this could take all day

end-of-year inspiration

When I saw this post last week on creating simple photo books for your children I was sold. You know me, I love pictures! And you know what, my kids love pictures too. I have a photo slideshow on my computer screensaver, and the girls will sit in front of it for hours watching the pictures scroll by and asking questions along the way.

They need to get their hands on some of their pictures. We need more albums around here!

So I've been scrambling the last few days to get all caught up on my photo-a-day project, get my pictures organized, and pick my favorites from the year so that Daisy and Dani can have their very own year-end albums. (And along with that will come lots of new blog posts, gotta get caught up here too!)

A New Year's Eve tradition is born in the Gemmer house!

Since I've got 'em all organized, how bout a few of my favorites from 2011? I'll try to narrow it down a bit...

And now I'm off to wipe away a tear. This little project of mine got me a bit more emotional than I prepared for. It is hard watching these sweet babies of mine growing up.

 

October 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Happy Birthday Darin! Jen made an amazing homemade peanut butter chocolate cake. Darin sure felt spoiled. Especially 'cuz I just made him brownies from a mix! (Note also the milk in a wine glass. Those Kaufman's sure are classy people!)

Lunch with family was a highlight from our visit to Lewiston.

Another highlight: playing in the leaves.

Driving home we stopped by Palouse Falls.

Dani giving her baby a piggy back ride. (cell phone pic)

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve started out with lots of lounging in our pajamas. The girls weren't eager to get dressed, and neither were we. So we hung out and baked and wrapped presents, until Darin declared he couldn't take his caffeine headache anymore and we hopped in the van for a drive-through run to Starbucks. (New tradition maybe?)

That afternoon Gran arrived and the girls were able to open one present early. Like many families we know, the girls got new pajamas to wear. Daisy requested a red nightgown, and Dani wanted blue pajamas. The blue was a little tricky, since no one wants to make girl pajamas in blue anymore. I thought about just buying her the boy pair, but they had trucks and balls all over them and I knew she would have noticed. So, enter pale blue flower pajams and call it good.

We played with Gran and Isha for a bit (at one point Daisy asked me to help her write a card for Gran, in which she wanted to write "I love your son Darin") and then got ready for church and work. (Darin went to Juvi to hold a chapel service for the kids, and he said it was a great evening.)

And Mama tried to get a picture of her girls in front of the tree. Thankfully, I had some good helpers!

Us ladies said goodbye to Darin and went to the 5pm service at Peninsula Bible Fellowship (Our church's services weren't until 7pm or 11pm, not so friendly for the preschool-set.) where the girls were pretty well behaved and Linda and I enjoyed singing some classic Christmas hymns and hearing the old-old story once again.

Dinner was ready in the crock pot upon our return, and then it was time for the preparations.

First up, sprinkling the lawn with reindeer food.

Then notes to Santa. (Daisy is drawing a picture of the radio she hoped to receive.)

Then stories and songs. Mama had to fill in for Papa this year in reading "The Night Before Christmas", and I think I did a pretty good job. I had my dad's voice in my ear reading along with me.

The girls were a little too excited to sleep and were up from their beds a few times before finally succumbing. Cups of cocoa with bailey's for the parents, final preparations made, Santa cookies crumbled and tossed (they were a bit stale), and off to bed we went.

Eager for the morning...

Merry Christmas roundup

A few things on your Christmas eve to encourage and enlighten.

1. I really enjoyed reading this story about how some coworkers and kids associated with Youth For Christ got a little special pampering.

2. This is a great new Christmas song. Think I need to talk to our worship pastor about adding it to the mix in church next year. (Video is adorable too.)

3. I love year-end roundups, and here's the first one I found this year: 2011 in photos. Be sure to click through all three parts if you're looking. Themes: natural distaster and protest.

4. Another beautiful Christmas song. The video is just lyrics, so close your eyes and take in the meaning of the song. Lovely.

5. And one last video. I plan to curl up with my girls tonight and show them this one. It is just too sweet.

Merry Christmas friends! 

 

trip to Idaho - part 6

On our way home from Idaho we decided to take the shorter, wind-ier (that's wind, as in lots of stomach-churning turns, not wind as in the stuff that blows your hair all over the place), and desolate southern root through amazing towns like Starbuck and Connell. We also pulled over to stretch our legs and enjoy the view of Palouse Falls.

