I just found this video

I was running through my daughters video camera clips and I thought I would share this. I put this fence up for a reason, I always wondered why there were deer prints in my garden. Seems they can open the gate, later in the summer they completly broke in by opening up the fence in the corner. Enjoy the video

Having Fun in the Winter SUN!

Cait and Maddi make the Decker News again

Madison brought home all A's on her report card this trimester.

Tonight we also had a big event, Caits Swim banquet. At the Banquet Caitlynn recieved another letter award along with a Trophy for "Hardest Worker". Cait's room is covered in Letter T's for Tarten and to add to her T wall paper will be her trophy. They receive the T's on there locker for each swim meet with there names on them. Cait is now trying to figure out how she can remodel her room so the T's won't interfer with her trophy. She would like her trophy right above her bed. She is so cute. Another cute thing is while we were sitting at the banquet she would turn the trophy towards her and look at it with a big smile. The wonderful thing about Cait is she never hides how prowd of herself she is. She flat out told me she was thinking about rearranging her room for this trophy and how she has always wanted a trophy. Just so cute!
To top Cait's night off the coach pulled Cait aside after the meet to let her and another girl know there 11th grade year they will be Captains in training. They will start training next year to be the Senior Captains in 2 years. This is a huge deal up here, many girls want this task and only 2 get it. The tasks on there swim team go beyond cheering but into training and helping the coach with several tasks. We are very proud of both our girls. Madison has become such an excellant student. Something I wish I could have been and I am so proud my children have become that. Caits grades will be in next week.
Norah lost a tooth last night and the fairy bought the tooth for a whopping 2.00. She has two top teeth that look like they will be falling out this week. If this happens she will have about 4-6 teeth absent from her mouth. This will make things difficult at the dinner table.
Garet has decided to make potty training a daily decision. Some days he trained, some days he's not. Hmmmmm. He is however the only 2.5 year old that still gets a bottle. Sorry Suri Cruise, my son held out longer than you.
Rollie is still cute as ever.

Home for the Holidays

All start off by saying Lola was such a wonderful blessing to have this weekend. Everyone at Church wanted to take her home. She never once cried, only wimpered a few times. I also think I got Lola converted to Cloth diapers, now to work on her mother. Yep, Lola wore cloth when she came to my home.

Next, Praise God we have found a church we feel comfortable in. Jeremy has taken a liking to the men at the church and they seem to feel the same about him. The kiddos love the new church. They are excieted about bible verse memorization and the Sunday and Wednesday night plug in programs. The kids are in a program like pioneer girls only for girls and boys. They plug through the bible memorizing and understanding verses. What caught my eye in the discription of the class was that they tell biographies not Stories from the bible. I love that thought. Train our children from a young age that the bible did happen its not full of stories.
Our big delema in the Decker household is Rollie's chess. Rollie was invited to start a reading group Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We accepted the invite but later found out that Chess club this year will be held Tues morning instead of Tuesday after school. I feel torn on what to do. Rollie loves chess but needs help in Reading. We don't have him in any extra activities this year where last year he was in Chess, swimming, and hockey. It bothers me we don't have the funds and chess is something he can do for free. On the otherside it should be a no brainer for any nonparent on what to do in this situation. Yes, I should put him in the reading program and strengthen his skills but he just loves Chess so much. Will pray on it and see what happens.
My last concern, Tree or no tree for Thanksgiving. Yes, I have actually been debating this for a few weeks. We have never had guest before on a holiday. We live about 2 hours away from most of our family so not many visitors. Well this year we are having Thanksgiving and I would love to share my Christmas spirit with them also knowing They won't get a chance to make it up here again. What do you think? Will it be to corny to eat the turkey next to the 12 ft light tree?

The other pics of some amazing Almond shortbread cookies I made tonight and some awesome soap Im finishing up.

