Rang in the New Year with peace.  Had a Barbie cake on Isabel’s birthday then later that week we had her party at the Ice rink.  That was fun and a bit different for all of us, some kids really had fun while others liked the party room better.  This month was a way to relax from all the Fall to Christmas buzz, slower times less things scheduled for this month which makes it nice.  Isabel and I went to the optometrist, this was her first appointment.  She wanted to check out all the machines and see how it worked for me then she did it.   End of the month we celebrated X’s birthday with all the usual crew and had fun there as well.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

The month started out with trip to Ogleby for Breakfast with Santa.  Also, a spa day for me and much swimming.  I even had Isabel come in for a mani and pedi after she got some time for swimming then it was lunch.  Isabel asked Santa for ice skates.  When we got some we had a kids Christmas party for the kids and Isabel got to see Santa once again and asked for ice skate and a wonder woman cape.  The party was the normal fun of entertainment, crafts, cookie decorating, and face painting.  Tracy and I started tours to some private schools to see which we liked to enroll Isabel in next year.  The following weekend we went with our neighbors to Santa’s workshop where Tommie and Isabel got to build a toy and see Santa once again.  This time she asked for ice skates, wonder woman cape, a dry erase board, and a Santa beard.  She told Santa she could laugh like him, but after a while her belly would hurt.  So she needed to have a beard like him.  We had a dinner night with the family and got to listen to Shoji Tabuchi performance.  Isabel enjoyed the music and made for a fun evening.  We got together with Shana and the kids to celebrate Christmas which was lots of fun kids all having fun playing and excited for Christmas.  I had my annual Christmas gathering with the ladies, although one was missing due to the flu we had fun and then I stopped by to drop off Grace’s goodies since she could not make it out.  The weather has been so warm here we even had a thunder/lightening storm on the 23rd.  We went to Christmas Eve service with out neighbors and then everyone came to our house to munch all the food.  Christmas Day was nice time to stay at home and Isabel slept in until 7am.  Next day Ross and Judy came over to celebrate Christmas.  It was a nice time although Ross was a bit ill with the cold that has been going around here.    Tracy had to work in Cincinnati for the week doing some unit testing.  I spent some time with my friend Katie and a bit of time with Tracy in Cincinnati before coming back to work.  One of my co-workers spouse passed on Christmas so went to the viewing, not something you want for anyone, but glad to be able to support him.  Ended the month with a lot of rain and ringing in the new year.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

The month started with meeting the newest McCoy member Eva.  She was cute and watching her daddy Michael with her was just wonderful.  Elaine came as well so got to catch up with her.  Then I had to take Isabel to a roller skating birthday party and ended up on skate myself for three hours.  The next day my body let me know I am not a young kid anymore, but it really was a fun time.  Isabel and I hit a craft show and she spent a good thirty minutes talking to an older lady about all sorts of topics.  She was so excited that Isabel was spending time with her we stayed a lot longer than I thought we would.  It was so much fun and we all were so relaxed.  The farm property sold to another family wanting to farm it.  This was so exciting since it has been farmed over a century and to know it still will be with a new family.  The next weekend Isabel spend with Granny and Papa which she had a list of things she was going to do there.  I spent some time with Shana, Nancy and the kids at a craft show.  It was a good time and got some nice items as well.  Then it was Thanksgiving.  We gathered at the McCoy, with Yoders, Rayers, and many McCoys for a good time and great food.  Then we had our annual cookie bake for the holiday season.  Next on to a Merry Christmas.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

Started the month working and selling items Isabel has outgrown.  The sale went well and enjoyed working with the other people there.  I continued my Monday night ladies group study and Isabel is still having fun with dance class.  We got together with Shana and kids for a fun time as usual.  We celebrated Dad’s birthday and had some cake and picked out by Isabel.  Our Church had their Trunk or Treat and Isabel dress up as Cinderella and for our neighborhood beggars night as well.  We also got our annual family pictures which turned out great.  The weather was nice and we all looked good. I got together with some girlfriends and we went to one friends new winery and had a great time tasting all the new wines they have.  Nice way to meet up and support our good friend.  It felt strange not having to go to Pickerington to clean a house, but it was a much needed break too.

This month our church did Socktober for the clothing bank so we went out and picked out several socks to donate.  Isabel even wanted to do some fun socks cause kids really like that not just plain white or black ones.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

Started the month with a family cook out for Labor Day and meet David’s girlfriend Melissa.  It was fun and really enjoyed meeting Melissa.  We got the final cleaning and organizing together for Richard’s house content auction.  Then just one last weekend for people to pick up their items and set the house to keep the plumbing warm.  I got to do some more canning this month.  Also started a new women group at church which has been very nice.  We do a church study and then walk for 30 minutes to keep us moving.  Isabel started her dance classes back up this month and is enjoying the new class members.  Over all the biggest accomplishment was to get one of the things finished in Richard’s estate and moving on to the fall.