While Daisy and I wandered closer to the edge than I liked (I finally get it mom!) and farther than she liked (yes, I'm sorry I've got a death grip on your hand kid, but you're making me nervous), Darin and Dani set up the tripod to take a family photo. Yes, the state park was pretty deserted on this Monday morning.

We have a great little remote (which I think everyone should invest in for their camera) but you had to stand in just the right spot to get it to communicate with the camera perched on a ledge above us.

But when Darin finally found the sweet spot and used the 2-second delay on the remote to get back to us in time, Miss Daisy was missing from the shot.

So we decided to switch it up, but it took me a few shots to catch up with the learning curve.

And look! I'm good at hiding Daisy too.

But us Gemmers, we don't quit. And we were rewarded with the next shot. Success!

Time to pack it in kids and finish the long trek home.

Palouse Falls, you are a beautiful wonder to behold.

October 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

The side of my fridge. I love seeing what people put on their fridges! Kind of a secret glimpse into their lives.

Here's the rundown: upcoming Sunday School lessons, grocery and trader joe's lists, meal plan, magnets, me with Jen and Amy in college and on our flirty-thirty trip, missionary card for our friends (who just came home for good), save-the-date card for a summer wedding, old pic of my nephew caleb, and our buy-two-get-one-free card for oil changes, fly swatter. 

The front of the fridge is for kid stuff. The side is mine, and I try to fill it with useful stuff, and stuff that makes me smile as I glance over while doing dishes or cleaning up.

Preschool class visit to the pumpkin patch.

Darin had a work retreat on the Oregon Coast. Rough life.

Making brownies for Papa's birthday. The girls are ready with their party hats on! Too bad neither of them ate their dinner and didn't get to partake in the brownies that night when Darin returned from his retreat. (At least they got to lick the spoons!)

Daisy wanted to know how much money she had in her piggy bank. Her she is trying to "sort" it, while Dani wanted to dump it all back in. That night after Dani went to bed, Darin helped Daisy sort it and count it properly. That girl is pretty rich with over $60 in her piggy bank!

 

Gemmer Family Top 10 Drives of 2011

Welcome to our annual Christmas top 10! We love sharing a bit of our year with you in this format, although we are beginning to run out of top 10 ideas. (Feel free to submit your suggestions in the comments.) This is the third year we've written our letter on this ole blog, so if you missed 'em, you can read 2009 and 2010 by clicking the links.

(This post will stay at the top of the blog for a bit, so scroll on down to see new posts.)

1. Marysville to Kitsap County
For a brief time early in the year we were still living with Darin’s mom in Marysville, having left camp late in 2010. During this time Darin was beginning his employment with West Sound Youth For Christ in Kitsap County. This made for an interesting commute to say the least. Darin would get up early Monday morning, make the long drive to Kitsap, then stay with his dad in Silverdale for 3 nights and return home Thursday night, usually in time to tuck the girls in to bed. Deanna and the girls missed him terrible, and were glad this arrangement didn't last too long.

2. Marysville to Bremerton
Darin was glad to make this drive again—even though he had to take the long way around with the moving truck, instead of on the ferry—because it was the last time. This was the drive from Darin’s mom’s house to our new home in East Bremerton (Silverdale). We were blessed to find a wonderful home in a nice little neighborhood. We have neighborhood trails that connect the 7 neighborhood parks (one of the best of which is right behind our house), great neighbors for the girls to play with, and a fenced yard for them to play in. Our house is just right for our family and we are so thankful for it every day.

3. Lewiston
One of our longest trips of the year occurred this October when we loaded up the van to visit the Kaufman family for a long weekend. We always enjoy spending time with some of our best friends, and this trip was no exception. We were also able have lunch with Darin's sister Dakota (in Ellensburg) and Deanna’s uncle Rick and her cousin Jim and his family (in Clarkston). We saw some great sights in both directions and thoroughly enjoyed the drive (the girls were amazingly well behaved) and the visit. 

For the blog posts about our trip check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5. 

4. Tour’d’Churches
Upon moving to East Bremerton we immediately started looking for a church family to join. We visited many area churches but couldn’t find the right fit. Despite visiting a lot of churches that are 5 minutes or less from our house, we finally ended up joining Gateway Fellowship in Poulsbo, 20 minutes away. Although we aren't so thrilled with the drive (especially as we get more involved with small group and choir and other opportunities) we are so thankful for this church and the passion they have for serving Jesus and His people. But, the tour’d’churches was not for nothing—Daisy goes to preschool at one church we visited, Deanna and Dani do MOPS at another, and the girls all go to Bible study Fellowship at a third. 