A few things

Please pray for this little guy Noah. He has been in my prayers since last January. Little Noah is the same age as Garet.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourquiverfull/
Next on the list, Cute baby Lola. We get the pleasure of having Jeremy's cute little second cousing stay with us. She only a few months old so please pray we remember how to take care of this cutie. Her mamma forgot her diaps and so Jeremy said thats ok Amy will put her in cloth. All let you know how the night goes. Babies tend to feel dryer in Cloth diapers because of the new wicking fleece so hopefully she'll sleep like a lamb. The diaps by the way are sooo cute on her. I took a pic to send to her mamma.
Ok she is very hungry so all update tommorow.

Motrin Ad

If you go to Motrins site you will see they are trying to remove all ads even the ones in magazines. They did write a quick appology. I will not use this brand. I do not wear my baby to look more like a parent. Hey I don't even wear my 2 1/2 year old anymore. In fact he won't even hold my hand anymore. Hmmmmm this ad still makes me mad.

Baby Wearing Parents brace yourself

Motrin Released this ad on there internet site. Since then the news has taken off with this ad and mammas are made everywhere. Aparently Motrin will be releasing an appology. Here is the ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOlp-hknOmo Please write this company and tell them how great it is to wear your baby. There are health benefits for the baby which goes beyond not crying. As far as wearing there baby, what sling are they using. I love my Moby! I have such a bad back but once I tried the Moby I had no problems. I think a parent just needs to try different carriers and find what works for them. Several stores Like Peapods in St. Paul allow you to try on different carriers. Anyways please write this company and express your thoughts on the ad.

Jenkins the Cat and Caits terrific Job!

Well to start off Cait did a fabulous job at Sections. Here relay team placed 5th in the Section. Cait kept her same times in Backstroke and IM. She placed 13th in the 4A sections. This is a huge group and we are so proud. Cait is in 10th grade and is setting her goals high for sections next year.
The other big news is the new little kitty we received. My sisters neighbors found this cutie under there stairs and were unable to keep it. My sister called me and asked if I could take him. So on a 24 hour trail we realized he is perfect for our family. Garet who kisses NO one says I love you kitty and fills him with kisses. We named him Jenkins. Jenkins has terrible gas so please pray this problem fixes itself with proper food.
Lastly, please pray my little bro gets the job he interviewed for today. It would be close to our home, so we could see his family more often.

Edit in Caits Time

Sorry I have to make an annoucement. Caits 100 Free time on the 400 relay was 1:02 I wrote 1 11 If I don't make this change she will give me serious static. If you just reading the rest of her times are down two blogs.

TURKEY MAKING

Now every parent hits a time in there child's life when they get to decorate the Turkey. I have seen this task as young as 1st grade and as old as 2nd grade. Luckily it came early here in the big city. This is the 3rd time around doing this project and luckily I have 5 kids so I will get another 2 shots to make it perfect. Needless to say the 1st or 2nd grader gets a very small part in this project and mom gets the rest. This is not the child's decision but as the mother who knows best this is my decision. All the kids know this is really moms turkey. I posted a pic of the wonderful Turkey this year. I will also be hanging the turkeys I did from previous 1st grades up. Connie and Jo my aunts still put up my leather turkey I originally made in 2nd grade with my grandma. If you look at this Turkey (the original from the early 80's) you can see my grandma took over the project. Yes, she new better like I do now. This turkey my grandmother and I made has blessed the Anderson/Celander home for 23 years. WOW! Some day my children will drag out there Turkeys show there children and remind them Grandma's and Mother's know best. The turkey project is really for them.

If you look closly I did allow them to color the head and wings of the turkey. Oh yeah and the feet.
I discovered Facebook and was able to chat with some old High school friends. How Fun! So my husband walks down to the computer while Im searching youtube for Aerosmith's Pink. He then asks me if Im have a mid life crisis. WHAT! Pink was College not high school. I would need to search Metallica or Beck to get back to those days. Anyways if your a facebooker look me up.