Surprise Party

December 11th will soon be here,
When Jorie will reach her 34th year,
So please stop by for coffee and brunch,
Without good friends, a birthday's not much!

So read the Evite message that I sent out to Jorie's friends a couple of weeks ago! And the special day finally arrived!




Today I hosted a surprise holiday birthday brunch for Jorie to celebrate her! (Thanks Mark for doing all of that detective work with names and email addresses!) It has probably been 20 years or so since we held a birthday party for her. It was a fun morning - what Jorie thought was going to be a morning out for breakfast with me and Annie, turned into a surprise brunch in our home with eight of her good friends in attendance. Annie did a great job of picking Jorie up and getting her to come inside to wait while I "finished an important phone call."

Jorie was definitely surprised! I wish I had thought to have one of the girls snap a picture of her arrival - the look on her face was priceless! After everyone arrived, we sang Happy Birthday, followed by a Moscato toast to Jorie. The menu was Chili Eggs, homemade cherry-cheese coffee cake, mini cinnamon rolls, fruit kabobs, wassail, and coffee.

We played a trivia game about Jorie with party favors all around. It was a fun holiday get-together full of holiday cheer from good friends. Thanks all for taking time out of your weekend to make this happen!

Jorie gets a birthday kiss from niece Claire!

Soup Swap

This week I held my first ever Soup Swap, and what a fun time it was! Every year when the weather turns cool and we spend more time indoors, my meal planning quickly shifts from grilling, salads, and all things "cool," to casseroles, crusty breads, and yummy soups! So when Annie told me about a Soup Swap her friend Lindsey held, I immediately knew this was something I wanted to try. Though somewhat disappointed that so many of those I invited couldn't make it, it was well worth doing, even with only five guests!

Each guest was asked to bring six quarts of frozen soup in six individual containers, along with the recipe. Upon arrival, all of the soups were displayed on a table with cards identifying them. After a short time of socializing with wine, cheese, and crackers; we assembled around the table for the "telling of the soup." Each cook told something special or unique about her soup - anything from mentioning a special ingredient, to where they got the recipe, or why it is so delicious. Annie's friend Lindsey came to my party, so I awarded her a prize for "stealing" her idea! Jorie won the prize for the "best soup story," and then the remaining names were put into a basket and the final prize given to Annie, whose name was drawn. (Just coincidence that my two daughters each won a prize!) Soups and recipes were exchanged, and after a little more socializing, each guest went home with six new soups to stock her freezer with. I also gave each one a bag of Dill Seasoned Oyster Crackers as a party favor. Six special meals ready to be heated up and enjoyed on those chilly fall nights to come!

Lindsey, Annie, Bridget, and Jorie talking over wine and cheese.

Annie, Lindsey, and Bridget (the Iowa City girls)

Jorie, me, and Annie

Me, Lindsey, Annie, Jorie, and Brenda

Bridget and I switched places for this picture

I ended up with two yummy quarts of Tortilla Soup, Thai Butternut Squash, October Bisque, Chili, and Pumpkin Black Bean. Jim and I both loved the Tortilla soup, and are looking forward to five more yummy soup meals. Mmmmm . . . soup's on!

They're Growing Up

I'm so happy that more new grandchildren continue to arrive - the youngest three are Joshua, who just turned a year old; Evangeline (Evy) who is now 8 months; and our new little Emma, just five days old. Then comes Claire (21 months), Annikah who turns 4 next week; and Silas, already 4 1/2. Each one is unique, and with each age come new discoveries - all so wonderful to see and to be a part of. But knowing new babies have continued to be born to our family especially makes me happy because Joel, the oldest, is growing up too quickly!! Today was his first day of kindergarten - full day kindergarten! It's strange to think that he won't be home or coming to Grandma's house during the day anymore - at least not during the week.

We recently enjoyed having Joel over for dinner and a sleepover. It's fun to see him starting to enjoy more varieties of foods and activities. He helped me put together a Taco Ring (Pampered Chef!) for dinner, and he enjoyed eating it as much as he did preparing it! Then Grandpa and I took him miniature golfing for his first time. He was a natural with the club - I only beat him by one point (of course Grandpa beat both of us by many points)!


Anyway, with Joel officially starting elementary school, I wanted to give him something special; and I know that kindergarten has a rest time every day. Most of the kids bring a beach towel or something similar to rest on, but I thought Joel might like his own comfy fleece blanket. He went to the fabric store with me a week or so ago and picked out this dinosaur print. We decided on yellow (his favorite color) for the contrasting side. I brought it to a local embroidery place to have his name sewn on to make it truly his, and then put it all together yesterday, just in time for his first day of school. Here is our kindergartner proudly displaying his rest time blanket!


