loved these pics!! We get snow maybe twice a year and it just barely sticks for a day so they thought these pics were the greatest.
I think it looks beautiful but I would be enjoying it inside with some hot chocolate 😉

Laura Hesslau - I am obsessing over your wonderful blog. It is like reading a book you never want to end! I actually hide out in my house trying to read the archives without interruption. Literally hiding in a dark basement listening to my family ask where I am. Ha! I don’t like the cold weather, but this post is making me LOVE snow! Love love your blog!

Lisa M. - I was thinking about you as this storm was forcasted! I live in Western PA and we used to get storms like that all of the time, now it seems we get maybe one a year. Don’t get me wrong, we get snow. But usually just nuisance storms, like 2 to 6 or 8 inches at a time. Every year I ask for just one blizzard. Just one! A day to just hunker down in the house and watch it snow like crazy!
You seem so happy about all that snow. That’s great!! I’m wondering tho…did you get your run in? 🙂

Michelle from Australia - Good to see a cameo from Lauren! Living in the sub-tropics, I can not begin to imagine snow falling where we live. We are on the same latitude south of the equator as Tampa, FL is north of the equator. Loved the pics.

Carrie - Your excitement over the snow makes me smile. My kids get excited like that on our first snowfall (which was in October this year and is still here). I am on side with Pamela Gordon’s comment. Spring can’t come soon enough!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - Last year we didn’t use any of the four snow days that we’d allotted in the school calendar so we got out early at the end of the year. This year its back to a fairly normal winter for us. We’ve had a few really good snow storms and dustings in between. I do love the white but as I’m getting a little older here and there I find I’m also liking warm weather more and more:)I’m only 32 but I remember such big snowfalls when I was little that we would go sledding off of house roofs!

Pamela Gordon - Beautiful photos of your snow storm. I think it’s really neat how you get so excited over a lot of snow because you aren’t used to it. 🙂 We are so tired of it here now that it’s ‘old hat’ and we can’t wait, at least I can’t wait, to not need a big parka, boots and gloves any more. Oh well. We live in to different climates and I hope you and your family have an awesome fun day tomorrow playing in the snow! Blessings, Pamela

Kristin S - Beautiful!

Linda - Love that first picture of Waffle!!! He looks so happy!

jen - You took some beautiful photos! I love a good snow storm! We get a good few months of snow where I live (Ontario). And had about 10 months of the year of snow when I lived in Nunavut (north pole). Looks like you know how to properly enjoy it!

Monica - Ooooh – I’m kinda jealous! Love how the colors pop against the white of the snow! Love the turquoise chair {?} Yay for fun memories made today 🙂

Kassondra - your crazy! lol i am not a fan of the cold!!!! though you can tell your family had a great time together so i guess the cold was worth it

Lorie - SOOOO jealous. We haven’t really had a good snow this year either. It comes, then melts the next day. UGH. Where is the great snows of my childhood?
Wwe are in Indiana…is it coming our way?
Would love to be snuggled in my bed with the kids off school.

Heather - I’m getting cold just looking at all the pictures. No snow in Southern California 🙁

Michelle - A Lauren sighting! The snow looks like a ton of fun, we have gotten a couple good blasts this year, but I’m hoping for one more before spring. The storm that just past through there is hitting us tonight, but only 2 inches. Bummer.

Kate - Oh how fun! Stay warm for me!

kate - you got some great pictures!! waffle is so furry, he looks adorable!

lisa currie-gurney - I love that bench too!!!

lisa currie-gurney - Happy, Happy, Day!!!

Stacy - That turquoise bench is gorgeous! I hope you’ve enjoyed your snow day! http://baublesandbrownies.blogspot.com

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

winter sunset

January 23, 2013

************************************************

it has been reeeeally cold here but then suddenly there will be a 65 degree afternoon here and there.
this was one of those.
sometimes you have to rush out and soak up as much of it as you can.
(squeezing that inbetween laundry and dinner prep and everything else)

talby went out just as the sun was setting and shouted for me to come see her flip she has perfected.
she has worked for years on it!
woo-hoo!!

as soon as the trampoline springs start squeaking the neighbor dogs show up in our yard.
they love my little girls.

talby pretends she has a ball and they wait and wait for her to throw it.
she and annie play with them a LOT!

so silly.

as we were taking these pictures craig pulled up from work.
that is my favorite part of the day.
all my people under one roof for the night…. yes.

the stoves are still being sponsored!!
YOU are AWESOME!

we only need 15 more stoves to reach $5000!!

that is totally doable in three days!

it's INCREDIBLE that it's up so high already!

you guys are the best best best!

i am dying to see one of these stoves in real life and be able to share my stories from Haiti!!

the more i read about Haiti… the more i am falling in love.

FIFTEEN STOVES.

three days.

be a SUPER STAR today! let's make a difference!

we can change things in the world!
WE CAN!
we can change children dying from toxic smoke…. we can.

SPONSOR A STOVE CLICK HERE.

—————————————————————————————————–

ok….i have crazy long list to check off today.
all the last minute things that i need to pack and have copies of, etc.
i made two more freezer meals last night and two more this morning.
i am feeling prepared i think.

we will see how i feel tonight…. yikes.

show hide 18 comments

add a comment

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Better late than never. 😉
Praying for you!!!!

nomart5 - Has anyone bought stoves in Olathe, CO? I really want to buy one, but I don’t know where to go. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Laura Mastropaolo - Hello Meg! My name is Laura, and I have enjoyed your blog for several years.
I want to thank you for your support of Haiti! You see, my husband and I are the adoptive parents of an awesome Haitian boy. He was a restavek (child slave) until age 3 or 4 (no one knows exactly how old our son is…) – when a missionary saw him being auctioned at the slave market. She did the only thing she could think of to save him – SHE BOUGHT HIM FOR $60! Then, our son lived in an orphanage in P-a-P for 4 years until he was able to join our family on December 29, 2005.
May I ask where in Haiti you are traveling? In particular – will you be in Port-au-Prince for any extended period?
Like many others, our community of Haitian adoptive families was heart-broken by the catastrophic earthquake of 2 years ago. You see, most Haitian children in orphanages are not “orphans” in the sense we understand. In many cases, their families released them to the orphanage because they cannot care for them. Thus, many of our children have family in Haiti that we have been unable to find proof of life since the catastrophe.
If you will be in P-a-P, could circulate several names for our family in the off chance that someone you are networking with would have any word?
Our son’s Haitian name is Castera Charles. His Haitian father in Gerard Charles, Haitian mother is Michlene, older brother (approx. 22 years old) Emmanuel Charles, younger sisters – Alexandra, Geralda, and Juanna. The girls would now be between the ages of 8-12.
I know this seems such a strange request – but word-of-mouth is the only way we will ever be able to find if they survived. Through just such a connection, we have been able to find his baby sister, Nika. (If you ever want to hear that story of God at work – I would love to share at some time!) If you or any of your readers have any questions, please feel free to email me at: laura.mastropaolo@gmail.com
Thank you and Bless you…
Laura

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Tomorrow is pay day. That’s what I’m saying. 🙂
When are you leaving for your trip? Are you already gone? Yes, these are rhetorical questions.
I will be praying!

