Change

We hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday season.  This time we get busy with all the hustle and bustle, trying to get everything ready for gatherings.  We often forget the real meaning behind the holidays.  I feel like our kids often remind us by seeing the joy on their faces.  Jayden said he would be very happy if the baby would share Jesus' birthday.  It's the little things that make the holidays so magical.

In preparation for our new arrival, Jeff and Jayden built a loft bed.  Let's just say Jayden is loving it.

Grandma and Jayden decorated their new "kids tree".  Jayden loving every moment.

I had the privilege to go to the December 8th Packer game with my sister and had a blast.

Baby's first game.

Cookie decorating with Autum at our cousin get together.  The kids sure have a good time together.

Decorating our tree at 5:30 in the morning.

The finished product. 

Jayden's last Nature Ranger class was all about outdoor survival.  They were able to make a campfire and loved it.

Gabbi was over for a sleep over and the kids were watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  While watching the show that thought it would be fun to make a blanket sleigh and deliver toys to all the good boys and girls.

Tired kitty.

Every year the Stoffel family gathers at one of our houses for a meal and relaxation.  The host will pick a charity that they want to make a donation to and we enjoy seeing all the items we get.  This year I was the host and chose to donate stockings filled with goodies for the kids at Children's Hospital oncology unit.  A co-worker of mine has been through a lot this year with their 2 year old son battling a rare form of liver cancer.  When I seen pictures and updates from her, I wondered how can I make a difference in these kids lives.  So I seen a pin on pintrest of a stocking exchange and changed it up for this occasion.  After everyone donated, we collected 33 stockings in all.  My co-worker was so thrilled it brought her to tears and speechless.  It sure feels good to know we can do the littlest of things to impact someone so much.

Jayden's class along with their kindergarten buddies went caroling in the neighborhood.  They had a blast.

Never too late to send Santa a letter (only 2 days before Christmas)

Game night.

Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Grandma Kraus.
 
Better have your quarters ready when you come visit.  Gumballs for sale!

The kids all ready for Santa to come.

Claudia looking so cute in her Christmas dress from Auntie (me).  Grant was too busy to get a picture of him; maybe next year.


No baby yet, but Jayden can't wait for his new little brother to come.  A few shots Jeff took to capture the beauty of a new life before joining our family.
 

We hope that your holidays have been magical.

Until next time,

Jeff, Heather, Jayden and

Giving Thanks!

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of the year.  Its a time to reflect on what one is thankful for and to be surrounded with family and friends.  Our family has so much to be thankful for as well as I'm sure your family does too.  This year we didn't have the whole day to spend together, but were able to have some family time.  Working in health care allows me to share time with the patients, most of which don't have any visitors the whole day.  Their families are out celebrating as their loved one is ill.  It makes going to work a blessing for those patients; they actually become part of "our" family.  The best part is knowing that my family understands and is very supportive of my, especially Jayden.  Jeff and I are so blessed to have Jayden and he is growing up to be an amazing person with such a big heart.  Truely, our family is so blessed and hope that your families were able to share in some special moments.

This says it all!

Hope everyone has safe and happy holidays!

Until next time,

Jeff, Heather, Jayden and Baby

Pumpkin Fun!

Fall is here in full and we are enjoying the lovely weather that we have been blessed with.  The trees were beautiful with color this year and soon they will all be empty.  It's been an amazing time so far and can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the fall.  We have been busy with some fun things this past month, hope you enjoy!

Flag foot ball is coming to an end so we needed to take advantage of the nice night we were given.

2nd place in their grade level.  Couldn't be happier for our big football player.

We let Jayden stay up late one weekend night and asked him what we should do.  We decided it was a great night for a night walk with our flashlights.  It was a very fun walk.

A train came through (sorry for the quality of the picture), but it was really cool how it looks like the train has lights under it, but really to our eye there was no light.

Our attempt to get a picture together.

So what does one do with left over bird seed?  Let your child make a critter trap.

Jayden had lots of fun trapping the local squirrels and chipmunks and then releasing them.

Our annual cousin pumpkin carving night was a hit again.  Jayden loves to create a new design every year.

All of us and our creations.

My friend Amy and I took the kids to little farmer for another one of our crazy adventures.  It was cold, but we braved through it.

The kids just having fun.

Caramel Apple reward at the end of the day.

Domino fun!

Playing outside with the best of buds!

Love these kids and can't wait for Claudia to get bigger to join in.

We were able to sign Jayden up for Karate, so here he is with another classmate learning the respect for the mat on the first day of class.

My weekend to work and the boys go to explore.  They found some birch bark for starting fires from fallen trees.  Our Hobo Jayden.

Happy Halloween from our Ninja!

The beautiful sky on Halloween night.  Made trick-or-treating that more special.

Until next time,

Jeff, Heather, Jayden and Baby

Back to School!

It is hard to believe that summer is over and that school is back in session.  Where does time go?  I remember growing up that my parents would tell me "just wait until you get my age, time flies!"  Truthfully, I never believed them, but I sure do now.  We have had such a wonderful time together growing and going on our many adventures that the many more years and adventures to come can only get better.  Don't worry, we will share them with you.  Hope you enjoy this months adventures.

As mentioned in the last blog, Jayden has started flag football through the park and rec so evenings and weekends he loves to practice at home.

We went on a last of our summer adventures with Jeff's brother Chad and his family.  Attempting to go to Bay Beach, but were soon diverted to the race track since no parking was available.  The guys had a blast!

Stephanie and Gabbi were winning.

Chad soon caught up.

After go carting we headed up the road to the nature preserve.  Jeff dared me to hop into this turtle shell, but I soon found Jayden in it for me.  Thanks bud!

Feeding the geese.  The ducks and geese are very friendly when you have corn to feed them.  They will eat right out of your hand.

The guys with the kids feeding the geese.

Are they as tall as this bear?

Great way to end the day is with smores!

3rd Grade! (I don't know why the pictures turned out hazy)

This months Nature Ranger class was about mammals and the kids were able to make molds of prints they may find in the woods.  Jayden made a bobcat.  (Plus, he lost his 2 front teeth)

Finding a deer track in the woods.
 
Our football star!

Flag football Game 1.  The team won 26-6.  Jayden's team is call "The Bears" and he loves his football.

Double header...game 2.  Team lost 13-24.  As his coach said "you gotta win some to lose some"!

 

Typical Jayden playing with the grass instead of watching his team.

Jayden's best friend joined us at a game and here are the boys cheering the team on.

 And they won game 3 24-18.
 
My stylish boy!  Or should I say not so stylish.

Climbing in the tree with neighbors Beck and Bjorn.
 
Best buddies!

Our poor boy was sick and needed to take nebulizers to help his breathing.  What a champ!

Jayden loves to make paper creations.  Yes, we go through a lot of paper and tape, but the creations are worth it.  Here he is showing off his weaponry.

 Our annual pumpkin harvest was a success again this year.  We are so blessed that my Uncles let us plant our crop every year and tend to it.

The kids together with their name pumpkins.

Playing with Grandma Stoffel in the sand.

Peaking through the corn.

Taking a break!

Claudia with such a happy face.  She loves when her mommy sings to her.

The load!

Grant playing in the leaves during a little visit.

We hope everyone is well and hope that the fall colors are cheering everyone up.

Until next time,

Jeff, Heather, Jayden and baby