Holiday

As the holiday approaches the anxiety approaches too. Do I have the same amount of presents for both kids, did I remember to buy for everybody, was the present I bought the most perfect present, will they like it and accept it? This year is different in many ways: I'm not worried about what the recipient thinks about their present because it's the thought that counts right--that's what I've been taught anyway. Yes I bought them all what I think they would like and not some unusable gift. Yes I will have the same amount of presents for both kids to avoid conflict and jealousy that morning.

My main focus this year as it is every year is not the presents so much it's the reason. We all know the real reason for this season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I've felt blessed this year to have limited illness, ailments, deaths in my family or any of my friends. I'm aware of people in our own community that have had to go through tough times this year whether it be illness, ailments, deaths, financial problems or what have you. I try to every year take a name from the giving tree at church. This program is rewarding none the less. We have chosen to buy presents this year for a nine year old boy in our community that if it wasn't for us would have nothing to open on Christmas morning. He is getting a CD player alarm clock and a new pair of pants and a new shirt. I know where the sales are!!!

After taking this tag from the tree, we have been notified by our Ministry Coordinator of this family that just moved into the community that isn't attached with any church at this time. This family consists of a mother, father and four girls ranging from 2-12. This family also will have nothing to give their children this holiday. I have taken it upon myself to provide for each child in this family as well. Not much just enough to show this family that this community cares about the less fortunate. Our church is providing this family with a Christmas dinner from the food pantry and some of the congregation and other community members are providing gifts. Please remember the reason for the season and remember to thank the Lord for all your blessings. Take time this season to sit back and enjoy family, friends, good meals, warm houses, good company, watch the children, listen to the elderly stories, and most of all for yourself.

Hannah Montana

So the concert was October 21, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. This was Melissa's first time driving downtwon Minneapolis. It was quite an adventure and after almost rear ending a car from Iowa we parked and safely made our way to the Target Center. We got there and had to wait outside for about 25 minutes and then the doors opened and then the screaming girls began. We got to our seats and sat down just as the Jonas Brothers opened up the evening with their performance. During the two concerts Anissa went with Bailey to stand in the merchandise line and Kelsie had to go use the facility and get a beverage. We then returned to our seats with somebody sitting in our seats so after much confusion by the other lady she left our area and found her own seats. It was time........ Hannah Montana was finally going to take the stage: what would she sing first, what would she wear, were questions these young girls were just waiting on the edge of their seats to find out. She finally came on stage and sang some songs and then changed and sang and changed and sang and changed. Between her being Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus she changed six times. She brought back the Jonas Brothers back on stage to help her get through some of the outfit changes. The girls had such a good time and only took about 15 minutes in the back of the car before they crashed on the way home. Here are some photos.

Thanks to Becky for the use of her camera. Without it our pictures would never be this good. It sure was a lot of fun watching all the excitement of those fans. I think I had more fun watching them than watching the concerts.

Fun

Well the end of Sept. brought us to our early Christmas from Bill and Sue. A baseball game in Milwaukee. Oh how fun it was!! Most of traveled down Friday night and were joined by Bill and Sue on Saturday. Off to the game we went and enjoyed by all and then Chad Ellingboe was nice enough to come to our hotel to catch up on anything new. Joe thought that was pretty nice of him!! (I'm unable to upload pictures at this time)

This weekend brings us some fun!! We were invited to Dean Monicken's fall party where we will get to hear Round 2 play (I love to watch my cousin Aaron play), have some beverages, and good company. Sunday brings us to the Hannah Montana concert that Kelsie and Bailey are looking forward to. I'm a little nervous as far as getting there and out of there; wish me luck.

Next weekend is the Halloween party at the Woodville Legion; don't miss this party!! It will be one you won't forget.

Adventure

This weekend brings our family on a new adventure. We are receiving our "early" Christmas present from Bill and Sue. Our family along with Bill and Sue and Luke, Becky and Landon are all traveling to Milwaukee for the Brewer game on Saturday. We leave Friday when all are done with work so the kids aren't in the car all weekend and tired and bored from sitting. We will also look up Chad Ellingboe while we are in Milwaukee as we haven't seen him in so long. Chad and Joe have been to a Brewers game before so this is something new for Kelsie and me. We don't have any Brewer attire so we will have to stick out like a soar thumb.

