Yes, I know...

I haven't been writing.

I can't say if it's just the hustle and bustle of the holidays or also a bit of a funk.

Soon I hope to be back. I'm starting to feel angsty from not writing.

Gingerbread Man

The last week of preschool  Maddie's class had a special activity and I was invited to participate. Ms. LaVina asked if I would be willing to come and bake a gingerbread man for the class and play a part in his running away - like in the story.

I was excited to help and let me tell you it was a fun-filled morning! 

Wyatt and I arrived in the classroom with Maddie that morning - and Angel also came with us since she was going to be baking the gingerbread man for her daughter's class - right after Maddie's class finished theirs. 

It was really neat being able to see what the kids do every morning in preschool. Wyatt joined right in - except when he was dismantling the gingerbread house. He ate every piece of candy off the front of it!

There is always an activity for the kids when they first come in - this day they painted gingerbread men

Wyatt playing with the cars in the classroom

Wyatt checking out the gingerbread house - notice the candies on the front? He ate them all!

Maddie and Angel doing the pledge

Ms. LaVina reading the Gingerbread Man story

Wyatt and the gingerbread house - I think he had candy in his mouth

Getting ready to mix the gingerbread - she let them all taste the batter before she started mixing it.

Everyone had a chance to help mix it up!

Playtime on the playground while he cooked - Wyatt joined right in the with the big kids!

He's baking!

The kids were outside playing when the gingerbread man ran away and left this note:

Here they are looking in the oven - but he was gone!

Look! Ms. LaVina reads them the note!

Quick - to the Marler Chapel!!!

After quite a goose chase - the kids ended back up in their classroom and look who they found waiting for them!

Christmas gift suggestions

I saw this on another blog that I follow and thought it timely and wise. 

I wanted to share it with 

my readers - 

May your Christmas be blessed with much love.

Christmas gift suggestions:

To all, charity.

To a customer, service.

To a friend, your heart.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To the lonely, your presence.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, kindness and respect.

A new stove!

Mike took Maddie out Christmas shopping last night and this is what they came home with! If you read the house falling apart blog I posted a few months ago you'll know that about three years ago our oven mysteriously stopped working on our gas range. Luckily we have a small- 1969 wall oven that is original and still works wonderfully. However lately the main burner on the stovetop has been acting weird. The flame is out of control at even the lowest setting and it's been scorching my pretty pots and pans! I have also missed having a larger capacity stove with multiple racks - as mine only has one rack and the size inside is very small. 

I am beyond impressed (and a little concerned about the amount of money spent, but it was all bonus money from good customers). Thank you honey! I love you!

30 years old

I thought I might have some deep, reflective thoughts about this "milestone" birthday -but I really don't. It's just another year, another number advancing like the rest of the world.

I did have a fabulous birthday party surrounded by family and friends on Saturday night. That was all I asked for - with no kids to worry about.

I will say that I am content with where I am in my life - I'd much rather be living in the Northwest - as would my husband - but we're happy together and as a family so that is really all that matters. 

Cuddly Morning

This morning I woke up to the sweetest voice whispering "Mommy, wake up!"

I opened my very sleepy eyes and peeked over the pillow and saw Wyatt's smiling little face.

That's enough to start anyone's day off on the right track!

He cuddled up to me and just as sweetly asked for "Milk." and he folded himself into the curve of my body and we cuddled and nursed for almost 20 minutes.

These are the mornings that I relish - the cuddles, the sweet words and the calm reflection of why I love being a mommy.

2008 Christmas Letter - Electronic Edition

2008 Hinze Happenings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

We’ve certainly had a busy year! We started off the New Year celebrating Wyatt’s first birthday - and find it hard to believe that we’ll be celebrating his 2nd in just a few weeks! The end of January took us to Portland, Oregon where we had a fabulous family vacation and enjoyed the wedding of Anne’s best friend Heather MacDonald. We loved Portland and all it had to offer for young families! We mastered the Light Rail Transit System and never even rented a car! The kids had a blast as well and were great travelers. They really loved the Children’s Museum in Washington Park. We hope to go back some day soon and have even been dreaming about moving to the Northwest - when we win the lottery. We also took the kids on their first cruise in September - with Carnival Cruise Lines and had a great time. We drove to Miami, stopping to see friends in West Palm Beach. Our cruise took us to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. We can’t wait to go again.

Mike has had a busy year - taking several tuna trips with the “Mixed Nuts” and its owners, doing a few boat deliveries and taking care of the business. Integrity Boat and Yacht is staying busy despite the poor economy and we feel beyond blessed that things have stayed the same for us. In early December Mike went on a hunting trip with the Mixed Nuts gang and shot 2 deer! Unfortunately he was only able to recover one of them. We’re thankful for the meat and have been enjoying lots of venison. He’s coaching Upward Basketball again this year and is trying his hand at 2nd and 3rd grade boys compared to 10th graders last year. He said he’s got his work cut out for him - but he loves it. He also is in high demand to work in the church nursery - Ms. Karen asks for him personally!

Anne is staying very busy with the kids as usual. She had oral surgery in February and also had her wisdom teeth out at the same time to get it over with. She coordinated the annual Ladies Tea at church - hiring the caterer, collecting door prizes and organizing the 25 hostesses. It was the largest attendance ever - with more than 200 women in attendance! She’s still working with moms and babies - teaching breastfeeding classes and doing private consultations. At some point this year she hopes to be accredited as a La Leche League Leader, too - it’s a long process that takes many months. This coming February she is taking a DONA birth doula workshop (professional labor assistant) and plans to complete that certication before the end of 2009. Check out her website at www.wombtobreast.com. In her spare time she is also singing in the contemporary praise and worship band at church several times a month.

Madeleine is almost 4 years old and in preschool now. She started at the Wesley Academy at our church in August. She goes twice a week and loves her teachers and classmates! She’s singing in the Wee Cherubs Choir, too and we have to say that they are adorably cute. They’ve had a few concerts this year and they’re just too precious. She remains the silly, girly girl who loves all things princess and dress-up. She also loves to create “collections” which are abstract works of art from found objects in the yard. She has quite the artistic touch!

Wyatt is no longer a baby - but definitely a little boy. He’s still snuggly and cuddly, though - which makes it a little easier for Mom - who is not ready to let him grow up yet! He’s turning two in just a few weeks. He’s talking like crazy! “Mommy, look at me,” strikes fear into Anne’s heart each time he yells it out! He’s adventuresome - a climber and mischievous. He is now sleeping on the crib mattress on the floor - thanks to his older sister who taught him how to climb out of his crib! He has the greatest personality and sense of humor and is always keeping us laughing and smiling.

All in all it’s been a great year. We’re thankful that our kids have been healthy and we’ve been healthy as well (except for Anne’s feet, but that’s another story!). We’ve been blessed to visit with many far away family members this year and look forward to more visits this year. We’re not sure where our travels are going to take us this year - but we’ve been talking about a trip to Montana to visit Anne’s haunts - or we may head up to Indiana to spend time with her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Larry in beautiful Indianapolis. We’ve also talked about going to Texas to visit some of Mike’s family or maybe even to upstate New York to see Anne’s grandma and aunts and uncles. The possibilities are endless!

We hope you are blessed as well and have a wonderful year in 2009. 

You can keep up with most of what we do by reading our family blog:

http://www.thehinzefamily.blogspot.com

Mike, Anne, Madeleine and Wyatt

I've mostly given up sending out Christmas cards - the time and expense is not rational for something that usually gets thrown away. Last year I sent out an electronic version and it was well received by most. So without further adieu - here is the 2008 edition!