I’m not moving into a van parked down by the river.

I’m moving this blog.

The new address will be…

Are you ready?

Really, ready?

OK, here it is…

Seriously, you’re really ready already?

It’s…

www.bearcefamily.blogspot.com

Did you get that?

Thanks to Courtney for that grand suggestion. I hope Germany is all you’d hoped it would be. Drop me a line some time.

So, I’ll see ya over there.

Right?

You’re coming with me, right?

I can still post here if I want to but if I want to attatch photos I’ll have to pay. Nothing in this world is free – except 4 years of photo filled blogging.

In the next few days I hope to have a new blog ready for you to read. I will keep this one for posterity but will likely post on the other blog more.

I will give you the other address soon so you can follow me.

Love to all.

Who is the adventurous one you ask?

Jack did it!

Brrrrrrrrr….

Here are the photos to prove it!

 Claire hiding behind that giant sleeve.

 I love those “I’m having a great time” smiles.

 My handsome (even when behind glasses, a hood and a beard) husband.

 Uncle C flashes his pearly whites.

 My Lukie do’s…oooh oooh, I love you-oo.

Scenery courtesy of God.

 It looks cool in black and white too.

 Boys always know right away what to do in the snow…

 they pelt each other (and anyone else close enough) with it .

 A daddy/daughter moment.

 Hanging with the uncle.

 A little closer.

 It doesn’t take long before someone starts messin with someone else.

 Uncle Clint is helping Jack face the camera.

 Stinker!

 But oh! isn’t my stinker darling?!

 His profile is darling.

His freckles are DARLING.

 The color orange on him is darling.

 The HAT on him is darling. That’s it. I’m smitten.

 Like father, like son.

 My two most favorite people in the world.

I’m just kidding.

He’s my second favorite.

 Brothers.

 Hugging. Aw.

 Brothers.

 Old Navy ad… Aw.

 Claire’s hands are tied.

 Or, her sleeves are at least.

 Me and my girl.

 Aint she a peach?!

 Look out, Luke!

 Your uncle has a snowball and he’s not afraid to use it.

Jack gets into the action.

Uncle C chucks one into the trees.

 And he lets another one go.

 Luke starts throwing them at me.

 Having a moment. Does anybody seethe beauty in this? Jack holds on with both his hands.

A family portrait.

Meanwhile, back at the car..

 Claire’s hands are c-c-cold.

After this little adventure we headed for home. But along the way we took a really fun detour.

 This is a great trail.

 At the beginning there is a corral for horses…or children .

 Check out the red in that trunk.

 On our way up.

 Taking a break.

 Beauty.

 there was just enough snow on the groud for ammunition.

This took several takes to get right.  I still don’t know if I got everyone.

Take 2

Take 3

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,100 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

I can see why the book made the best seller list. It’s riveting. I was on the edge of my seat. I can almost imagine what it was like being there! I enjoyed the way it was written. I thoroughly enjoyed his humor and I think I got all his jokes. Though it took me a while to figure out that the one about Bono was a joke. I thought he was serious at first. Of course that would make him seriously out of touch. Whew! I’m glad that wasn’t the case.

The poor man was villanized time and time again. You don’t realize how much it hurts until you hear it from the horse’s mouth. He did the best he could with the information he had. I’m thankful he had such a wonderful woman at his side. Well, he actually had several wonderful women at his side. His wife, Laura, his mother, his daughters, and Condi Rice. How does the saying go, “Behind every great man is a greater woman?” Mr. George W. Bush is an amazing man!

Mr. Bush’s list of accomplishments are in my mind astonishing. I am thankful he was on such good footing – the Bible. He would read it every morning.He drew strength and wisdom from it.  He prayed to the Father who wields all the power. Through the power of God he was able to quit drinking. He was strong enough to make a wise choice regarding stem cell research. He handled 9/11 flawlessly and took protecting us seriously. He did not fear engagement with the enemy. His goal was to eradicate the enemy. He loved people – Americans, Iraqis, Afghans – and he desired freedom for all. He put up with some tough stuff in the name of freedom. When hurricanes devastated he did all he could to comfort, help, and rebuild. He did what he could to help AIDS victims in Africa and elsewhere. He was dealt quite the hand. He protected our economy from the 2nd Great Depression.  He took everything seriously. Afterall, these are serious issues. In all these things Mr. Bush didn’t work alone. God was his guide. humanly speaking, Mr. Bush surrounded himself with top quality people, experts in their fields. They did a fine job!