Lisa - So very excited for you to go on this trip! Will be praying for safety. And these pics are beautiful. 🙂

Nikki Gamon - I am feeling down tonight after hearing some sad news. I read your post and donated a stove as an act of hope tonight. Thank you for all you share on your blog Meg and thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Tracy Fisher - I am very proud of you and your adventure. Blessings as you travel. -tracy

Lisa M. - Girl, why are you running in 17 degree weather when you are having 65 degree afternoons?? 🙂
Awesome pics of the dogs.

Tiffany - Amazing pictures. Talented Talby. Cute dogs. Awesome you. Such a good mom… providing for your family even while you’ll be gone. I love hearing the garage door open too, telling me my hubby is home. Famiy together is the best. Thoughts and prayers are with you as you prepare for this adventure!

Terrie - Love how you make me feel like a Super Star…
said in my best SNL Mary Katherine Gallagher voice…
of course, complete with actions!!
I’m loving those warmer days!
Just filled my freezer with meals last Saturday…
love coming home to a home-cooked meal during tax season…
especially when I hadn’t planned on working full time! LOL!!
Hugs to you on the loss of your grandma…and have a great time in Haiti!!!
Take LOTS of pictures!! 🙂

Lennie Jackson - I will pray for safe travels for you. I am sure you are emotional right now. It’s a big deal!!! Enjoy it and soak it up then come home and tell us all about it!

Danielle F. - Prayers for a SAFE trip! 🙂

Sarah - The story about the dogs is adorable. Fun that they come to visit. They’re super cute. Great cause with the stoves too! Excited to make a difference.

Kari - And I posted it on my business Facebook page so hopefully you will get some more purchases 🙂

Kari - I just bought a stove – what a great cause!

kate - my girls love doing flips on the trampoline too! my oldest does backflips now… if only she could do them on the ground for cheerleading though!

Alicia @ La Famille - cute puppies 🙂 i think you need a couple of your own!

Trysha - Nice neighbor dogs are the best. The joy of playing with a dog with none of the clean up. Our dogs would never allow another dog to play with their boys…Waffle must be tolerant. 🙂

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

here we go.

January 1, 2013

#21

#25

2012 was a big year.

we had a lot of changes…we had a lot of work….

and a whole lot of a w e s o m e.

i am excited for everything God has in store for 2013.

are you?

show hide 31 comments

add a comment

chiropractors nj - Thanks for the great post on your blog, it really gives me an insight on this topic.

Shalee Shuayto - I need the water color picture! I saw it on the craft weekend blog, looked like it was printed on canvas?? Amazing, love! Do you sell these? Love………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ashlee - I adore the picture of your face with paint on it! You look beautiful and happy!

Lori - Yes! And, I just love your blog. The rainbow colors make me instantly happy! Love all these pictures. Happy 2013!

Leanne Mackenzie - What a huge year for you all! And what amazing photos…
I am so excited to see what 2013 will bring!
Leanne xo

Traci - These are wonderful, thank you for sharing! A very big wish for a happy 2013 for all of us, thank you for blogging I enjoy your inspiration.

lisa - You are so blessed! Wishing you and your family a great 2013. I am excited for the new year, too. We built a house, moved, two kiddos started school… I am ready for a quieter year with my family.

Farmgirl Paints - TheSe are amazing. So much love and fun. Happy new year Meg;)

Tracy Fisher - i wish you and your family the happiest of 2013! -tracy

Tiffany - Oh Meg… Your photos are stunning! Such wonderful memories you helped your family create this year! They are so blessed to have you.

amy jupin - i love these collages.
super big time love them.
and i smile every time i see you and chicago jenny together too.
🙂

Meredith Feisel - We sure are excited for 2013! Our baby is due in a few days! What a way to start off our year!

Verna Lantz - Wow, what a year indeed! I love this collage. Happy New Year, friend!

jenny - wonderful photos! a blessed year indeed! God is SO good! 🙂

Tracy - Happy New Year, Meg!!

Kizzy - You have some amazing photos, I have made a promise to take a picture a day and add it to my tumblr site and I’m now really looking forward to looking back at them all after seeing yours.

amy - i love looking back at the year like this in pictures! what a fun, busy, colorful year. have a fantastic new year!!!

jennyonthespot - Love your collages. You always inspire me. Blessings on your 2013, my friend… xoxox

Lisa M. - I love all those pictures! And I LOVE seeing you in so many of them! I am ready to rock this year!!! I am not a goal setter and I am QUEEN of procrastination, but in 2012 I set one goal and stuck with it. Now, for 2013 I sat down and wrote out some more goals (not resolutions!) and hung them by my computer. I want to accomplish these things. All my life, if something was hard, I just quit if I could. I’m done with that. I want to be the best wife, mother and person that God made me to be and I found through HIS strength, I can accomplish whatever I put my mind to…even if it is hard 🙂 He never promised easy, right?
Thank you for your blog. It is a daily inspiration for me. Best wishes for you and your family in the upcoming year. I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful one! Can’t wait to start seeing Craft Weekend again! 🙂

Tiffany - oh my word, such a fun collage, such a good idea, i want it printed (with my family instead of course). 2013, is here and it’s already awesome. really and truly. happy new year!

gina - Your post gave me the idea that maybe my word for 2013 should be awesome, as in more awesome. That’s what I want in my life fore 2013, more awesomeness.

Lennie Jackson - Great pics! Hope 2013 is all you dream for. Love your blog.

