Our Girls in 2010

Isn't this just precious? :)

This picture alone was the best shot I got of our 2 girls at their "together" photo session, due to Rebekah being a little stinker and not wanting to do anything for the camera! (new problem for me!) But at least we got one good shot together for 2010!

Our Leah.. almost 4!!!!!!

Our Bekah.. almost 2!!!!!

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How did they get so big? Lately, I have been taking more time just to enjoy being with the girls, and spending time with them in "their world". They are growing so fast.. I can;t comprehend it some days! But what a blessing they are! :)

MACHE and POPS

WE finally decided what we are doing about MACHE this year, due to a great new program they have this year! It is called POPS (Parents of Preschoolers) and is offered to parents who have children under 5 yrs old and have never been to MACHE before.

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They are offering the POPS couple (yes, it must be mother AND father attending) a chance to attend this year's conference FREE! All they have to do is be recommended by a MACHE member family who is attending this year's conference. Plus, they have special classes specifically designed for Preschooler's ages, and beginning homeschooling ideas and topics. It looks amazing!

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Josh & I decided to take up this offer, after discussing it in detail. It would be a great opportunity to go as a couple and to enjoy the seminars on homeschooling, while getting the benefits of the POPS program! Plus, it will be like a "getaway" weekend! :)

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I encourage you all who are interested to check out this POPS program, and take advantage of it if you can.. it is amazing! :) But the good news is if you did decide just to go as an individual the POPS classes are open to MACHE attendees, but you would just have to pay for the conference.

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Please talk to me if you have any questions, or want more information. (If you do want to go as a couple, but dont know a MACHE member family, let me know, I am trying to find people who'd be willing to recommend young couples!) Also, remember the website where all the details are listed! ........... www.mache.org

MACHE anyone?

The Annual MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) Conference is scheduled for April 15-17, 2010 in Rochester, MN at the Mayo Civic Center.

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It basically is a HUGE gathering of Homeschoolers and people interested in Homeschooling, getting together for used book sales, classes, speakers, great sessions of information and the BEST part of MACHE (I think) is to get to see tables and tables of entire curriculum from companies. Not just looking in a catalog! :)

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It is $70 for the conference, and the rooms in hotels near there, are relatively cheap, especially if they are shared! :) Would be a very fun weekend for us moms, to get to check out info about Homeschooling, while getting a weekend away!

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This conference brochure describes it all in detail! www.mache.org/2010conferencebrochure.pdf Please look it over, and let me know if you would be interested in doing this! It's a great way to get to check out Homeschooling, in it's entirety and with ease of seeing everything it can offer your family! I am excited to get ideas!

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Also, check out the website, www.mache.org

Update!

What a couple of crazy weeks we have had! I LOVE the Holidays, but wow, it goes by faster every year!

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I started school again with Leah, after a month long break, due to the holidays, She surprised me by showing me she knows how to draw some letters already! A and C! That was so amazing, as we were going to work on writing letters next year! :) I am so proud!

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Bekah is now 22 months, and is conversing like a natural! Her speech finally started a few months ago, and she connects words like a pro now! Her latest word is "No" unfortunately! But she doesn't quite know the meaning yet, so we are still good! :)

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I am still working on sewing dresses for the girls for this year, which is my very fun winter project! :) Other than that, I have been taking a GREAT in-depth Sunday school class at our church, which I have really been enjoying! I get to use the intellectual side of my brain at last! :) (Being a mom does that to you I think.. using only 1/5 of your brainpower!) We started the New Testament a few weeks ago, and will be moving on to Church History in a few weeks! I am excited!

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My sister is leaving for a missions trip serving aboard "Africa Mercy" a floating cruise ship used to provide surgeries and medical care to some of the poorest areas on earth! This has been her dream her entire nursing career! I am so excited for her as she gets ready to leave from Feb-April! We will miss her!

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Also, great news on Josh's family side, his sister Hannah, and husband Adam will be expecting their first baby in September! I am sooo excited for them! In addition, James & Savannah's baby still grows well and is due in May! 2 babies this year in the family! How fun!!! :)

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So, our lives continue after the holidays, and we are glad to settle back into our "normal" :)

Meeting Analiese!

My best friend Audrey and her family came for a visit to MN before Christmas, and I was soooooo blessed to get to go spend an entire day with her and meet her newest bundle of joy, Analiese! It was sooo fun and very special! :) I love being an adopted "auntie"!

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to stop by and wish all of you readers a very Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a very blessed holiday with family & friends, celebrating Jesus's birth!