We are so proud of Joel - he is a great role model for all of his siblings and cousins. I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes his "teacher's pet" before long!

#7 is Here!

Yup - we are grandparents again! Emma Annette Schumacher arrived safely on August 19 to Justin and Annie. She weighed in at 9 lb. 3 oz., and measured 21 inches long, with a full head of black hair! She is another adorable little grand daughter, and we feel so blessed.

Her big sister Claire was definitely excited to meet her. She is all ready to trade all of her dolls for the real thing!

What a precious little family!

Claire stayed with us while her mommy, daddy, and sister were in the hospital. She kept busy playing mommy with Grammy's doll, Lucy . . .

enjoyed yummy treats like ice cream and fruit snacks . . .

played games with Babu . . .

. . . and loved coloring at the same table that he mommy and grammy used when they were little girls.

Latest Project

Justin and Annie have been moving things around in their house to prepare for Baby Shoe #2. They moved to the master suite in their basement; Justin moved the office to a new space in the basement that he built/created in part of their former large laundry room; his former office has been transformed into a playroom for Claire; and Claire is now in her "big girl" room, which is Justin and Annie's former bedroom. That leaves the nursery ready for their new daughter's arrival any day now. Justin and Annie have been working madly all summer - mostly Justin, I should say - building walls, laying floors, moving furniture, enlarging closets, and now desigining and building a shed. Annie's contribution has been painting, consulting, encouraging, and keeping Claire busy while Justin works.

Somehow I got involved, too. Annie wanted new curtains for Claire's big girl room, and that's where I come in. She wanted a special style that I had sewn for them in their Chattanooga house a few years ago. I still had the pattern, so agreed to help. We went to the fabric store together and bought fabric to complement Claire's new comforter. The color scheme in the new room is hot pink, gray, and black and white. I finished the curtains about a week ago, and last Sunday afternoon Justin and I worked together to mount them on a board. So weird - the pattern is called "Jiffy Swag," but it is one of the most complicated projects I have ever done. I read and reread the directions over and over every step of the way. Then instead of a curtain rod, they are stapled to a board covered with fabric. The piping is then stapled on, too, around the edge of the board as a finishing touch. I guess the actual sewing part was "jiffy," but the measuring, cutting, and mounting were not!

The project is finally done, and we are all happy with the results! Claire's room is now done - one more thing checked off of their list!

Jim Celebrates 25 Years!!

September 2009 marked the 25th consecutive year that Jim has been employed by Quaker/Pepsico. That means he must have started there in 1984 when Jorie was 8, Jason was 6, and Annie was 2. We still lived on Mayflower Place in Wheaton, IL then; moved to Carol Stream, IL in 1985; and then to Cedar Rapids in 2000. All that time he has worked for the same company. He first worked for Quaker when they were located right on the river at the Merchandise Mart. He took the Chicago and Northwestern train from the Wheaton station, then walked ten blocks or so in rain, shine, or bitter cold to the office. During those years working downtown, Jim was gone for 12 hours each day - roughly 6 AM to 6 PM. He spent three hours of each day on the commute. He read lots of novels during those years. At the time, we didn't think that much about the extra-long day away from the family. Most everyone who lived in the suburbs worked downtown - that's where the best jobs were. Jim was thrilled to be working for a really solid company, and grateful for the chance to switch from a teaching career to a business career without having to go back to school for a business degree. He did work for a small company for a few years in between teaching and Quaker that helped him make the transition; but that company folded, and he got the Quaker job at just the right time.

The opportunity to come to the Quaker plant in Cedar Rapids ten years ago gave Jim the chance to keep his job, and add more to life as well! What an unbelievable thing it was to only have to drive 10 minutes to work in NO TRAFFIC, to be able to come home for lunch - or use lunch hours for trips to the chiropractor, doctor appointments, haircuts and other errands. Though when Quaker was bought by Pepsico within two years after our move, there was some uncertainty as to what would happen next, they decided to keep him on; and he has been able to continue with them.