Lorraine R. - Thanks for bringing fun and color into my world!!! My style is warm, muted, farmhouse colors so I love stopping by and soaking in all of the fun vibrant color of your world!!!!
I’m so glad that I found your blog this past year – and will be looking for ways to incorporate a little more color into my life!!
God bless and here’s to 2013!!!! Looking forward to what God has in store for us all <3

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - Awesome. Happy 2013!

happygirl - I keep coming back for the pics. Happy New Year.

kerry - aaaah! A post full of fun and A.W.E.S.O.M.E.N.E.S.S!!!
Happy New Year Duerksen family! xxx

Leah - Love your pictures! And agree, 2012 was an awesome year! I did my own collages this year too: http://leahsthoughts.com/2012/12/28/2012-the-year-in-photos/. Thanks for all the inspiration!

dalayney - Loving the recap! So bright and colorful! New to your blog and just wanted to say I’m inspired. And need to catch up! 🙂

Kate - Happy New Year! Let’s rock this!

Aby Gittings Baskette - Happy happy new year!!! I hope it’s FABULOUS!!!!!

donna - love your pics…….! have a wonderful new year.

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

christmassy

December 26, 2012

sooo….it’s over.
that went by WAY too quickly for the amount of work that it was.
bummer.

we started at my parents house over the weekend….

i was in charge of the mashed potatoes.

no green on my plate.
oops.

there was a kids table this year.

and braids. 🙂

lauren got her first pair of Birks. (i remember mine…)

some of my gifts.
how beautiful are the mugs from anthro?!

my dad had this shirt made from one of talby’s drawings.

the big hit of the gifts at my parents house was Just Dance 4.
my mom has a Wii at her house (we don’t have one) so my kids love to play it when they are there.
they started playing right away.

THEN the moms came down…. and we smoked them all.
HIGH SCORE all the three rounds.

oh yeah!

my niece is so cuddly.

this was one of sean’s gifts.
it was called Cube-bot.
he did not put it down….made it into every shape imaginable.

family photo 2012.

and gangnum style….

christmas morning was back at out house….just the seven of us….all in their new jammies and slippers.

new boots (from santa)

new movie (from talby to sean)

new coat (from santa)

new boots (from santa)

new book (from santa)

we almost always give a big stack of dvds as a family gift.

this was my christmas morning: green water cup from talby, blue water cup & starbucks card from annie, doughnut pan from sean, candle from scott, cookbook from annie, and a surprise gift of an itouch from mr. duerksen. 🙂

it was one of the most calm and relaxed christmas mornings we may have ever had.
i guess they really are growing up.
and they were very grateful and kind to each other.

a christmas miracle indeed.

we headed over to craig’s mom’s house for fondue and gifts on christmas day.
the kids loved playing games with christmas themes.

they all got new clothes and goodies.

fondue is their family tradition for like….ever.
my boys LOVE all the meats…and also especailly the cheese with bread.

annie was struggling with her cast and holding her plate so i jokingly suggested she get in the old high chair.
she got big eyes and said “CAN I REALLY?!!”
ha ha ha

she stayed there and had craig bring her cooked meat!
she said many times over that it was her most favorite meal she has ever eaten.

and the duerksen family picture of 2012.

we are done with our celebrations.
it went by so fast.
i still have christmas crafts to do though…. we are going to make them anyway.
they are too cute to wait a whole year more.

annie goes in tomorrow to get her cast off.

show hide 32 comments

add a comment

Jamie - oh my i spy mrs. meyer’s soap in a color {scent} i’ve never seen! do tell, please! what scent?

Victoria - Oh my I love Annie’s shirt/dress she wore in the pictures! That is adorable.
What a great gift from your Dad – I would love to have one of my daughters art pieces turned into a tshirt!
Looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas!
Happy New Year!

Robin Heim - What a great recap of your Christmas. Where did you Dad go to have the picture transferred onto the shirt? It’s such a wild idea. I love it!

Laura - i love seeing how everybody has their own style and tradition for Christmas.
the same running theme seems to be family…no matter where people go, what they eat, or what gifts they give.
it is all about family.
love that.
our christmas was a tough and strange one…
i cooked nothing
i bought NOTHING
seriously…Santa is REAL…he came through for our family BIG TIME this christmas
then nick got sick
merry christmas! HA!
BUT…
my family was together
and THAT is awesome
the people in our homes are the true gifts.
although those anthro mugs kind of ROCK
love to your whole bunch, and prayers for a blessed new year!!!!!!!
xoxo

Michele - Your family is just lovely. The family portrait shirt was my favorite :o)

This Farm Family's Life - Love your pictures! I am sad Christmas is over, but I’m already looking forward to next year and warmer weather!!!

Lisa - Where oh where did you get the JOY wrapping paper in your first picture??? Love it! Also, the picture of you and annie is so sweet. Looks like your Christmas was wonderful. Our Christmas morning was a bit lame this year, (Kids woke up by 4:45am and I was mad and having trouble being joyful),but was redeemed by having a real white Christmas and being able to go sledding as a family with my sisters family. I’ve never had trouble getting into the spirit of Christmas but this year was rough. Loved looking at all your pictures! Saw on instagram that Annie got her cast off! Hope it was a smooth process!

Tiffany - Great to be surrounding by family. Thank you for sharing. I see your baby girl growing up so much. Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - Looks like a great time of family & celebration! Ours was kind of a weird Christmas-hubby in bed sick with the flu, his grandma admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve with what was thought to be a heart attack. That meant no Christmas eve service for us(a true tradition for all of us) and no food/opening gifts at her house thet night either. We’re postponing it all until shes out of the hospital.
I told my husband “as much as we might say traditions aren’t the most important part of Christmas, its hard to let go of them when circumstances demand we do something else.” I love me some traditions:)
Merry Christmas! Enjoy that nap!

Carrie - Merry Christmas. Thank you for sharing your family with us.

Kelsey - I just watched a video that someone shared, and I immediately thought of you and your blog (and your readers!). It’s about having gratitude for each day in your life, but when he said, “Begin by opening your eyes, and be grateful that you have eyes to open… just think about the amazing colors that are here for us to enjoy!” and of course, I thought of your love for bright, happy colors. Check it out if you have a few minutes… very sweet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj2ofrX7jAk

Kayla - What? Your Dad doesn’t Gangnam? 😉

Jenny B. - Love that Lauren got her first pair of Birks! I had green ones in high school and wore them to prom (yup. sure did.). I also love that Annie was so excited to sit in the high chair. I think my 8-year-old son would have had the exact same response! 🙂

Kimberly G - Looks like you had a great Christmas.

Danielle F. - Merry Christmas! Love the pic of Shawn with his DVD. Praying for Annie…and her mama. 🙂

Megan - I saw your “cute as a button” chair on sale at World Market today, just thought I’d let you know!!!! (online!)

Shara - I love that you smoked your kids in Just Dance!!! Talk about braggin’ rights! Merry Christmas Duerkson’s!!!

