The Wiese Family Pictures

These are the family pictures for the last night we were all together! Enjoy!

The Wiese Family - Christmas 2009

Jim(Rick's brother), Lucille (Rick's mom) and Debbie (Rick's sister)

The John Day, Oregon Wiese Family - Jeremy, Josh, Dan (Rick's brother) and Linda. Missing Lindsay and Jon.

The Deer Park, Washington Wiese Family -Jessica, Karin, Ron (Rick's brother) and Chrissy

The Nampa Wiese Family - Rick, Caleb, Katie, Emma and Ryan

Grandma Wiese and the grandkids

Spokane Christmas

It was our year this Christmas to end up north to Spokane, Washington to spend the holiday with Rick's family.

We left Nampa on Monday, December 21st. It is about a 6 hour drive. Caleb and Emma did a great job in the car riding up. It helps that we have the DVD players on the back of our seats for them! They are the best things very invented! They watched Frosty the Snowman and other cartoons off and on the whole drive. They also slept a couple times each.

We got word shortly before we left that Ryan was going to be flying up to Spokane to be with us for Christmas! We were very excited! This was going to be a surprise for Grandma Wiese. We could not wait to see him!!

Rick, the kids and I had to pick Ryan on the 23rd of December. We decided to tell Rick's mom that we had to go pick up one last Christmas present. We also got the wonderful opportunity to visit with our dear friends Steve and Monica Satake. So this gave us two reasons to leave the house and not take anyone with us.

Picked up Ryan, then to kill time until we got to visit Steve and Monica we went to the Northtown Mall in Spokane. We ate lunch and walked around. We also looked at Santa, we did not stand in line this year to see him. Maybe next year!

Our friend Steve had a heart transplant in the beginning of December. This is something that Steve and Monica, also all their family and friends have been praying for! Steve was born with a condition called TGA (Transposition of the Great Arteries). This is when the two main arteries, the aorta and the pulmonary arteries, are transposed from their normal positions. Anyway, Steve used to work with us the school and was also one of Ryan coaches for football in high school, but over the summer Steve health become so bad the that heart doctor in Spokane told Steve that he needed a heart transplant and that he would need to stay in Spokane until they had a heart available for him. It truly was a Christmas miracle that Steve received his heart when he did. When we talked to Steve over Christmas he said that his original heart was pumping about 10% on his own and that the heart pump was really keeping him alive. PRAISE GOD!!! Steve is doing wonderful! I am so happy for his family and him! Steve with have a second chance at life and be able to live life like he never has before...no cords, no pump, nothing attached to him at all!

It was wonderful to see Steve and Monica! Steve's target date for coming back to the Boise area is in March! It will be nice to have in the area again! His doctors are very impressed with how well he is recovering and healing! But Steve is a fighter and always has been, that is one thing I have always admired about him. The other thing I have always admired is his very strong faith and love for Jesus Christ! We hope that we put a smile on Steve's face and in his heart. He got a small piece of home for a Christmas visit! We love our Steve and Monica and are so excited about their new life!!!

Visiting Steve and Monica in Spokane(Rick, Caleb, Ryan, Katie, Emma, Steve and Monica)

That night when we got home Rick, the kids and I went into the house like nothing was up. Took all our coats and shoes off then just sat down. Debbie and Jim (Rick's sister and brother) took off up the stairs because they knew Ryan was coming to the door and we wanted Lucille to answer it. Ryan knocked on the door and Lucille got up to answer it. She opened the door and stood their in shook! It was so funny! She was so surprised to see Ryan standing their. It was a really nice surprise and we were all happy to have him "home".

Christmas Eve we went to the Deer Park(north of Spokane, where Rick's mom lives) community Christmas Eve service. It was very nice! Then just our family went over to Rick's brother Ron's house to hang out with them to visit and have snacks. We always have a blast with them. Karin, my sister-in-law, made wonderful goodies for us to eat. Rick played a hunting Wii game that we now need to get here at our house! Ha Ha! All the kids opened their Christmas pj's. It was a

great time!

Caleb in his Christmas pj's and opening a present from cousin Jessica.

Emma in her Christmas pj's and opening a present from cousin Jessica.

The next morning there was another big surprise for Grandma Wiese. Dan(Rick's brother), Linda, Josh and Jeremy drove up to Deer Park from John Day, Oregon. They arrived at 7AM on Christmas morning. Lucille aka, Grandma Wiese was so surprised to find them in her living room when she got up! We were all together except for Lindsay(Dan and Linda's daughter) and her husband Jon who are now pastoring the Homer, Alaska Church of the Nazarene.

