Christmas Celebrations

One of our Christmas Eve traditions that started when mom was growing up, is to have Waffles, with strawberries and whip cream, sausage, eggs, bacon, eggnog, and orange juice, for dinner.

It usually takes about an hour to make enough waffles for everyone because we only have one waffle iron, so this year mom, and Stephen went and bought 3 more, and with all 4 going we had 17 hot waffles in about 15 minutes.
Dad called during dinner, and we discussed girl names for the baby, we couldn't agree on any so we had to stop, but a few we came up with were: Clarissa, Elisabeth, Eliza, Ruby, Alexis, and Catherine.
After dinner everyone opened a present and we all played with the games we had gotten.





On Christmas morning, we had our traditional: Cinnamon rolls, eggs, and cocoa with whip cream, then after an hour of everyone getting dressed and ready, we opened our presents.

















About a month before Christmas everyone draws a name of who to buy presents for, and this year I had Kenneth- Lee.
He loves to draw, paint, and color, so I got him: Markers, 72 different colored pencils, paint brushes, two books full of graphing paper, and a metal chest to put it all in.





When all the presents had been opened, we played games, and tried out our new gifts for a few hours, before our friends the Bryans came over.




Everyone had a great time of playing: Catch Phrase, Dominoes, and Cosmic Catch, before dinner was finally ready.
For dinner, we had: Ham with brown sugar glaze, Sweet potato's, Mashed potato's and gravy, Rolls, Green beans, Cranberry sauce, and Sparkling grapejuice.(thats what the bottles on the table are)



















After dinner Leanne and I played Chutes and Ladders with the children, while the boys washed dishes, and the parents talked.















A little while later we played 3 full rounds of Dutch Blitz(a card game) a full round is when someone reaches 100 points, we played with two people on each team and my team won every time.




After games, we had pumpkin pie which the twins had made, and at around 10:30 it was time for the Bryans to leave.






Dad called again and talked for a little while, and after putting the children to bed, we olders played an inside game of catch that Daniel had gotten for me.
We all had a wonderful day, but are looking forward to an even better Christmas next year, with Dad and the new baby!

IT"S A GIRL!!!!! :)

Despite my predictions(which have always been proven wrong) mother just finished with her ultrasound, and we were informed that it is indeed a girl.
We were all sure this was going to be a boy, so when mom called and told me, we were all pretty shocked, except for Daniel who said he thought it would be a girl just because everyone else thought other-wise.
Isaac was a little dissapointed to find out that he's getting a little sister to take care of instead of a little brother to play with, but is nevertheless excited.
Josephine's first comment was "but we gave away all the baby girl clothes" to which she also commented "well I guess we'll just buy new ones" yes she's very logical.
Stephen, said "mom will just have to have twin boys after this so that the boys can catch up".
The twins and Kenneth decided that the best thing to do would be paint pictures of their new sister, so that they'll have an idea of what they're excited about.
As for me, well you can never have too many girls in the house, the more the merrier!

Nutrition Class

This past Weekend, Rachel, and Jaime Rowland, Katy Sterland, and I attended our second class for becoming Certified Nutritionists.
Among some of the homework in our Anatomy Book, I really enjoyed learning about Chemistry: the atomic number of different atoms, the formulas for each molecule, and the structure of protons, neutrons, and electrons, among many other things.
We have class every other month from 8:30-6:30.


On Saturday, we learned about Digestion: proper function, and dysfunction, what causes acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and illiocecal valve problems, then we learned the different functional evaluation points to use when testing our clients for these problems, as well as the supplements that will help to heal and clear them up.
After they taught us each one we had to practice on each other, Jaime practiced her palpating(gentle pressure) on me and Katy, and after poking and tickling me I told her she needed to work on her "gentle touch."

After a few more lessons we had an hour and a half for lunch break before returning to learn about Blood Sugar Handling, glycogen, glucose, glucogenesis, type 1 Diabetes, and type 2 Diabetes, as well as all the testing points and supplements to go along with it.
Katy thought we should all eat ice-cream so that we could be good class examples of bad blood sugar handling, well her plan worked because when they palpated my pancreas it was a little painful, but nothing extreme.

Sunday, we learned about Adrenals, the tests for Adrenal function/dysfunction, how to take blood pressure, how to do the raglans test, and the chapman reflex for adrenal function.
After practicing those tests the teacher asked who all had Adrenal failure, it turned out to be everyone except for me.
After all our practicing we had an hour more of lectures, then they told us our homework assignments for the January class, and we were able to go home.
Now all we have to do between Christmas and next class is homework, reading, and practice.

Thanksgiving Celebrations

Quite a few weeks before Thanksgiving Day, we received a call from Mrs. Pollock saying they wanted to be the first to have us over for Thanksgiving.
So after a little discussion it was decided that they would would come over to our house and we would feast and celebrate together.