5. East Bremerton to West Bremerton
Though short and somewhat uneventful, Darin and Deanna got used to this drive when we did it for 7 nights in 2 weeks to attend our PRIDE Class. A wonderful family friend came and stayed with the girls so that we could attend the mandatory first step in becoming foster parents. We are very excited to be following God’s calling in our lives to open our home and our hearts to a baby who needs some love and care. Daisy and Dani are excited about having a baby in the family, but Dani doesn’t quite understand. The other day she asked, “Can our new baby be baby Jesus?” Merry Christmas!

Please be praying for us as we embark on this adventure. We have a lot to do to get our home (and ourselves) ready to be licenced! 

6. Bellevue
While not a normal destination, or one that is usually very significant to us, this drive marked a transformation for our family. On this drive we completed our transition from a truck and car family to a car and minivan family. After much deliberation and a few (almost) tears on Darin’s part, we sold his beloved T100 truck and in the same weekend we found the perfect mini-van for our growing family. We now own a 2005 Toyota Sienna with more bells and whistles than we have ever had on a car. It was an amazing deal and we are hugely blessed at the way that God provided this vehicle to enable our next move as a family (see #5).

7. Antelope, Oregon

(Technically Darin was just a passenger in a bus for this drive.) As part of his job at YFC (which he loves, by the way) Darin had the opportunity to go camp at an amazing Young Life camp in Central Oregon. It was an incredible week where Darin got to share his story with the whole High School group (about 300 kids), and got to go on 3 different quarter-mile zip lines into the lake. It was wonderful for Darin to be back at camp and sharing the love of Jesus with the kids in his cabin. He can’t wait to go back again in 2012! (And Deanna and the girls fared pretty well while he was away, camping with her parents, who came to visit this summer, in Carnation, WA.)

You can click here to read the YFC newsletter about camp, and here to check out the girls' adventures in camping.

8. Evergreen Park, Manchester State Park, and the Elliot Bay Marina
These are just a few of the amazing locations where Deanna has photographed family portraits and weddings during the year. In case you missed it, this year we launched our first small business, Deanna Gemmer Photography. Deanna is the creative talent and Darin is the tech support and webmaster. It’s a wonderful creative outlet for Deanna and she is having a great time. Check out www.deannagemmerphotography.com to see her work. 

9. Pullman, Cathlamet, Easton, Rainier, Walla Walla, and Edwall
Did you know that these are all towns in Washington and are all places Deanna has visited this year in her role advising 4H State Ambassadors? She’s been advising this group of teen leaders for 3 years and loves every time they get together. She particularly enjoys helping young people learn how to lead and how to think through tough problems. Darin stays home with the girls for the weekends and Deanna always comes back exhausted and excited to have been a part of the leadership building process.

10. Sun Lakes
Another long trip for the whole family, also to join the Kaufman’s, this time for a camping trip in Central Washington. The weather was wonderful and the kids had a great time playing in the park and swimming in the lake. The campfires, s’mores, and great conversation were a wonderful way to spend the long weekend. However, on this trip, we realized we are getting too old for just sleeping pads on hard ground. An air mattress will be included in the packing list for our next trip, because this is bound to be an annual event for sure. 

You can read more about this fun trip here.

While we still miss camping ministry most days, we are all so thankful for the faithfulness God has shown us this past year and for the opportunities He has given us to serve him here in Bremerton. We are blessed beyond measure by our two bright, creative, healthy, and beautiful girls and are eager to see how God can use the love in our family to shine His light into this hurting world. 

We hope and pray that you feel His love surrounding you and yours this Christmas time.

Blessings,

Darin, Deanna, Daisy & Dani 

October 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Daisy was home from school for a few days with a touch of the flu. This floor puzzle gave us a great quiet activity we could do when she was feeling up for it.

Trip to Trader Joe's. Man, these girls know the free stuff at every store and can't leave TJ's without stickers. Dani likes to put them on herself and declare that she has owies. (cell pic)

Last week we rode the plane after Bible Study, this week we played outside. It was such a nice day. (cell pic)

I haven't scrapbooked in over a year, but this week I got inspired. Here's one of the pages I made. I'm hoping this creative streak sticks around a while.