We opened present in the late morning. Emma was totally into opening presents. She even helped other people! Caleb was not so into it. He would open one present and want to play with it, but there were so many presents that he really didn't get a chance. He would get so frustrated. I felt bad for him. So we tried to hurry with gifts so they could have a good nap before Christmas dinner. Caleb and Emma got so much for Christmas which is a good thing. The toys that they had were mostly still little baby toys...not to entertaining to them any more. They got great stuff! Uncle Ron and Aunt Karin got them a wagon! Emma got "My Little Ponies", babies, books, clothes, a Mrs. Potato Head, puzzles, a big girl doll house, dress up clothes, building blocks, color books and crayons and some movies. Caleb got a farm set, tractors, clothes, books, color books and crayons, puzzles, movies, a Buzz Light Year toy, a Mr. Potato Head, building blocks, and "Cars" toys. Then from mommy, daddy and Great Grandma Benke they got a play kitchen set! They love all their new toys and are having a blast with them all!

Caleb and Ryan checking out his farm set and tractor from Grandma Renee!

Emma and mommy checking out her doll house from Grandma Renee!

After nap time we all squeezed in for our Christmas dinner. Of course it was too much food and we all stuffed ourselves! But it was fun to have everyone around the table...well two tables actually!

The next few days flew by quickly with not a lot going on, just time with family! It was a nice Christmas with the Wiese side. We are home now and are looking forward to our annual New Years Eve with our friends!

Church Christmas Program

"Happy Birthday Jesus!" the Fairview Kidz

Emma and Caleb at during the Baby Parade

Grandma Mary, Caleb and Mia

The kids Christmas program was today at church. It was wonderful as always! The little kids, preschoolish age sang a few songs and played the bells. Hard to believe that Caleb and Emma will be in that group next year. The school age kids sang "Happy Birthday Jesus", which I love! I always get a little teary eyed! I know...I know...I am a softy,but only for a few things! Ha Ha!

Then the nursery kids (Caleb and Emma's group) had the traditional baby parade in front of the church. It is a great way for them to be seen, because so often those kids are in the nursery the whole time that people kind of forget about them! It was a super fun morning!

Of course, mommy took lots of pictures, not proud or anything! Ha Ha! Enjoy the pictures!

Snowy Saturday Fun

Caleb and Emma following daddy as he shovels.

Caleb playing in his first snow!

Snow peek-a-boo: Emma playing with mommy!

Caleb and Emma making trails in the snow!


Caleb chillin' in the snow!

All smiles...little Miss Emma!

Snow! Snow! And lots more SNOW! Seems to me that a huge snow cloud has parked itself right above us out here in Idaho. We have snow for about 3 days straight now with more in the forecast! I am enjoying the wintry weather as long as the roads don't get to icy.

Besides, this is really the first time that Caleb and Emma have never really played in snow before. So I was just waiting for the "perfect" day to play in the snow. I wanted lots of fluffy snow, but not the bitterly cold weather like we had last week. We got lucky that we had snow and it warmed up enough that your nose hairs did freeze as soon as your stepped outside!

We bundled the kiddos up in their snow pants, coats, hat, mittens and boots. Out we went to the front yard, because daddy had to shovel the side walk and drive way. First, we just made trails around the yard. They thought this was wonderful! They would take a few steps then turn around and look at their footprints behind them. It was so cute!

Caleb, of course, saw the blow up snowman in the neighbors yard and start singing "Bosty da Nonan" at the top of his lungs! It was so funny! He was singing and dancing in his snowsuit! He could hardly move...but he was doing his best!

Daddy came out to shovel and play. Daddy started with the driveway and they didn't pay too much attention to him. But when he started the sidewalk, that was a different story! Ha Ha! They followed daddy down the sidewalk like baby ducks! It was so cute!!! I was laughing so hard. They just waddled along after him! It was like watching a couple penguins.

After daddy was done we all played a little bit longer, but our noses and cheeks were pink. We decided it was to head back inside. Caleb had other plans. He did not want to come inside. He cried and cried. We got out of all our coats and other warm clothing. We decided to watch out new favorite..."Frosty the Snowman" or Bosty as Caleb calls him.

It was a fun time in the snow! A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Pink Eye....YUCKY!!!

Yesterday when we picked the kiddos up from daycare, Caleb's eye was full of greenish gloppy stuff. Miss Candi said that it had been getting worse through out the day. We thought at first that it was just his cold settling in his eye. That actually happened to him a lot last winter. But through the night it was getting worse. So mommy packed up Caleb and took him to Quick Care while daddy and Emma relaxed at home.

They got us in almost right away and it was PINK EYE! YUCKY! Mommy was totally bummed, but at least we knew what it was almost right away. So off the get drops we went. Home and bathed then it was putting in the drops time! OH MY GOODNESS!!! It was like trying to put drops in a greased pig! Ha Ha! But between mommy and daddy...we got the job done.

I ran to work after the kids were down and made lesson plans for my sub. Sick day at home with MOMMY! YAHOO! I was just thankful it was not throwing up or a fever that I was having to stay home for!

This morning we they got up before daddy left for work and what do you know...Emma had PINK EYE too! Not a big surprise...these two monkeys share EVERYTHING!!! But we caught hers really early! And thank goodness my Dr. just send her a prescription in without seeing her.

Here are my sad looking kiddos with the crud in their eyes:

Emma with Pink Eye

Caleb with Pink Eye...sucking on his "tag". He has always done that tag thing...it is like is pacifier! Ha Ha!