Isabel and I worked on scarves for the clothing bank donations   She had lots of fun making and decided we would do them for family for Christmas gifts as well.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

This round of swim lesson ended this month.  Isabel ready to take more.  Tracy and I went to the state fair for an evening of fun while Isabel went to the violet festival with Granny and Papa.  Tracy took Isabel along with his brother and his three kids and met up with their parents to spend the day at the state fair the following week.  They all had a good time and got to see many things.  Isabel got to milk a cow while they were at the fair.  Then Isabel spent a weekend with Granny and Papa and had Abby spend the night then went out to the county fair.  We also got a bicycle attachment so we could ride Isabel around and enjoy the nice weather we been having.  Isabel enjoys riding especially with daddy since he goes faster.  It is a good way to enjoy the outside and get some good exercise in. We also learned that the fish like to eat bread so been feeding the when we get extra bread in the house.  We been using the fire pit more and roasting mostly smores.  Did cook some hot dogs as well.  We even put up a tent to camp out in.  Isabel made it for a little bit, but did not want to stay without mom.  Going to try it again if the weather holds up labor day weekend.  Added to my canning with some peppers, pickles, butternut squash, salsa, green beans, and potatoes put up.  Also spent more time cleaning at Richard’s and selling things as we have been able to liquidate the estate.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

Beginning of the month was at the beach with my sister and her family.  It was a nice time and weather was good while we were there.  Isabel was very into playing in the ocean.  We even went down to Pauley’s Island for the day.  Ate a nice restaurant and just had a great time.  We started another round of swim lesson again for Isabel at the end of the month for Isabel.  She really enjoys water time and is learning more and more for swimming.  Celebrated Mom’s birthday, a bit strange with Richard gone since they have shared that day together and always talked on their birthday.  Spent some time cleaning out Richard’s house as well this month and rented a dumpster that was filled within a day.  Thanks to all the helped with the first major clean out.  There is still plenty more to go through, but it was a big difference.  Will get another one later as we keep cleaning.  I started my canning for the season.  So far the shelves are stocked with some blackberry pie filling, peach pie filling, blackberry jam, and raspberry peach jam.  Also froze some of the zucchini out of our garden as well.  Isabel’s garden really took off with all the rain we have had and we look forward to all the produce that will come from it.  The Sunflower are so large you feel that you are in some kind of fairy land.  The local racoons decided our popcorn was just to tasty to leave alone.  We thought we might get a few ears, but another small chipmunk decided we did not need any popcorn this year.  So hopefully next year we will get some to enjoy.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

The month was filled with lots of rain overall and seemed like all the weekends had rain to enjoy for spring.  Started month celebrating my birthday went to dinner and enjoyed the day.  Then we had dress rehearsal for Isabel’s dance recital.  It was a such fun watching all the little kids new to the stage how they performed.  Then they had a lot of enjoyment watching the bigger kids do their routines as well.  Tracy and I celebrated 11 years and went for dinner and a movie.  Next came Isabel’s dance recital.  After the recital Shana and kids long with all the family came to spend some time at the house.  Spent some time with Shana and the kids playing around for a bit.  At the end of the month we headed to the beach for a week of fun to spill over into July. Isabel went fishing in a back pond of our housing area.  She caught many blue gills and even tried to remove them from the hook.  She definitely ready for more fishing times.  Funny story was what Isabel told me she wants for her next fishing trip.  Not just to catch them, but cook them up because they will be yummy in her tummy.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

This month was very busy and filled with all kinds of events.  We made a trip to the Zoo and it was a great day and fun to be out.  The weather has not decided to be warm or cold yet here, so we still had some days down in the 40s.  Isabel finished up her swim classes and is ready to take some more.  However, that will have to wait a bit due to lesson times.  Her dance class had group pictures and some classes with the older kids to make them ready for people to watch their recital.  Mother’s day was a relaxing weekend.  Isabel and I had been shopping and some the previous month to be ready for Tracy’s birthday.  When it came Isabel was up and ready for Daddy to open his gifts at 5:30am then told me to get the cake and balloons.  When I told her I did not have them yet, she responded with “What kind of birthday is the Mom, no cake for breakfast”.  So while I was picking those things up on my lunch hour, I received a call to go be with my cousin.  He was passing and wanting Mom and I to be with him before he left.  So I set with him for the afternoon and Mom was with him when he passed that evening.  He was a great person and I have many fond memories and will miss him much.  Our church had their annual Church is a Verb day and Isabel and I went to the nursing home to help with BINGO.  She keeps talking about wanting to go back.  She had lots of fun helping and the people there loved seeing her as well.  The church has many things/places we go that day and over all it was a successful event.  So the next week was another funeral for us.  Then is was the Ice Cream Festival and Spring birthday celebration.  There will be many things to going on next month as well and looking forward to them.  We planted the plants we grew from seed outside this month and they are doing well.  We also planted some popcorn and so far have 4 starts.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda

This month started out with Easter in Chillicothe.  Fun as usual with family and friends.  Isabel started swim class and continued on with her dance class as well.  The next week we lost a precious family member Grandma Flo.  She will be missed and we have great memories from our time spent with her while she was here.  The second weekend we had a memorial service for Grandma and then Sunday celebrated Brody’s 5th birthday.  Isabel had a watch night for dance class, we got to see their routine they are working on for the recital in June.  That was fun to watch the kids enjoy themselves.  Then is was crunch time to get all my things completed for the Spring consignment sale.  It is always fun working and getting rid of the old to make room for new things Isabel will need.  Then at the end of the month my Great Uncle passed as well.  He was the last sibling for my Dad’s father.  Overall this month had a lot of things going some good and some not so good.  Isabel has been very excited about her seeds.  Almost all of them sprouted and she loves to water them and tells me in the morning how they have grown three feet.  Time and measurement are very interesting in our 4 year old mind.  Hopefully things will be brighter next month.

God Bless,

Rebecca, Tracy, Isabel, and Soda