Sunday, December 30, 2007

Random "Hello"s

Just wanted to say hello to some of our very good friends who are frequenting this blog... and are feeling left out of the fun! *wink*
Peter, thanks for stopping by. You know who you are. Thanks for the good times. Thanks for the memories. We all miss you and wish you would come home for a visit!
To our hilariously fun cousins: Jamie, Kara, Jodi, Jason, Marquell, Janae, Baby A, Baby B, Christina, Rick, Amber, Sadie, Kayla, and Anna... thanks for the great times today. I just don't know what we would do without you... and everyone else of course! We love you all over and over and would choose you for our family any day! (Ahem...don't forget to comment!)
And of course hello to all our other friends who visit this up-and-coming blog... may all your days be filled with chocolate kisses, low gas prices and warm sunshine!
Tootles!

PS. Cuzs... Thought you'd like to know that I got me a dancing partner - thanks for the worries! :)

Friday, December 28, 2007

Chance of a Lifetime!

We are all so excited about an opportunity a dear friend is affording for us... ballroom dancing lessons for the four of us older kids! We were sooo excited when she called, but we still had to wait for the verdict from the big-guy! (a.k.a. Dad) Below is his answer... and our response!

Thanks you guys! We can't wait!!!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

An Afternoon Tea


While Tiffany has been working for the Brennemans, she has really enjoyed being a part of their Thursday afternoon teas. At their house, tea party day is always a big deal. Her stories have inspired the girls to get our own family tradition started. Unfortunately Tiffany and I miss out on the home parties. But this week while Tiff and I are home, we got in on the planning and partying!

A delicious soup - using Christmas lunch leftovers - was put in the crockpot and the baking began.

Grace made jelly and egg salad sandwiches... not together of course! *smile*


Tiffany tried a new scone recipe... which was delectible by the way! And I tried a suposedly great, fast fudge recipe... but it was nothing to write home about! (I guess you could say that it might have worked better if I would have used the right ingredients!) *smile*

The girls set the table with all the fancy finery...

The food was served up...

And the party began!

Thanks Mom and girlies for the great time!! I am so glad I could be home for the special tea party. I had so much fun and can't wait to do it again! Hopefully next time my fudge will turn out! *smile* I am so grateful for all the special memories God lets us make!

* * *
"A friend loveth at all times, but a [family] is born for adversity!"
Proverbs

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A Country Christmas



We had the best of times yesterday with our new friends the Blairs. They drove to our house from Newton and spent Christmas day with us. Their family, Jeff and Cindy and children: Abriam, Auburn, Anabelle, Adalee, Amelia, Aliza, and Adison; were just to precious for words! Besides their beautiful redhair - which I can't help being partial to - they all had very sweet spirits and we found that our families have much in common. Here's a little glimpse at our day!
We had so much fun playing the hilarious game of Apples to Apples! The best part was watching the little girls try to decipher the words!


After several rousing ole' time dances, we had to step out onto the porch to cool off! (We decided we should get a head start on the New Year's resolution to excerise more!)



As much as we all were hoping for and 'dreaming of a' white Christmas, the pickin's were slim. But after a vote, we decided to don snow clothes and enjoy what white stuff we had. It was quite a scramble to find warm things for everyone, but we manged to bundle up. Immediately we girls were pelted with snowballs and a classic snowball fight - boys against girls - was in full swing. How the boys managed to win, while out number 3-1, we'll never know. I think if the girls could have had a better aim more often, the outcome could have been different. We did try to take the advantage by getting up on the chicken house roof, but it didn't seem to help us too much! Oh well, it was still a smashing good time - no pun intended! :)


After a supper of lunch warmed-up, we played a short round of Balderdash, with Tiffany and Don winning... only by a very small margin tho! :) Adalee and Anabelle played violin for us - and very well I might add - and then their family sang the sweetest Christmas song to us before leaving. Their smiling faces were such a blessing to watch!

We were so grateful to have spent the day with such a precious family and are looking forward to many more times together soon! Love you guys!


* * *

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you!"
Philipians









Saturday, December 22, 2007

Due to the lack...

...of decent words-in-pictures, i will have to satisfy you with plain words.

We are all getting ready for Christmas around here... today was a furry of house cleaning, gift-wrapping, and last minute shopping! Our extended family get-togethers aren't until after Christmas. It is kinda sad, but we are making up for it by inviting friends over who don't have relatives around here.

Our dear friend and adopted brother, Don, will be here. It will be just like old times... it was only two years ago in October that we first met him at a church get-together. He and his brother, Peter, came to our house on Christmas day that year. Since then, we have had many great times together. Much to our dismay, Don has accepted a new pastorial position in Oklahoma and will be moving shortly after the new year. We are glad he will be spending the holiday with us.

The Blairs, a family we just met this month, are also coming from Newton. Tiffany and I were at an 1850's Christmas Ball with our homeschool group and met their beautiful red-head daughters! Since their families are out of state, they are joining us for Christmas dinner. We are so excited to get the know them better!

Hopefully I can soon have pictures to share with you of our holiday festivies! It's such an exciting time of year. A wonderful time to relive memories of the past and making new ones... like our 'Charlie-Brown-christmas-tree'. It rains down pine needles everytime you lay a finger on it. So all the gifts are covered with a seasonal layer of green... to bad they hurt so bad when stepped on! *smile*

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Serious delays...

We sincerely apologize for the terrible posting record so far... our precious little computer is still giving us horrible fits and just all around being a real pill. (Translation: we cannot post pictures... the link is completely missing.)
So.. until the problem corrects itself or we find a way to fix it ourselves, we will be hanging kinda low...
Talk to you soon - - hopefully!!! :)

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Drumroll please.....

Welcome to everyone! It is with great pride and joy that we, the Chmelar's, invite you to join in the everyday life of our family!
This blog will replace the "Happy Family Newsletter" that we tried to publish many times in past years, but never could consistantly produce. We hope you enjoy the new rendition... "Happy Family News-On-Demand"!
Please stop by often and let us know what you think of what you see!
Let the happy posts begin!!!