Tiffany - Sounds like you had a great Christmas. I’m so glad. Annie couldn’t be cuter… with the braids, and the high chair. My goodness. It is a lot of work for just a few days, isn’t it?! The wonderful family memories last forever though! Merry Christmas!

Kristin S - 1. Love Lauren’s boots. Wow, Santa did well.
2. Love that you took “all family” pics at both homes. Those will mean so much someday. I only have a few. Wait, I have a couple. That’s it. Two. I wish I had more.

Lorel - thanks for posting Meg – so good to see you and your family. I agree – over too quickly. Love you!

heth_07@yahoo.com - Hi Meg! Precious post! Praying for your sweet Annie!
Do you know where your dad ordered your t-shirt? LOVED that! 🙂

Lori Austin - That shirt is the best!
Sweet Annie and her braids. I will pray for her tomorrow.

Ana - Love your blog. My 3 girls loved the Christmas Tree craft you posted earlier. And they also loved the Zingo board game and some other ones you suggested on your previous post. Thanks, love all your ideas and suggestions.

danielle burkleo - meg! i really love all of these pictures…they make me feel warm and fuzzy. my faves are
lauren’s new boots.
annie in the high chair
all the just dance pictures
your new shirt of talby’s drawing – so sweet!
i imagine that our christmases in the future will look like this.
and that makes me really happy.
love you friend! merry christmas!

cheryl - i’m loving Lauren’s new boots. where are they from? other than Santa 😉

Kimberly Dial - I love big family Christmases. Thanks for sharing yours 🙂

Kimberlee Jost - Loved all the pictures of your families!
Miss you!
Need to run…too much food.
🙂

Susan - We had a wonderful Christmas too! We had snow in Fort Worth for only the 2nd time in my life! My daughter got Just Dance 4 also…huge hit! Happy New Year and stay warm!

Rita - Your mom and I have the same Christmas dishes! Merry Day After Christmas!

jackie chappell - prayers FOR SURE !!! … we have gone through a series of “tramitic” doctor visits of late … so i surley understand how to pray … our doc suggested some atarax (sp) before this last visit … i didn’t do it ..but after yet another GIGANTIC EMOTiONAL experience ..i wondered if it might have been a good idea (our four year old grandson has had a series of warts removed from his lips ..ear lobes ..fingers ..and .. and .. and .. so between the numbing shots ..the scraping .. and ..the cauterization it has just been a struggle … (holding him down is just THE WORST !!!) … so you can count on this nanny’s prayers .. with the hope that this will truely be her last visit … prayers for mommie too !!!
blessings ..jackie (from florida)

Leah - Looks like a great Christmas! And looking forward to your belated Christmas crafts! We still have a week and a half of vacation. So bring on the projects!

Kate - A nap sounds perfect! So glad you had a good one!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

new puppy.

December 12, 2012

so…i kind of have forgotten about the big camera.

not really… but i really haven't had much to take pictures of this past few weeks.
with annie's broken arm we have been laying very low.
and it got cold outside so we've been inside a lot.

this our aunt & uncle's new puppy.
she was the sweetest little thing… so tolerant of annie and the little cousins.

close up.

coming in for her own close-up…

there were five dogs at the house that day.
it was dreamy for annie and talby.
they are big dog lovers.

but after spending a few hours with that sweet puppy…
i am reminded how i am not quite ready for one at our house just yet.

but i would love for waffle to have a friend.
someday.

does anyone need a puppy sitter?
i know two girls (and their mom) who would be up for the job.

show hide 10 comments

add a comment

Dana Banana - We are getting a new corgi puppy in January. I would totally your girls to be our puppy sitter!

Carol S. - Meg, do you stay in touch with Laura Phelps? I believe she is from the town with the school shooting in Conn? Can’t stop thinking of her, have missed her blog very much. Lost my computer email addresses awhile back and hers was among it. Any chance you could let me know if you know anything? I understand if you’re a tad busy and not able to respond. Prayers lifted.

Laura - I NEED A DOG SITTER!! TOMORROW!!!!!!! CAN THE GIRLS GET HERE BY THEN???
yeah.
being new to dog ownership, I forgot that when I make plans to be gone ALL DAY LONG…the dog still needs to go out.
get a cat.
I never have to worry about the cat.
I dont even know where the cat is….

BriBedell - It’s only tough in the beginning for a little bit. You know like a newborn 🙂

Carrie Lea - You can always adopt an older dog. Lots of dogs out there that need good homes. Forever homes. Because the humans who got them didn’t realize they were a lifetime commitment.
I need a dog sitter this summer. Want to drive a few hours and stay in SW MO for a week? 🙂

sosimplysusan - Awww, what a sweet diversion! Puppies for a day– the best kind! 🙂
Thought I’d mention they have some cute handmade arm slings on etsy. That might brighten her day to have something a little more stylish and fun. I had shoulder surgery in Sept. and am still doing physical therapy, so I really feel for her!!

alicia @ la famille - uuuuuuhhh, nope. we tried a puppy…two months after we had a baby. can you say DUMB! ya, it didn’t work out so well. this mama almost lost her marbles. then her brother, uncle jesse, inherited a new dog! yay for uncle jesse!!
maybe we’ll try again. but i’m pregnant again. (the norm) so in about 7-9 years, we’ll consider it.

Alyssa - That last pic is the best! I love puppies but I do not like cleaning up after them!

Leah - I want that puppy! I love puppies, although they are so much work. But so darn cute!! My dog is from Kansas, by the way. 🙂

Samantha - We could use a dog sitter in July but we are in Missouri not Kansas 🙂

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

tuesday.

December 11, 2012

*********************************************

i took annie in for her re-check this morning on her cast.

she is not an easy patient.

we both thought this was going to be just an xray and i wasn't thinking they would need to take off the cast for that but they did.
there was LOTS of screaming and crying…. LOTS!!!
not because of too much actual pain but mostly from sheer panic and terror of the unknown.
i almost started crying too.

but it is healing really well thankfully.
and she got a new christmas colored cast and can't wait for Santa to sign it!

*********************************************

how are you doing on your christmas shopping?

i have…. hardly anything done.
i think i have 4 gifts done.
ugh.
and none of those four are my own children.
i can feel the christmas melt down coming on already….

i am struggling with finding my christmas spirit this year.
boo.
i need to find it.

tell me what to get my kids and that would help. :)

*********************************************

this past week or i have been using my awesome recipes section of the bloggy big time!

i have made cream puff dessert…

crescent chicken…. cheesy potato soup…. spicy tortilla soup…. noodles with ham…

spinach artichoke dip… pancakes... glazed apple bars…

and i am making my mom's mint brownies soon!