When I think of all of the many changes I have made during the past 25 years, it seems crazy for me to imagine staying in more or less the same job within the same company for that long. During those same years, I have worn numerous hats, working for numerous employers. I was a home day care provider (while raising our own kids); class news editor for the Wheaton College Alumni Magazine; did at-home word processing for a local company; did secretarial work for a small business; substitute taught for Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, and Benjamin school districts (IL); became a full-time teacher at Evergreen Elementary in West Chicago, IL; substitute taught for Cedar Rapids Community Schools as well as College Community and Isaac Newton Christian Academy (IA); long-term substitute at Jackson Elementary; full-time teacher at Van Buren Elementary and then at Hiawatha Elementary; and presently am substitute teaching again for Cedar Rapids Community schools. That's lots of changes in job descriptions, salaries, bosses, and co-workers. But many of the jobs I had were part-time, allowing me to be home to care for the kids and our home(s). I am grateful that throughout all of these changes, Jim was our constant, working faithfully for 25 years to provide for us and our security.

Jorie and Mark, Annie and Justin, and many of Jim's co-workers were able to join in the festivities to celebrate Jim's milestone at one of our fav restaurants in CR - Cibo Fusion - a couple of days ago. (We regret that Jason and Roxanne couldn't be here - as Cibo is tops on their list - you were missed :) Since Jim's first 15 years with Quaker were in Chicago, it was fitting that we were able to party in the "Chicago" room at the restaurant. With the murals of the city surrounding us, it was almost like being there. Here are some pictures of us enjoying the fun!

Three cheers for Dad!!!

Random Pictures

Posing with Joel and Silas

Don't they have the cutest smiles??

Jorie and "little Mark" - Joshua

Joshua's first birthday - what a big boy!!

Jim and Josh celebrated together this year - 1 and 61!!

4th of July Star Jello - a holiday tradition

A Cabin Vacation

Joel and Silas have been so excited about their first trip to Uncle John's cabin in Three Lakes, WI. The cabin has been in our family for more than 40 years. My parents bought it when I was in high school and 20 or so years later my brother-in-law, John Willis, took ownership. It has been a wonderful retreat for many family members.

Joel and Silas spent the afternoon with me on Tuesday, so I read them my special book Up North at the Cabin. It is actually a book about a cabin up north in Minnesota, but so many of the illustrations and events in the book are exactly like Uncle John's cabin in Wisconsin. After reading the book the boys enjoyed making log cabin pictures out of pretzels. Here they proudly display their work. I thought they did a great job!

Their plan was to leave this afternoon, and Joel is excited that he will wake up at the cabin on his 6th birthday!

Claire's Turn

Last Sunday it was Claire's turn for a sleepover at Grammy and Babu's house. Annie and Justin have lots of house projects to complete before the arrival of Baby Girl Shoe #2, and had planned to use Monday as a workday. So Claire stayed with us Sunday night and most of Monday.

She is always asking for "num-num" and I just happened to have a bag of Twizzlers in the pantry - one of my favorite yummy-nummy treats, so she found a new num-num that she LOVED. The only problem was that she wasn't too interested in eating her breakfast or lunch on Monday, but always had room for a Twizzler!

We've had tons of rain lately - seems like it rains every day! But it did stop raining for a couple of hours on Monday - long enough for me to take Claire to Bever Park where they have Old McDonald's Farm. Claire is at the age where she loves animals, so I had really hoped to take her there. She was entranced - she saw the prairie dogs, chickens, goats, donkey, calves, pigs, and lots and lots of different types of ducks.

They have these little animal deals the kids can sit on and rock back and forth. Claire knew instantly what to do - was rocking away. It was hilarious -but that little monkey REFUSED to look at me so that I could get a good picture. I kept calling her name and when she saw the camera she would turn her head.

I finally got a close-up of her face, but this was the best I could do. I need one of those cameras that takes several pictures seconds apart to catch a really good pose.

Claire really loved watching the ducks swim and splash. I'm looking forward to going with Claire soon to Niabi zoo where she can see lots more animals!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Jim's folks just celebrated a milestone that most people won't get to in their lifetimes. On June12, Bertil (age 97) and Linnea (age 94) Engstrom celebrated 73 years of marriage! That's a lifetime in itself! Linnea always says "He hasn't changed a bit - still looks like the handsome guy I married!" So sweet! Congratulations, Mom and Dad!

Garden Helpers

The arrival of spring always requires many weekends of hard yard work for Jim. He hauls numerous bags (75-80) of mulch down the hill into the backyard every year to spruce up our woodland garden. He added several more brick borders this year as well, outlining areas that previously weren't so well-defined.

It's always nice to know we have two little helpers living down the street who LOVE to help grandpa with his outdoor work. They are actually learning a lot about gardening, and can't wait for a chance to maneuver the wheel barrow.

Joel got pretty serious about it this year, and wheeled it all the way up the steep incline with a pretty good load inside!

The load can get a little tipsy around those steep curves, but Joel handled it very well, and made it all the way to the top, load intact!

The trails and tiers ended up looking pretty nice when all was said and done!