Darin took the girls to home depot on an errand and it turns out there was a free workshop. They each got to paint a pumpkin! (cell pic)

October 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Outside Dani's classroom at Bible Study Fellowship is this little plane. 25 cents a ride. On rainy or cold days after class the girls get a ride before going home, on sunny days we play outside. (cell pic)

Trying out a new recipe with breakfast for dinner. They were a little dense and a little dry. NEEDED whip cream. Rough life.

We got family pictures taken!!!

Sunday afternoon fort building.

Daisy's projects are getting better and better. She asked me for a paper plate and made this cat all by herself. Including the ears, and finding some yarn to make whiskers. (cell pic)

Preschool Christmas program

This post is especially for the grandparents all the way in Florida. And for anyone who likes a good preschool off-key song. Or who happens to love one adorable blond-haired preschooler named Daisy.

Monday night Daisy had her preschool Christmas program. She has been working hard on her songs and verse for a while now, and was counting down the days to her "performance". As I dropped her off at her classroom that evening I gave her a little pep talk, encouraging her to sing out with confidence.

Turns out she's just a bit like her mother.

That little girl you hear so clearly, that's my girl!

I was off to the side, so the pictures aren't great, but I did get a couple.

Can't wait to see where this little girl goes!

October 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Saturday afternoon, perfect for playing a game as a family. Well, attempting to play. Dani isn't quite ready for Shopping Cart Dash yet, and really just ends up frustrating all those attempting to play. Ah...2.

Don't you just love all the creative people out there in internet land, and all the creative things they make and share with the rest of us? This banner was a free download and I just had to add my own pictures, cut out, and put together. It makes me happy seeing all the years of costumes on display like this.

Early morning coloring isn't all that attractive, but using two hands is pretty impressive.

We've made our way to the downtown Bremerton library on several Tuesdays now that it is our only full day at home (no school, or Bible Study, or Mops), and downtown is the nearest library with Tuesday storytime. We think Miss Kirsten is delightfully fun and so are happy to make the trek down there. This day Dani wanted to sit on Daisy's lap during the actual story telling time.

The words I hear about a million times a day lately are "play with me Mom," and they are words I dread. Time to confess: I'm no good at playing with my kids. I remember even as a babysitter I was no good at playing with kids. I'm good at playing games with structure; like board games or hide and seek. I'm good at coloring and craft projects. I'm good at baking and cleaning projects. I'm good at pushing kids on the swings and dance parties and goofy songs and reading stories. But I am no good at the whole "play princesses" or "play ponies" or "play dolls" thing. 

The girls have an impressive set of magnet dolls with magnet clothes (from several kits, they are kinda like paper dolls with magnets) and I'm happy to play this game. Because usually it involves sorting clothes and choosing outfits for just the right occasion. And so on this day I was happy to get on the floor and play with my kids.

(Anyone else know where I'm coming from on the "play with me" thing?)

trip to Idaho - part 5

On our last full day in Lewiston I had a photoshoot with some 4-H friends, so Darin hung out with our girls while the Kaufmans went to Mass. Then they met up with Jen, Sam & Andie (Joe ditched the party to go do a little hunting) for lunch. When I was done I headed back to the house where they were attempting to put little people down for a nap. But since Andie was the only taker, we decided to get out of the house once again. (Um, I guess Darin took a nap too. That guy.)

When meeting up with my photo friends, I spotted this amazing batch of leaves outside the community college, and unlike at home in WA where it is hard to find dry leaves, these were good and crunchy. So I suggested we head that way for some outdoor play.

Turns out all the leaves were covering a rock pathway, but that didn't stop the kids from digging in and making a pile.

Jump in!

Then it was time to bury me in the leaves, 

so I retaliated by starting the great leaf fight of 2011. (Much better than snow for sure!)

After a wild leaf fight, we headed to the back of the college attempting to find more leaves. And while the pickings weren't as great as out front, we did find some.

Although we had forgotten our rake, so it was all about scooping by hand. And we got a good workout!

After all that work and play, Jen's dear mom suggested a visit to the fro-yo shop. Who could argue with that?

Highlight of the trip? Some might think so.

September 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

A little chocolate milk to brighten up a dull afternoon.

Puddle Jumping!

Flowers from my family. Especially nice since I was feeling a bit under the weather.

Yipee! Bible Study Fellowship has begun again.

Thanksgiving dinner. I took my friend Julie's advice and purchased a random non-thanksgiving turkey to cook up. Then later when we made plans with Tyler & Stacey we decided to go all-out on Thanksgiving: mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries, bread, stuffing and gravy. It was marvelous and we all wondered why we only eat this once a year. This is one good meal!