******************************************************

last night i played Mexican Train with my kids.
does your family play board games together? do your kids sit quietly while they play?
because mine do NOT.
they squirm and sing and stand up and sit down and stand up and spin and squeal and every other little annoying thing you can thing of while we sit and try to play a game.
oh yeah…and they fight too.

but it's stil better than being a zombie in front of the tv so i'll take it.

here is a visual list of some of our favorite family games here at the Duerksen House….

Mexican Train
it's a game of dominos but a bunch of people can play it at once.
my kids LOVE this one.

Blokuseven i like to play this game… but i NEVER win!

Farkle
craig loves to play this with the kids…

Zingo
oh my goodness my younger kids LOVE this game so much!

Guess Who Extra
fun fact: we have this game and have never put the batteries in and they don't care!
they still play it all the time even without sounds and lights!

Uno
everyone likes UNO… how could you not?

Memory

even though my kids are older i can still challenge them to Memory.
it was the best game we played when they were preschoolers.
i think this game is amazing for their minds!

Sequence

my older kids like this one
and craig & i play it with chicago dave & jenny EVERYTIME.

Scene It (Disney edition)
we always agree to this game when we don't have the energy
for the bouncing squirming craziness at the table.

Sorry
it's a classic game!
i played and my kids love it too!

Apples to Apples Jr.

this is probably their FAVORITE game of all of them…
and for the grown ups too.

HedBanz

we don't have this one but they asked for it for this christmas.

Memory Challenge Holiday
and this one looks like fun…
it's for ages 6+ so it must be harder than the original Memory.
i think it will go in my amazon cart.

Holiday Scrabble

and this one will too!
it looks fun and different and i want to challenge their minds with spelling and math whle we have "fun"

so… maybe that gives you some ideas for gifts at your house?

do you have a favorite family game that isn't listed here?

please share!

*********************************************

i guess i should go out for my run.
sometimes it's such a chore to get out there!
and cold!
i wish i had downloaded new music yesterday with fast internet… it takes 8 minutes to download one song off iTunes out here with our farmy internet!

ok… i will go.
i will.

ready….. set…. GO.

show hide 63 comments

add a comment

Andrea - LOVE mint brownies! I have been searching for the recipe forever! Thanks for sharing!

Merlin - If there’s any way for you to reply and let me know that the Phelps family are ok in CT….I enjoyed reading her blog and hearing about her delightful family. I am praying that they are ok today, I think of them often and miss her posts. I know you are friends and hope you can get a message of support to her from a former blog reader.
Thank you.

BullyMama - Too bad for Annie – I went through that last year when my son fractured his thumb skiing – cast on and off 3(+) times. Thankfully he wasn’t upset but it just seemed like such a long drawn out process. He fractured it while going off a jump so everytime we went to the Dr. together I told him that I loved all of this one on one time I was having with him…a sure way to get him to be a little more cautious 🙂 He’s having a tooth pulled tomorrow so it’s another “hot date” for us!!
Thanks for the game ideas – looking for a present for twins that are turning 5 and Zoingo looks perfect for them.
Favorites at our house are Scattergories, Phase10 and Monopoly which I have no patience for. Thinking about Sorry and Clue for Christmas.
A little Christmas shopping done which is good for me, I’m a procrastinator but it is tough to be last minute when you have to mail things across country…that stresses me out!!
Enjoy this holiday time, it will never be as magical as it was when we were kids and as much as we know that we can’t help trying to recreate it – we shall do our best to make it magical for our kids (which I’m pretty sure you do!!)

Rachel - Bananagrams! Monopoly deal…both of them! Yahtzee…scrabble slam!

Amy - Loaded Questions is SO much fun! My family is huge into board games, and that is our favorite! Everyone can play, young and old. The adults love Beyond Balderdash, but you have to have your thinking cap on for that. 🙂

Barbara (WA) - You already know this but you are So Blessed to have kids who “squirm and sing and stand up and sit down and stand up and spin and squeal.” Such fun and love and great memories for them all! Awesome! I’ll be no help on the gift ideas since my sons are now in their 30’s – they have Amazon wish lists that I buy from, online, done (hubby, too!).

Jayne Barbour - I just got these for my three daughters and I think they will love them. I want to play with them myself:)
http://www.hearthsong.com/woodland-fairy-home-and-fairy-dolls_p3452.html#ReviewHeader
So sorry to hear Annie (and you!) had a rough appt. So scary:(
Good luck with the Christmas spirit. Maybe some music? the movie Christmas Vacation? How about watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Ahhh.
Good luck:)

Lee Ann - I think I saved myself 20# by not making those brownies until yesterday. How do you resist? I cut them into really tiny, little squares and put them in the freezer. Every time I walk by it’s, “just one bite”. 🙂 So yummy!

Lisa Lichterman - We like Rummikub and Scattergories 🙂

Melanie - You might already have this, but we’re getting our kids a ping pong table! and a chalkboard to keep score.
When my youngest was four, he fell down a spiral staircase outside and landed on his head. Seven staples while he was papoosed in the er. You probably heard him screaming in Kansas!
Merry Christmas!! Breathe Jesus in, garbage out. :0) This time of year can be crazy.

Samantha Adams - Annie and Talby NEED socks from Little Miss Matched if they don’t have them already. I swear, they were MADE for you and your girls! 🙂

Tracy Fisher - you make me feel better. i have one present wrapped. no tree up yet. maybe i’ll hang the stockings tonight. but i do have my one frames piece of art i made in 2004… it says… “The best gift around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”… That makes me feel good. -tracy

Michelle Whitlow - Poor Annie 🙁 We’ve gone through that. My son had that same cast! Broke his leg the first night of hockey practice when he was 4 1/2…had a full leg cast for 7 1/2 weeks. Santa did sign it with a ‘SC’ 🙂 Thankfully this ‘phase’ will not last forever.

Maegan - We love Settlers of Catan! It has expansion packs and all. However my oldest is six, so it’s still a little much for my kids. But I found out there’s a Catan Junior, so it’s coming to our house for Christmas! Since we’ve never played the junior one I can’t attest to its awesomeness, but if it’s anything like the big version, I know we will like it.

