Winter Camp

This past weekend we took our youth group kids to Camp Geneva for Winter Camp.

I think it's safe to say we all had a fantastic time. The weather was cold, but we all bundled up well and got lots of walking in.

Check out some of our pictures!

Now I've got a full week ahead of me, meetings for three nights this week, dog-sitting starting on Wednesday and hopefully a fairly open weekend to get a few things done.

Oops.

Wow. My last post was much too long ago.

Sorry I don't have pictures at the moment. I'm on my lunch break at work with about 7 minutes left, so I'll have to make this quick...

November and December were jammed pack. There was very little breathing room. But we enjoyed time with our middle schoolers, we enjoyed time with family. We didn't really have time for just Chris and myself, but we survived.

January has been MUCH calmer. There is a little more breathing room, so I've started up some fitness training again. I have plans in my mind of how to build a nice home gym in the basement that will include a bouldering wall (Chris and I purchased the pieces to put up a bouldering wall back when we were still dating, so I'm excited to finally have a good idea of where to actually build it). Meanwhile, I work out among boxes with a tiny TV that my parents no longer needed.

In other news, we finally bought a flat screen tv. Chris is pretty happy with it, I can't get over how big it is compared to our old one (which wasn't that old, just big and clunky since it was right before flat screens). Not sure what to do with the old tv at this point - I don't think we can get much money for it and I think a cheaper flatscreen would serve better in my dream home gym... Anyone interested? Here's some info I gleaned from one of my older posts (prices negotiable at this point):

Samsung TV
($250 for TV, $100 for stand, $50 for HD Antenna)
I belive it's this model: TX-P2670WH 26-inch wide Premier Series DynaFlat HDTV w/ Built-In Tuner

In the world of our youth group, we've started memorizing the Shema. I'm excited to start having that as part of our way to transition into lessons or prayer time. We also have a winter retreat at Camp Geneva this weekend. Should be fun!

What else, what else... I've signed us up for this year's Apple Cider Century (I was bummed last year for not going, so I set aside a little of the Christmas bonus so we could go this year). Chris and I had a good time when we went before and would love to invite some friends to join us this year. Let me know if you're interested in coming with us! If I can drum up a little bit more extra cash, I might also sign us up for the River Bank Run again.

Okay, lunch break is over so that's all I've got for now!

SO. AWESOME.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

Geez, I need to start posting more.

I hope to have the ambition to take a few pictures of our house and post them up here.

Big news of the month is that my parents are moving. To Ohio. Bummer. Not a huge fan, but I'll do my best to be supportive.

The one positive is that my parents are down-sizing their living space, so they suddenly need to purge some stuff. So... early inheritance of family furniture for my brothers and I!

We are now proud owners of a family grandfather clock, a family cedar chest WITH clothes from my grandparents and mom, a table saw and some other saw thing (temporarily storing until my parents move to a larger space someday), a washer and dryer (yay!), a good, hefty car jack, a leaf chomper machine thing (looks like a lawn mower, not sure what it does, but Chris was excited), canning supplies, a sewing machine and some food for our freezer. And we already had my piano.

So our house feels even more "homey" since those items are starting to fill in some more of the gaps.

In other news, Major Pumpkin Patch (this is the pumpkin portion of this post) is going on for the next two weekends. Come visit Chris and I up there! Great photo opportunity and some fun games for the kiddos (or parents, if you want). Food is available (homemade by Mom (Karen) Major!). The hayride is my favorite - Dad (Mike) Major has been making some REALLY cool scenes the past couple of years. Can't wait to see what they added this year! I think I heard there was going to be a Wizard of Oz scene...

Then we'll be having our Pumpkin Stew party and then we can relax.

Also, we are starting up with RIOT (our middle school youth group) this week. So tonight I hope to bake some cookies to bring on Wednesday!

Oops.

I have neglected this yet again. I blame it on my job putting me in front of a computer all day... I just don't feel like sitting on the computer when I get home! Oh well...

What's new? Well, let me tell you...

• My older brother Chris got engaged
• My younger brother Sean started dating someone
• My parents sold their house
• My parents are moving to Ohio
• Chris' job has gotten quite stressful, but he's doing a great job with a huge project right now
• My job is more enjoyable in the IT realm as I continue to learn more "IT" things and "make IT look good" ... as my supervisor keeps telling me.
• We didn't sign up for Apple Cider Century this year and I'm regretting it. I'm already checking the website daily to see when I can sign up for next year's... Since we're not setting aside any vacation money, I was thinking that could be my birthday present...for Chris and I to go. That then takes away getting tickets to Wicked in Kalamazoo (I've never seen it)...so...not sure. I'm definitely doing the ACC next year though. Wicked may or may not happen.
• We're going to sell the LeSabre and go down to one car. That's really all we need. I can walk or bike to work, plus Chris has his motorcycle. Once winter hits, he'll most likely be driving the plow truck anyways, so if I want to drive to work, I can take the Jetta.
• I read "Hunger Games" ... the next book, "Catching Fire" is on the hold shelf at the library. Must get soon... I enjoyed the book, I'm thinking the trilogy is very closely entwined and you can't read one without the others... The first one kind of leaves you hanging, wondering what's next.
• Chris started another wine batch. We might have messed it up. Hopefully it turns out okay...
• I want a pet. But not until student loans are paid...
• RIOT (our middle school youth group) starts very soon. I should get some lesson plans together...
• Pumpkin Patch is coming up soon... I need to try and make a t-shirt design so I can get those ordered.
• Pumpkin Stew party will be at our house, not my parents house, for the first time... I'm ready to start planning, Chris said it's too early since it's over a month away. *sigh*

So there's a quick little hit list of my life. Not too exciting, but good enough for me!