While I got the Turkey ready, and prepared some of the other food, Stephen and the children set the table,lit candles, and filled water cups.
At around 12:30, the Pollocks finally arrived, and we were ready for the fun to begin.
While Sarah helped me finish making rolls, Daniel and the parents sat around and talked, and the children all played games in the boys room.
Sarah and I joined in the games for a little while before going back to the Kitchen to finish the rest of the food.

When everything was finished and had been set out on the table, we called everyone downstairs, and after the prayer we were ready to eat.











We had Sweet Potato Sufflet'(our favorite part of Thanksgiving food),Mashed potatoes and gravy, Rolls, Cornbread stuffing, Cranberry gelatin salad, greenbeans, and of course Turkey.
During dinner we all had a wonderful time talking about different things, and thouroughly enjoyed being able to have fun and fellowship together.

When we finished eating, we left the parents to talk at the table, and while the boys did dishes and dinner cleanup, Sarah, Priscilla, and I, took all the children for a stroll around the neighborhood.
We had quite a laugh seeing 6 or 7 cars lining the neighbors driveways,










Sarah commented on how this is the time of year most people are frantic because they have to cook a meal for 12 whole people!
humorous to think that wast what's normal for us is stressful for others.






After our walk, we waited for the boys to finish then we were ready to play games.


We first tried playing a game called Celebrity, which was basicly the same as charades, but instead of acting out celebrity's(which none of us really know) we acted out different friends, and families.









When we tired of that game, we started to play Mad Gab, then our mothers told us we needed to come into the living room so we could all play a few rounds of Catch Phrase, we always play boys against the girls,(and the girls happened to win every time).
After playing that for an hour and a half, we all voted on a new game, and the suggestion of Psychiatrist was agreed upon by all.











How to play:One or two people agree to be the Doctor(Psychiatrist) and leave the room, while the rest of the group come up with a problem,(problem meaning everyone thinks they're something or someone other than who they really are)
and the Doctors have to ask questions until they figure it out.
While everyone was thinking, Sarah and I served up the dessert.
When it was Sarah, and My turn, they were all their favorite piece of dessert.
When it was Daniel and Stephens turn, all the girls were Grace, and all the boys were Isaac.
When it was Stephen and Jonathans turn they really took it seriously, and even got outfitted for the occasion, with clipboards, note pads, and aprons, they had to figure out that we were all someone from the Puyallup Fair, and exactly which job we all had.
When it was Mom and Mrs. Pollocks turn we were all illegal immigrants.
When it was Pastor Pollock and Mrs. Pollocks turn, We were all the person on our left.
When it was Priscilla and Sarah's turn we were all different characters from the Reformation, and after Sarah figured that out, we made them state exactly which Character we were, I was John Tetzel, Stephen was Mary Queen of Scotts,David was Fredrich the wise, Daniel and Jonathan were both John Knox, Mom and Mrs. Pollock both chose to be Luthers wife, and Pastor Pollock was Pope Leo X, it was quite fun getting into our Characters and especially Mr. Pollock was the most humorous to listen to.
We played until almost 11:00 when Pastor Pollock proclaimed that it was time to depart.
After loading everything into their van and saying our goodbyes, they departed and after talking over the events of the day we all retired to our beds and a good nights sleep.

Catering With the O'briens

Last Friday was quite a busy day for us.

Thursday evening Daniel drove to Portland, Oregon and spent the night with the Berkompas's, so he could film the funeral of Pastor Pollocks father Friday morning.

Later in the afternoon Mom, and the twins attended a wedding, while Stephen, Priscilla, and I, drove down to Aberdeen to cater a fundraising dinner for the Crisis Pregnancy Center with the O'briens.

We always have so much fun when we get to work for them, one of the reasons is because they are the perfect example of a godly couple doing their best to serve the Lord in everything that they do. They are such a good testimony of what true Christians are, and they have been such a blessing to not only us but pretty much any one they come into contact with, plus they make some of the best food you'll ever eat or see.

The first thing we did was set the tables, and make sure the place settings were all straight, then we filled up water pitchers, and glasses.

After that was finished Sill and I cut the bread and make a bread basket, then while we waited for the real work to begin Stephen and I played hymns on the old piano.

When the food was all set out on the buffet line and the people started filling their plates, our next job was to keep everything on the table filled, there was pork roast and gravy, roasted potatoes, roasted apples, freshly made bread, and Salad.

When everyone was finished eating we cleared the dinner plates and started to serve dessert, there was Chocolate cake, Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, and a gluten free berry pie for those with allergies.

After they had finished dessert and all the plates had been cleared it was time for us to eat, after which comes the longest but still fun part...

scraping, rinsing, washing, drying, and putting away all the dishes, pots, pans, and silverware.

At around 10:40 the last dish had been loaded into the van, and we were on our way back to the O'briens house to unload the van and put everything where it belongs.

When everything was unloaded and put away we all went upstairs got ready for bed, and after Stephen, and I played a few hymns we all went to sleep.

The next morning after eating breakfast, talking, and drinking tea, we were on our way home.

We had a really great time as always and are looking forward to our next oppertunity.