Melissa - Meg: Go check out the Clover Lane Blog – she has loads of great xmas ideas. Also, I LOVE amazon prime – everything ships for free (that is prime) and in record time. WOOHOO>

Laura - GET THAT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ON SISTER!!!!!
dont worry about the shopping
I have done NONE
nada
NOTHING
it will happen..
we love the game of Life and someone ALWAYS CRIES
lots of fights
name calling
blaming
good family fun

Molly - My daughters love Headbanz. They also asked for Twister Dance and Fibber. My older daughter asked for the barbie with a camera and for Blingles. For the first time I have almost all of my shopping done! Yay!
I am sorry for Annie’s broken arm. Having broken both my arms and collarbone I know how scary it can be. Hope she heals soon. Cool that her cast is red and green and that Santa will sign it.
OH and I love World Market, too. I love their jewelry too.

jen smith - do you have your kids make lists? i never made a list growing up but my husband’s family changed all that. we all make lists so that whoever buys for us knows just what we want. makes the season so much easier.

April R - Heal fast Annie, so sorry you were frightened…
We agree – Cutting a cast off is scary. My son has broken his arm 3 times (all before the age of 7!) so after all that “Danger boy” is no longer scared of having a cast cut off. I still cringe a bit but hopefully we won’t go there again!
Wits and Wagers (we love this one, it ends up being funny) and Rukus (fast, easy card game) and we have a wooden set of tangrams that is pretty cool. Wish we played more 🙂
Merry Christmas and I pray you found your “cheer!”

Mia - Our new favorite is Herd Your Horses board game. There are a few variations to the game so you can make it a bit easier or harder depending on the kids playing.
Let the boardgame chaos begin!

Stacy M. - Well I am going shopping today hoping to get some gifts bought. I am doing the gift of four this year with our kids. One thing you want, one this you need, one thing to wear, and one thing to read. That sound make it easier! I hope. And I will still do stocking stuff.
We like to play pickle. It is fun and the older kids like it. Also did you watch Parenthood last night?! Oh my gosh my eyes are swollen this morning from crying so much. Best show on tv!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Waffle-Wednesday - We are so old-fashioned. We like Chess and Backgammon and Yahtzee!
Those brownies look amazing! Yum!

Kim M - Our family’s favorite game is Ruckus! So fun! crazy, fast ,loud. Our WHOLE family can enjoy it!! And often our 4 year old (our youngest) is the winner! Love your blog!

Angie - Guess Who, Uno and Sorry were regulars here when my now teenager was younger. Of course at 14 she isn’t much into playing games with us anymore. If it doesn’t include texting or an Ipad, she’s not interested. My two youngest are still too little to play so I don’t have any game buddies these days.
Sorry she had such a scary time with the X-ray and cast. Bless her heart. I love the Christmas Colored Cast though. That is pretty cool

Lindsay - Qwirkle – so much fun for the whole family!!!

Mary Vaca - It won’t help you this year, but a few months ago I started taking pictures of things my kids said they wanted with my iPhone, that way when Christmas came around I didn’t have to remember or think. It’s also come in handy as relatives and godparents have asked me what to get… I just text them the picture and tell them the store… voila!

Beth - I don’t have the Christmas spirit yet either. Maybe we can find it together?
Having a cast cut off is SCARY! I don’t blame Annie for being upset (and you, either). Even though you know it’s not going to hurt you, it’s loud and hot and dusty. Just scary.
Have you heard of the game “Things”? It is our family fave right now. It gives you a prompt “things you don’t want to take on vacation” (for example) and everyone gives an answer — could be genuine, funny, totally out of the box. Then the “reader” reads them all and everyone else takes turns trying to guess who said what. VERY fun. We love playing games together!

donna - my kids all 6 of them love catch phrase. we have a lot of fun playing that one.

tinaehb3 - I wish I could have been her x-ray tech. That’s what I’ve done for the last 17 years 🙂 Hope her little arm gets better soon!!

Molly B - Headbandz is awesome. . .you guys will love it! Praying for your Christmas mojo to come back : ) just keep swimming!

Lori Austin - Dang it. That poor sweet girl of yours. This whole cast thing STINKS.
Glad to hear it is healing well though.
I too am really struggling with my spirit this year. We have had TONS of
germs at our house in the past few weeks, hardly any shopping done, finances
are tight, etc, etc. Trying so hard to focus on the REAL reason for the
season and get into the spirit.

tanktop - Buy the family Left Right Center. It comes in a little tube by the board games.
So much fun. My kids like to play with pennies instead of the chips that come in it.

Amschmitz - I have 5 kids also and this year we’re following something I saw on Pinterest. Each kid gets 4 presents…..something you want, something you need, something you wear and something you read. They are actually excited about it and I feel much less stressed! Focusing more this year on doing christmas projects and baking together and focusing less on gifts:)

Lee Ann - Your poor girl! Praying all of the pain (and drama:) are over soon.
So, I’ve read every blog post you’ve written 🙂 And every year I think I should try your mint brownies – except I can’t have gluten. So this afternoon we made them gluten free. Pass the word that subbing gluten free flour worked! And the brownies are to die for! I can’t wait to try them frozen.
oh! And my girls do cart wheels between their turns when we’re playing games. Drives me nuts but I put up with it for a while 🙂

Jamie M. - We LOVE Ticket to Ride, Five Crowns, and Left, Right, Center.

Carrie - zingo, the classic go fish, and I am joping the game HIss will be a hit. I will to also get the game rat a tat cat. I am thinking about apples to apples but I am fearful it is too hard for my 5 year old.

Tanya - The picture of Annie makes me want to cry. Poor sweet girl 🙁
I love the game Sequence! Love it!
I really want my kids to be game players for the exact reason you mentioned ~ attack of the TV zombies. They’re 3 and 5 so we’re getting started now.
This Christmas is Mickey Mouse Yahtzee Jr 😉

dcgraber@cox.net - Adam and Jill do not fight; at least not in front of us. Unless they play Farkle. That game is off limits! Seriously! We love to play Sorry with the grandchildren!! Our favorite game is Telestrations. Sooooo fun!

alicia @ la famille - here’s my opinion on getting your christmas shopping done way early: you’re gonna buy way more than you should. there’s just all the time between the early crazy shoppers and christmas…you wanna BUY! it’s just fun. so, you not being done might actually be saving you loads of cash.
how’d you like that for a reverse psychology, huh??
and apples to apples jr?? i looked at that and didn’t know…but i love to buy a game at christmas. this might be the ONE! thanks 🙂

Terrie - I feel for Annie…I kind of freaked out when they cut my cast off 9 years ago.
Seems like they should give a body some warning about what they are going to do don’t ‘cha know!
Love almost all your games! We love family game time!
Have you ever played Phase 10? It’s a fun one.
And my son and his friends got me hooked on Settlers of Catan.
I hate Monopoly ( I know, it’s un-American ) but I love Settlers!
And I must make your mom’s mint brownies! I looked at the recipe the other night
when I was looking for the margarita recipe again!
Yup, got my friend hooked on them now too! 🙂
Happy Shopping…I’m not done either. Maybe I’ll see ya at the stores!

tiffany gardner - Your sweet girl! I’ve been thinking about her as I gear up to do some crafts with my kids over the break… I’ve been wondering how she is able to do all your fun crafts! I’ll keep her in my prayers!! I’ve felt the same way about this season. I’ve always LOVED this time of year but this year.. I’m just exhausted! I’ve had major dental work for the last few months and it’s really getting me down. Trying to chase a baby and keep up with my two older ones… I need to change my attitude and start getting grateful!!! Going to just decide to do that now ! Get grateful! And I have to say… I really am grateful for your blog. You are my friend… even though you don’t know me. I am grateful for the encouragement you give and the real part of life you share too. Thanks.

