Visit from Santa Claus

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas on the Chap side and we were lucky enough to get a visit from Santa Claus. It was so fun to see the excitment on the faces of all the little kids, big kids and the adults. Personally, I think my Grandma enjoyed it the most!



Like all the years in the past everybody enjoyed themselves. The food was great, the games were fun and of course the family time together is wonderful. We truely are blessed! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

My baby turns 4

Tuesday, December 1st we celebrated Nicholas turning 4 years old. He would be horrified if he knew that I called him my baby. His exact words are "I am not a baby, I am not a little boy, I am a BIG BOY and pretty soon I am going to be big like Jack!" So, apparently being Jack is even bigger than just being a big boy=) The way we say things is very important to him these days! We celebrated his birthday with all of my family and Dave's parents. Nick was really excited with everything he got!

A fun fall day

This past weekend Jackson and Izzy came to spend the day with us so Jesse and Jeremy could go get some Christmas shopping done a.k.a. a day away from children. They do it far less than I do so when Jesse asked if the kids could come over it was my pleasure. Plus, I love to have them. Izzy is so good with Madi, they could sit and do crafts for hours and the boys had fun outside with the cats and dragging around their pretend fishing poles. We took a walk down to the farm and went for a 4 wheeler ride hoping we would see a deer - no luck but everytime they saw weeds laying they went crazy saying "we must have just missed some deer taking a nap!" I love the imaginations of these guys!!!

A Beautiful Day

This past weekend I had the honor of being a part of a very special day for Tina and Nathan. The fun started on Friday when Tina, Carrie, Jesse, Annette and I went to Buffalo to have manicures and pedicures. I think we need to do this more often, not just because someones getting married. It is fun to have a girls day out!




After pampering ourselves we stopped at the Mill Creek to have lunch and some killer bloody mary's. From there it was to the hall to help decorate and then to the church for rehearsal and over to Dad's house for the grooms supper. It was a fun day but I was happy to get home and go to bed. I was exhausted...I can only imagine what the Bride to Be felt like.



The following day we were to the salon by 8:30 for the girls to do their magic on us. I think they did a beautiful job. Tina looked absolutely amazing!!! To me she looked like a princess about to marry her prince. From the salon we headed to the church for pictures and before you know it we were patiently waiting for it to be 3:30. It is amazing how quickly that time goes. The ceremony was beautiful, the music wonderful and the Bride and Groom absolutely amazing!





After the ceremony it is was off to Silver Lake for the reception. The decorating was very beautiful, the food was wonderful and of course the music was great!!!Everybody danced the night away and before we blinked it was time to go home. Time to take the dancing shoes off, retire the dress and close our eyes to think about the amazing day we all just shared together. Congratulations to Tina and Nathan Thompson!!!

Halloween 2009

Thursday night we finally told Nick and Madi that they could carve pumkins. Nick had been bugging us for the past week and a half and didn't understand the concept of them rotting so, last week we let them color the pumkins and this week they got to carve them.









I decided to send Nick and Dave out solo this evening. Madi wasn't up to par - she had been digging in her ears all day and wasn't able to sleep because of it so, I gave her a shot of tylenol and decided we should just stay home incase it is going to turn in to something more than an ear ache. I don't think she really cares that she is missing halloween this year - I think she would rather stay home and watch her favorite movie "Frosty the Snowman". Nick on the other hand was so excited to go trick or treating this afternoon that he couldn't even take his nap. He decided this year that he wanted to be a Minnesota Viking - Dave was really happy with his decision=)

A celebration of 50 years of Marriage!

50 years of love, life and happiness - what an accomplishment! They have made it through the good times and the bad. Richard and Judy are truely two people that I look up to and was so happy to be able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with them. All of Dave's siblings threw Richard and Judy a wonderful party. Richard even gave hay rides and it was a must if you came to this party that you had to at least take one bag of apples home with you!!! The decorations were lovely, the food was wonderful and the pictures were great to look at. Carrie had all the old movies put on DVD so I got to watch Dave in action on some of them. I felt like I was watching Nick in some of those movies - they are so much alike. Well, last weekend it was a 50th wedding celebration and next weekend it will be a wedding celebration for Tina and Nathan! I can't wait to see my baby sister marry the man of her dreams!!!