We should be proud of and grateful to Mr. Bush and his cabinet for the many right decisions they made for the good of our country.

“Mr. Bush, you can expect that letter very soon.”

I received this book for free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishiers.

The books she chose I thought were quite cute. The Bible first and The Night Before Christmas. {sigh}

Then she helped me get breakfast ready for all. Christmas breakfast menu: cookies, candy, coffee, and eggnog. Strangely Claire wanted toast instead. She must be growing up. {sigh}

After breakfast was over we cleaned up a bit. Then we waited for Oma who wanted to see the gift opening and such.

Waiting is hard but we made good use of our time.

Claire read the Christmas story from Matthew to us from her new Bible.

Uncle Clint downloaded an ap onto his phone.

Lukie cuddled with Trin and twirled her ear around his finger. {sigh}

The kids wrestled with dad.

And then it was 8am and we could wait no more, so we began the gift opening.

Claire got hot chocolate, oh wait!

…no she didn’t.

Look closer, Claire.

It’s a…

It’s…

…an Ipod!!!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Jack was happy. He got a Ninjago sword. Hi-YA!

Luke was so excited he would hardly pose for photos.

Uncle Clint gave the boys this AWESOME pirate ship.

Uncle Clint made a cheese snowman. Claire helped.

He started by cutting the cheese. HAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAA ) (actually I cut it)

Then they formed the Velveta cheese product into three balls.

Claire wasn’t thrilled about molding the gooey cheese. Ew!

The molding took some time. Meanwhile Jason helped the boys build their Legos.

Back at the kitchen table the snowman takes shape. Clint covers it with cream cheese.

Ta-da! The finished product.

Alas, the snowman wasn’t made just for looks.

He was made TO EAT!

Into the frying pan he goes.

He started to melt…poor little guy…

“I’m melllltiiiinngg..”

I’m sorry you had to witness this, the slow death of a snowman.

Rest assured it was more appetizing than the whoopie cushion ap on Clint’s phone. Ya, that’s another thing we did before Oma arrived.

Is there anything more humorous than the sounds of flatulence? We don’t think so.

We added a little ghore (crushed tomatoes and spices) to the pan. Ya gotta keep it interesting.  Jay threatened the poor guy, “Your entrails will be your extrails…”

Good-bye snowman. It’s hard to see you lyingin a pool of our own blood..but, we’ll always have the memories. “LET’S EAT!”

After consuming a good portion of Mr. Snowman we celebrated Claire’s birthday with a vanilla cake and a half-hearted Birthday song. We’re not big on the birthday song over here.

Jager, basking in the glowing ambiance. Actually, it was nappy time for Jay while the kiddos played and mom made dinner.

Dinner menu: ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole,  and stuffing. And for dessert: chocolate pie, pineapple cream cheese pie,and  more cookies.

The footbal game will be on soon and I will finally sit down and rest.

It’s been a wonderful Christmas/Claire’s birthday.

Signing off for now…

Laur

Just three creatures were stirring, the rest had gone out.

The stocking were hung on the wall with great care, in hopes there’d be filling other than air,

At church they did gather with family-like friends,

They sang and they listened until at the end, the time came to fellowship, an afterward glow,

It was hard to pull away though they knew they must go,

The children were out with their mom and their dad,

The Schmersahls would feed them, and a feast they would have,

Earlier that day each opened a gift, new Bibles they found and their spirits did lift.

Dad sprang to his truck, to his fam gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!

Here are recent photos of Claire and I.

For those of you (you know who you are) who don’t have a tree up this year, here’s mine.

You may live vicariously through me.

Last night we burned  a little left over wood from one of Jay’s jobs.

The Fire Starter. Who remembers that movie? Drew Barrimore?

Fire!

And here is the snapshot portion of our post.

Claire got lots of gum for her birthday. We’re taking bets to see how long it takes her to get through it all. She’s generous and shares with her brothers and friends so the gum is going fairly quickly.

I am practicing my bokeh and ther’s no better time than the holiday season.

That’s it for now.

G’night.