Morgan - Headbanz in an awesome game. We play it as a family all the time. Be sure to get the kid version. The adult version is really hard! We will play the kid version with all adults even.

Darcie - Have you heard of the Andrew Peterson Behold the Lamb of God album/tour? Buy the album! Best album ever for getting me into the REAL spirit of Christmas. Hands down! I’ll never view Christmas the same – such a good reminder. And who cares about gifts? (I mean, besides the kids…) Hope it smooths out for you and you’re able to enjoy it all, even the shopping!

Kristen - We love Spot It! It travels well too. So sorry about the unexpectedly hard doctors appointment.

s - Love apples to apples!! We like monopoly although I shorten it a lot…like the game ends when I cant take it anymore!! We also like to play black jack – how bad is that for a family game??

Kelley Jones - Another vote for Spot it. We first played at a family reunion with varied age groups. Everyone seemed to like it. My oldest daughter broke her arm 3 times over the years–all in different ways and places. Cast removal was always scary. Hugs to you and Annie.

the.mrs - Kanoodle! We stopped by the toy store and the girls played with the sample game and I could hardly get them out of the store!!!!
http://www.creativekidstuff.com/kanoodle.html

Gretchen - I love Farkle, but unfortunately, I’m the only one who does in this family. Not really a one person game. 🙂
As far as the gifts go, I NEED to get some little boy toys. He has ONE gift under the tree and his sisters have at least three each; and trust me, he has noticed! 😉

Becky - you really inspire me to run. when i get too busy that’s the first to go…and you do it OUTSIDE in the COLD!! rock star. all done with our Christmas. we open gifts this sat because the next week we’ll be driving back home. hate the stress…cannot wait until it’s over. shame.

angie - Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one behind on shopping. We find these games cause the least amount of fighting in our house with 4 kids (13,11, 8,8): Ticket to Ride, Quirkle, and Ruckus (card game).

BeckyB - I feel so badly for Annie – it would be scary for me too!
Our fav games are Balderdash, Bezzerwizzer and Five Crowns (card game). A really crazy card game is Fluxx but could be frustrating for little kids because the rules change with every play. Pictionary is always fun for all ages. I’ve ordered ‘Word on the Street’ and ‘Wizard’ card game for this year. Thanks for sharing lots of good ideas…

Heidi of Operation Organization - ‘Clover Lane’ Sarah recently had her daughter guest post ideas for what to give teen girls – maybe that will give you some shopping inspiration? 🙂
http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2012/11/guest-post-from-abbey-affordable-gifts.html
this year my 7 yr old is all about remote controlled gadgets and our 4 yr old is getting all sorts of star wars action figures.
thanks for all the game suggestions – we love to add new ones to our collection each year )the grandparents will be giving our boys the delux ‘guess who’ game you recommended!
Cheers!
~H

Georgia - Me and my husband play board games.. Battleships, monopoly, scrabble (although were both rubbish at spelling so it ends up with made up words and swear words.. ooops)
I miss you christmas DIY gift idea’s, thats how i found your blog a couple years ago! x

Tawny - I bought Quelf for my boss and her family. It looks silly and fun!

shar y - Apparently, Headbanz is great, according to my g-kids, and adults like it too. Especially, along with adult bevarages!
I had to have a cast cut off of my wrist earlier this year. It is very scary worring if they will cut too deep! Go Annie!

Diane Hutchings - All those games look so fun! We’re having our first baby in June, and we can’t wait until he/she is oldenough to play games as a family!

Kate - OK, here goes:
Lauren – iTunes gift card and the book Hinds Feet on High Places
Scott – KU gear
Sean – shirt that says ‘my last name is awesome’
Talby – her own baking supplies – her own bowls and measuring spoons
Annie – her own gardening supplies 🙂
Love you. Hang in there

Leadia Jarvis - Oh, poor Annie – and you!
I am right there with you on the Christmas meltdown. I feel super Grinchy this year – like my heart might be about 600 sizes too small, haha!
We are the same with games as well. Lots of distractions and interruptions and insults and fighting, but like you, at least it’s a break from watching their eyes glaze over on the video screens. We like almost all of the games you have listed. The older kids have really started getting into “Scattergories”, although Eliza (who is 10) sometimes needs a little help. If you hit a Goodwill you can usually find Outburst Jr. for $1.99. I don’t know if they still make it (?) but this game is a HUGE hit with all of us. There’s also one called “Beat the Parents” that’s a lot of fun. One of my girlfriends with a lot of kids also recommended a game called “Scavenger Hunt” – it looks super fun so I think I’m going to order it as a family present!

Julianne Brimner - I have 4 gifts bought total. Our big gift is flying our son who is in the Navy home for Christmas. That is all he wants and me too. Fave new game for our family is Spot It. Fun, fast and even our eight year old loves it. I know Target has it.

Alice H - Our favorite card game is PHASE 10. And Headbandz is so fun! Hope you get that for them for Christmas. We also like Catch Phrase!

Alice H - Do the WANT, NEED, WEAR, READ for your kids and throw in a SURPRISE from Santa. That way they only get 5 gifts each. I am doing that this year and I budgeted myself for $150 per kid, I have 3. And I only went over budget just a little bit.

Lori H - We love Bananagrams! Similar to Scrabble but it moves much faster. Now Scrabble bores me to tears. Apples to Apples and Would You Rather are both good. If you can find it, Rat a Tat Cat is an awesome card game and was awarded some Parents Award. One of our favorites!

