Chambers visit December 2013

In December my nephew (my sister Sharon's son) Mathew came back to MN for a visit. He is in the Air Force and doesn't get back home often. This visit was extra special since he had his wife Nikki and their new little baby Kaleigh with him. 

We had them over for a meal and to visit and catch up and then we helped Sharon throw a little party for them at Mary's party room to celebrate their wedding Anniversary, Kaleigh's birth and a farewell since they are moving so far away. They are getting transferred to Okinawa Japan in a January for like 4 years. 

It was good to see all the extended family and since everyone brought food there was plenty to enjoy eating while catching up. Mat had all his Grandmas there too, so that was a nice family treat. 

Great-Gramma Kathy got some snuggle time at our house when they came to visit

Noah got a turn too

So little and cute!

Snacks for the party

Sharon made them their favorite carrot cake and made it extra special (they got married when Mat was in Guam so family didn't get to go to wedding)

Yum pizza bites

Our fun spread that everyone contributed to

Monica visiting with her Grandma Jean and Uncle David

Gramma Kathy's turn again

More visiting

The kids had fun, we brought the Xbox

Brent getting Kaleigh to smile 

There it is... Best smile of the day

Gramma Sharon's turn

Fun and games with Monica's kids and Nate's kids

The happy couple

Handmade baby blanket

Cute girl clothes for the baby

More clothes

Time to bundle up for the cold drive

They were in MN for a couple weeks them FL to see Nikki's family then time to pack up and move. They are now settling into life in Japan. We get to enjoy pics on FB to watch them for the next few years. 

25 years!!

In November Brent hit a major milestone...25th service anniversary at Target! He started back at Rivertown Trading Co before we got married and RTC got bought out by Target in 1998 so all the years combine. He got a party budget from work but his group didn't require it to all be for work attendees so we got a special fun dinner out, plus he will get to do a small work group lunch too. Fun reward! Us and Malms went out to Fogo de Chao at City Center in a Minneapolis on a Saturday night. Oh my! What good food! It is a Brazilian Steak House. The waiters wear "Goucho pants" and deliver meat on sword like skewers. You flip your little disk from green to red if you need a break from meat and also a wonderful salad bar. Great friends who have been with us all of these years and great food. Fun night!!

Oakdale Fall Cong picnic

We had our fall picnic last Saturday. It was at Carver Lake Park. The weather didn't totally cooperate. It was warm and beautiful on Friday and Sunday but Saturday was chilly and wet. At least the rain stopped at 3:00 when the party officially started. We had the really nice shelter too, so we all had a good time just enjoying the good company and yummy food. We had a couple of special surprise guests too. :). Thanks to Michelle Kottke and Susannah Courteau for all the planning!  Fun times! Didn't take a lot of pics but here is a few. 

6th Grade Fall pictures

We are in full swing of Middle School now. So far so good. New routines, new Teachers, new school and some new friends. Here is Noah's pics. They take them before school starts now. Not a little kid anymore!

Farewell to the little green Saturn

Our first brand new car was bought in 1996. We had to say goodbye to it this past week. The little green Saturn had seen lots of changes in our family and commutes and homes. Mary drove it for a few years too and then it came back to us. It died quite a while ago and we decided to not sink more money in it so had been getting by with just the van for months. 

While that was not convenient it was doable. Now Brent's office will be moving out to Brooklyn Park soon so our commutes will take us in different directions. It was time for a second reliable working car. So with the entrance of the new car we need the garage spot and decided to donate the Saturn to charity and take the donation tax credit. Minnesota Public Radio picked it up and will auction it with the proceeds going to support the public radio station. If they can figure the electrical issue out it could still run for miles and miles for someone. Saturn's seem to run forever.   Farewell, after 17 years you will be missed!

Didn't quite make it to be Noah's first car...now he has dreams of inheriting the new Dodge someday. ;)

Back to school...first day of Middle School

Hard to Believe but today Noah started Middle School in 6th Grade. Time flies!! Elementary school is officially behind us. 

He was a bit nervous but we had his stuff all ready and organized last night after we did orientation last week to get everything figured out and schedules And locker etc. he knows all the kids coming from his elementary school and there are 2 other schools joining in, so lots of new faces too. Our friend Kim works in the office as the school secretary so that is helpful for him to have a familiar face. Plus a few others from local congregations going there too: Elena, Nina and Grace. 

We had 6 boys at the bus stop this morning. Hoping that all goes well this year. Bus comes at 7:16 now, so a full hour earlier than last year. Adjustments to be made. One adjustment is now we don't need someone to watch him before school on my workdays. He leaves about the same time we do now. If we have an early meeting he can be dropped at school early now too. 

Hoping for good adventures and learning this year. I am sure he will be more tired for a while with early start and classes all over the building during the day. Next phase of life begins!! :)

Tradition pic in front of tree. Had to switch though because other big tree was cut down this summer...new tradition tree now. 

Labor Day...last day of summer break...time for a pool party!

Noah's friend Elena from our congregation invited him to a kids pool party. It was a cool cloudy day but swimming was in an indoor community building at their townhouses so it worked out just fine. There were 6 kids: Elena, Michael, Carter, Alyssa, Noah and Jaklynn. Grades kindergarten to 7th grade starting. Burn off all that energy before having to settle into desks again!  I stayed to help her mom keep an eye on all the swimmers. We had a little supper and beverages back at their place and the kids played some more. Thanks Elena and Claudia (mom) for hosting!!