Madi's 2 year pictures

Despite me having to leave because Madi cried and only wanted me to hold her I think we got some good ones. I am so glad that I talk my Mom in to coming with us for these kind of adventures!

Look who's 2

I am a little behind on the blogging of Madi's 2nd birthday but better late than never right? We had a wonderful celebration! My family came over and we had some cake and ice cream. Madi received a lot of great gifts but the baby dolls took the cake! The princess bike that Dave and I bought her was chopped liver compared to her dolls! Madi has spent many hours feeding, changing, talking to and pushing them around in the stroller. She loved every minute of it...she is a little shy because when we sang Happy Birthday to her she tried to hide - shyness, were in the world does she get that from? Now, on to the next big event!

The last trip of the summer

That's right - the last trip of the summer. Hard to believe that it is over already! We went on our last camping trip to Olson's Campground just north of Maple Lake. We were joined by Tina, Nathan and the girls and Tom and Carrie and the kids. The Baker's and Eric and Carissa had busy weekends but were able to get out to visit for a little on Saturday night. The boys spent a lot of their time fishing and the girls spent a lot of their time taking Madi for rides and playing at the playground. I was amazed at how content Nick was on the end of the dock fishing even though they were not catching many fish. I think he really had fun - he told me he couldn't wait until he could go ice fishing (he is definitely his fathers child!!!).

It was a great way to end the summer, lots of playing, fishing, swimming and of course Cheetos!!! Nicks FAVORITE treat!

Carnivals, Fairs and Tractor shows

Last week the Eckhoff's were a busy family. A little too busy for me. Nick began his morning by asking what do we get to do tonight? I really just wanted to say...absolutely NOTHING but that wasn't the case last week. Monday we all went to the Corn Carnival. The kids had fun watching the parade and even going on a couple of rides. They are still at the age were I can tell them that they can go on one ride and after that you are done - well, I kind of bribed them with ice cream also. A couple days after the Corn Carnival we decided to hit the Wright County fair mostly because I like to see the kids go through the animal barns and squeal at all the animals. You would think they have never seen farm animals before. Especially Madi, she walked right up to a big old cow to say "hi" and give it a friendly pet. She does have access to them at any time she would like but then again maybe that is why she likes them so much.



From the carnival and fair we went to the Forest City Thrasher show and parade. Richard and Judy fixed up their 1941 LA Case Tractor and a 1942 V Case Tractor to display in the parade. The kids loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa in the parade and I think they were excited to see the kids. While Nick was off playing in the sand box(because we don't have one of those at home???) Madi was with Dave checking out Grandpa's tractors.



From Forest City we went out to Grandma and Grandpa Rozeski's for a clean up day only we missed the "clean up" part. So, we mainly just went to say "hi" to everyone and catch up. Finally there was Sunday, after catching up on some much needed housework we headed in to town to celebrate Aubrie's birthday. It was a beautiful day! This week is looking much better; therefore, I will blog! Hope everyone is having a good week.

Eckhoff Family Camping 2009

Well we are winding down on our summer camping trips. Last weekend we had the Eckhoff family camping trip. We went up to Scenic Point Resort on Clitherall Lake. What a beautiful lake. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best. As always we made the best of it and realized that Nick really doesn't care if the sun is out or not he was going swimming!

The kids stayed busy playing ball, riding bike, coloring with sidewalk chalk, playing at the park and of course swimming. Madi was busy digging in the sand and Nick was busy swimming and even went tubing for the first time. He was really brave - I am almost certain that I was WAY more nervous than he was but I tried not to let it show. I was really proud of him because just a month ago I could barely get him in the water he was so scared. We have come a long way in a month. One more camping trip to go and then we will probably be shutting the camper down for the year. Hope the summer is going well for everyone!!