Next week brings us to Homecoming!! Note the new background change for this wonderful and fun occasion. Joe has asked Adam Helgeson to borrow his old Varsity Jersey and guessed what they found it and he can borrow it. He's going to be tickled pink when he hears the news that he gets to borrow his cousin's jersey. Joe loves football and as they all do wants to be pro. I keep telling him he has to keep his grades up there for that. So far this year he's doing very well with that!!

What a beautiful day we are having today as I look out the window and watch those darn box elder bugs climb all over the window. But looking out the window seeing the beautiful sun and God's creation means I'm alive as there have been so many tragic deaths lately to young people and I'm blessed for each day. Have a blessed weekend!!

Routine

The routines have now begun since school has started. School during the day that's full of structure and education. Saturdays bring us to Joe's football practice/scrimmage in the morning. Sunday we are back in the swing of things with our Rally Sunday School. The weeknights will soon bring us dance class for Kelsie (two weeks) and Melissa (in October). Joe will start his final year of piano lessons next Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. come December we are back on with wrestling. It's nice to have structure and routines in our lives isn't it?!!

We have returned from our wonderful vacation with the Peterson's after spending Friday through Sunday in Duluth. Even though it was foggy on Saturday and a little cooler that brought less crabby children as Sunday was hot and the kids got crabby fast. Saturday we did some window shopping, saw boats depart, took a sightseeing boat tour, took a tour of the William Irvin ship, did a ton of walking and returned to the pool for some pool, hot tub and sauna time. Sunday we woke and went down by the lake one more time to get some clear pictures since it was so foggy Saturday and one more shopping adventure and then off to the zoo. After the zoo, we took the Wisconsin side home and stopped at the Mikla's camper and visited a bit with them and off for home we were. It was the most fun vacation we have had lately; everybody got along, a lot of laughing was done and everybody got to see what they wanted to see time permitting that is.

This weekend is just for the Adults on the Nawrocki side to go 4-wheeling up to Paul and Judy's cabin. Thank you to the ones watching our kids so we can have some alone time. I'm riding on the back of one since I have never really drove one of them for much distance alone so better safe than sorry; especially since it's not my machine. Have a great weekend everybody.

School Approaches

The kids are excited to return to school. Kelsie will return as a first grader and Joe as a sixth grader. Joe will participate in the junior high wrestling program this year, which means he had to have his first sports physical this summer. Kelsie will also return to dance class next month as well as Melissa. That's right I am taking an adult hip hop classs; how fun will this be?!! All the school supplies are bought except the indoor shoes. They each got an outfit from us as well as Grandma Sue so they should be set until winter. Kelsie gets to walk to school this year with the assistance from her brother as that is where he catches his bus for Viking. The girls are calling for Joe already as I'm sure will continue throughout the year. Kelsie wants to return to school so she can see all her friends she didn't see this summer. Social butterfly will make a ton of new friends in first grade I'm sure.

Another Door has opened

This past week has been pretty hard for us and I was way stressed out. Life was giving us a stressful moment and I thought we had fallen so far down we would never get out of this mess. The power of prayer and trying to see the positive side of life has come through again. "When one door closes another door opens" is the famous phrase this week. I hope this door leads us down some straight pathways and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you to all who have listened and helped us get through this opened door.

So tonight is Kelsie's last T-ball game and Joe's last baseball game was last week. It will be so nice to come home after work and not have to rush off somewhere. We can actually have some "real" family time.

Joe went to the allergist last week and found out he has the early stages of asthma and he wasn't too happy about that. His allergist suggested the allergy shots at his age to try and elimate all symptoms of allergies and asthma to the point of not having to need medication anymore. Joe has decided that is the route he wants to take so he will receive his first shot next Wednesday.

Have a great week to everybody!!