Also enjoy my new blog facelift! :) I love it!

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My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has done great things for me!" ~ Mary's song from the gospel of Luke

Latest Sewing Projects!

I have been busy this past week having fun with my sewing machine! :) I LOVE winter as I can sew and not feel guilty (about not being outside!) Plus I LOVE sewing dresses! These matching ones are for next year, as the girls grow! Cute!

These cute jumpers, I whipped out on a Saturday afternoon to wear on a Sunday morning, as our family lit the advent candles in front of church. :) Gotta love saturdays and easy jumper patterns!

Books at 40% OFF!

GREAT Deal!!

For those of you within shopping distance of Bemidji...

B Dalton Books in the Mall is going out of business (effective Jan 16) and is currently putting all merchandise in the store for 40% off!

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I have been picking up books galore! Plus, some things they don't have in stock, they order for you for the 40% off as well! I ordered the Chronicles of Narnia audio drama CDs from FOF (which they had previously carried in stock) for only $6.98! For the entire set! (12 Cds)

So, stock up on books while you can! :) They still had an amazing selection!

It's a GIRL!

Congratulations to my best friend Audrey and her husband James, on the birth of their healthy baby girl!

~Analiese Marie~

Friday December 4, 2009

7lbs 2oz
20 in long

I am sooooooo excited! I feel just like an Auntie! I get to meet her next week and I can't wait! She is beautiful, healthy and a great baby! Perfect firstborn!

Fall Pics from Us

It's been a while since I posted pictures, so here are some of our latest from life at our house this fall!

Darling Bekah Boo

Hee hee! I love this shot!

Cuties

Leah, riding the 10-cent horse "Sandy" at Ben Franklin, just like I used to as a girl!

Having LOTS of fun at the Science Center..

Leah LOVED holding all the animals she could.. she was not afraid ONE bit of this boa.. VERY brave! She probably would have held the spiders if she could! Such a Helweg! :)

Life Goes On..

Well, what a fall it has been so far!

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I say that grudgingly, as this is one of my favorite seasons, but it seems to have missed the nice warmer fall weather usually had around here and skipped right to the "before snow"cold, windy, rainy weather. Yuck!

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We have been sooo busy with garden stuff finally! I have been harvesting corn, tomatoes, peppers & apples, making everything from salsa, to applesauce to canning corn, tomatoes & sauce. It has been fun! :) (Except for the mess of dirty dishes afterwards, lol)

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Leah started AWANA Cubbies this past month, and is SO adorable in her little vest. :) She loves it, but is still a little shy socially, but I think this will be really good for her to help come out of her shell. :) Plus, Josh & Bekah get some quality time as well, so that is great! And in case you wonder, I do enjoy my alone time as well!! hee hee ...(More like shopping time:)

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Right on the heels of that, Leah is doing so well in her little "preschool" I have been having for her an hour every day. We read a Bible Story, color a picture, learn some geography, read about an animal, and learn our Cubbie verses. It is very fun.. and she is soooooo smart! She knows all of her planets/Solar System already and the continents/oceans! VERY smart! :) Its pretty fun to see her learning grow..

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Bekah is 19 months old and weighs in at 25lbs.. she is still not talking much (that is understandable anyway) but she does say things like "Baby", "Mama", "Uh-Oh", "Please" etc.. but I'm not too worried about her lack of talking, as she was a premie and second-born at that! She does understand much more than she can say though.. and is very smart!

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Well, it seems the entire world is having babies just now!!!! My best friend is due with her first in less than 2 months, :) :) and now we had great news that James & Savannah are due next May with their first baby! SO exciting! I can't wait to hold all these little babies!!!

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Hope your fall is going well.. ours sure is flying by! :)

Labor Day Weekend - Part 1

During Labor Day weekend, all of my mom's side of the family got together to say goodbye to my Grandma Shirley.. who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in addition to her Parkinson's. We celebrated her & Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary and spent her last few days all together as a family. It was a sad time, yet special to all be together. Here are some of the first pics from our weekend.

Bekah & I

My cousin's wife Sidra and their new baby, Hamilton (isn't he cute?)

My grandpa & his kids :)

Pictures of days gone by..

celebrating Grandpa & Grandma's 60th wedding anniversary

4 generations of Halver boys! :)

Ham & Great-Grandpa

All 3 kids and Grandma

Great-Grandma & her first great-grandson!

All of us out to breakfast at Hell's Kitchen in Mpls

Wonderful food!!