Tanya H - Our kids’ very favorite game is Loaded Questions Jr. Their second fav is Apples to Apples, if that gives you an idea. We don’t even have most gifts planned, much less purchased. And it doesn’t help that our kids are asking for things there is NO WAY they’re going to get. My daughter did finally ask for a hula hoop and a new jump rope, assuming walmart still has them in the middle of winter. 🙂 Our kids are getting MP3 players tho, and a $15 gift card to Amazon for more of their own music. Was that at all helpful? 🙂
I agree with the trauma Annie was dealing with- I broke my arm when I was a kid and was WAY more scared for them to cut the cast off than anything else in the world! 😛

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

getting away for a bit…

October 27, 2012

we took the day to hit our favorite nature spot.
it was so needed.

God creates so much beauty all around us.
and the fact that it doesn't stay the same…that we get to watch leaves change and plants go dormant…
it a gift to us everyday.

oh i love that baby girl.

dorky waffle was having a blast getting filthy.
his usual.

i came home with two more heart rocks for my giant collection.
yay!!

annie decided "clams" would be the PERFECT show-and-tell item to bring to school.
so she filled a water bottle full of closed up "clams".
and she was hot which is why she isn't wearing her shirt. :)

i like getting away with mr. duerksen…even if it is with a tribe of kids too.

absolutely beautiful day.
completed with pizza for dinner!
yay for no cooking.

show hide 31 comments

add a comment

Casey - Lovely photos! I think what I love most about fall is how God can make all things beautiful…even when they’re in the process of dying.

Tiffany - So much to say… 1) Looks like a beautiful place to expolore. That’s one of our favorite things to do as a family, and I’m so thankful MN has wonderful state parks for that. 2) Oh what I’d give for the warmer weather it sounds like you have. Snow hasn’t even stuck here yet, and I already miss the warmer weather. 3) We were just up in Duluth at Lake Superior and were looking for heart shaped rocks along the lake. We didn’t have any luck… Fun to hear you have a collection. 4) YES to pizza for dinner. Not much better than no cooking! Glad you had such a nice get-away! You deserve it!

Allison Pfefferkorn - I am about 99% sure the first picture of the red leaves is poison ivy. I only say 99% because where I live we have posion oak not ivy. But it looks exactly like that. Hopefully none of you are allergic or none of you touched it.
It is a beautiful leaf, but oh so bad if you are allergic.
Beautiful pictures. They all really captured a reconnecting and peaceful time.

Juliane - Gorgeous day. Love that you can get away as a family and take some beautiful photos in the meantime. Pulling memories into art-making is always the best. Our personal lives always flow in and out of our creativity.

Wendy - Love the heart shaped leaves (7 pics up from bottom) … they go with your rocks. <3

Aby - Absolutely beautiful. Places and days like that refresh the soul. And its a great reminder of how its the simple things in life that really do matter. Thanks for sharing!! As always!!

Sarah - What a beautiful peaceful place! I love that it really looks like fall, but it’s warm enough to be out in shorts and t-shirts(or not :-)). Here it looks like fall and feels like winter!

jacki - Felt like I took a walk right with you! That animal bone/spine things must have been an interesting find too.

denise@victory rd. - lovely photos.
i need a day like this. to stop and rest and breath in deep.

Branded Photo Booth - Now you will realize how great is our God. The beauty of nature, trees, flowers etc. we need to thank him for all.

Valerie @ Chateau a la mode - Aren’t those just the best days…just hanging out enjoying nature…for free…heehee! Love all your pics. P.S. I have a big dorky dog too and she is just a big dorky love! Looks like Waffle is that way too. Happy Sunday.

Sarah - I just love your photos…brings back memories of my childhood growing up in the woods…especially the wooly bear!

melodee - your pictures are always just so amazing!

Lisa - Love days like that! Also love that Annie went shirtless! Haha! 😉 Love all the pictures.

Christina - Love this post! And the picture of you and Annie?! Wow…so beautiful!

karlene - that looks like a great day!!!

tiffany gardner - Love all the photos! Yes… God is everywhere! Like me having the opportunity to meet you TODAY!!!!! I had no idea you were having a craft weekend or that we were coming to bearly makin it… until today! I’m sure it seemed weird to you but honestly it was So super cool for me to see you. You are the first blog that I ever found… not long after my daddy died from Alzheimer’s disease. You constantly challenge me to live in the moment, let the little things go (with my kids), and CREATE!!! I am STILL so pumped. It will stay with me every time I check in with whatever!

kcandeakromm@gmail.com - Did you go visit Manhattan wearing a KU shirt?

Krista - Hasn’t the weather been crazy? Leaves changing & falling but warm enough to play in the water and be hot enough to take off your shirt (LOL love little Annie)

lauren - You reminded me a line from a favorite old song….”there’s so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see…but everywhere i go, i’m looking.’
don’t know how familiar you are with rich mullins. he might have actually been looking at something lovely in kansas when he wrote that!

Jennifer@CupcakesandMudPuddles - Gorgeous photos…glad you guys were able to get away for a day and enjoy it.

steph - awesome pics!
looks refreshing…
and some pretty nice family time!!
ha… and i love that annie isn’t wearing a shirt!
that girl is a hoot!
(she’d get along great with my 6 year old girl.) 🙂

Amy@littleforalittlewhile - Any day that concludes with pizza is a winner in my book! Looks like a fabulous day!

Tracy - Beautiful Kansas!!
And you said it: Yay for no cooking! Amen!

Linda - Such a beautiful day. Only a little jealous that your kids are still in shorts! Amazing photos as always! Love these posts.

Verna Lantz - Absolutely gorgeous! What a wonderful way to spend the day. I cannot wait until I live near water again. Special times always seem to happen around the water. 🙂

Sandy W - It looks like so much fun! Did you know you took a picture of poison ivy? I hope no one got into it.

shannon - beautiful pics as always. love the colors of the leaves this time of year and ending the day with pizza could it get any better 😉
Happy Weekend!

mary beth - Glad you were able to enjoy a warm fall day…they are numbered for sure! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us all, I feel like I got to come along on a fine day in Kansas – love it!

Sara @ it's good to be queen - Amazing photos. Getting out in nature is good for the soul. Happy weekend, Meg!

Peggy in TN - Beautiful fall days are so special. I was thinking, “I sure wish I could take my shirt off when I got hot like Annie did!” It would be so nice to be that free. We have had a gorgeous fall here in Tennessee too!

Share on Facebook•Tweet this Post•Pin Images to Pinterest•Back to Top

« Newer Posts
1
…
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
…
28
Older Posts

search

Search for:
Instagram
Categories

Categories
Archives
Archives

Category Archives: family fun

search

Instagram

Categories

Archives