Friday night at the lake

This past Friday night we had the pleasure of spending the evening with a lot of the Pokornowski family. My Aunt Lois was having a little gathering because the Konerza family was up from Texas. The kids had a lot of fun swimming and playing with their cousins and of course us adults had fun watching the kids play and catching up. It was a beautiful evening. I could handle every Friday night being like that.



Madi really was having a good time - I just couldn't get her to smile.



Nick on the other hand usually never stops smiling!

Chap Family Camping 2009

Well, the time of year is here already to gather for the Chap family camping trip. Nick has been begging for weeks to be able to go up north so when I was finally able to tell him we were going up north he was thrilled. We headed up to Garrison early Thursday, got the camper all set up and relaxed for the afternoon and evening. Friday Dave and I planned a trip to Paul Bunyan Land. The kids loved it. We took Jack along so that he could go on rides with Nick. All of the kids had a really fun time!








It was a nice cool weekend so we spent a lot of time around the fire. We did manage to go to the lodge, play some mini golf, volleyball and even take the kids swimming. Everybody had a very nice weekend and I know I am looking forward to next year already!!!

Busy Summer

Well, we are in to summer now and you would think that I would be blogging about all the fun stuff that we have going on pretty much every weekend. I am not sure were all my time goes? Starting in May, Dad and Julie were remarried. It was a beautiful ceremony and a beautiful evening with family and friends. We then moved on to a surprise 30th birthday party for Eric and Todd given by Courtney and Carissa. A good time was had by all. Then on to Winstock! If you have seen any of the pictures you will be able to tell that fun that was had!
This past weekend the kids and I went up north to the Baker place for a nice relaxing weekend. Dave was leaving for Canada on Saturday and I didn't feeling like sticking around home for the weekend so we packed up the car and headed up north, Jesse and the kids, Mom and Carissa all came up to. We all had a very nice time and got plenty of relaxing in.

Hope all is well with everyone who reads this! Until next time I hope everyones summer is going well!!!

SLACKER

I know, I know I am a slacker. I have really let this go for a while. There have been all sorts of exciting things that have happened in my family I just haven't gotten around to blogging about them and that I am sorry for=) The really exciting news is that Tina and Nathan are getting married. On Easter weekend Nathan asked Tina if she would marry him and of course she said yes. It was really cool and he took Tina by surprise. I don't think she expected him to do it with the entire family right there and I am glad that he let us all witness it. The entire Chap clan was at the Holiday Inn for Easter weekend. Fun was had by all!!!


Madi is now 18 months old and keeps me on my toes! She has fun going up and down the steps and every time coming down bringing me something from upstairs as to say "ha, you didn't even catch me going upstairs and now I am back down again so you can't even yell at me!" She is loving the weather now that it is nice out...or should I say NOT 32 degrees. Mary(her daycare provider) has been telling me of all the fits that Madi has every time they go outside and it is time to go in. Apparently Madi has been on the sweet and quiet side for Mary. Now, me on the other hand have been privileged to see Madi throwing her fits for some time now. She definitely knows how to voice her opinion and if she is not happy about something she lets you know=) I wonder were she gets that from.

Nick on the other hand tends to be my quiet one until Madi throws a fit then he proceeds to yell at her saying "your giving me a headache" or another classic "you are going to make my ears pop!" What can I say they love each other!


A couple of Sunday's ago the kids and I rode along to Cologne with Dave so he could move some equipment for work. Nick was in seventh heaven. He got to ride with Dave in a big John Deere - of course this was one time when I failed to have my camera with - thank goodness for cell phones. I have never seen this kid with a bigger smile on his face.

That is all for now and I promise to be better or at least get back to my once a month blog update.

Spring is finally here...

Last weekend we FINALLY got to get outside and play in some mud. Dave was going out to work on his 4 wheeler so I told him to take Nick out with him...he looked at me as though I was crazy. "You realize that if he comes out he will come back head to toe mud right???" Well, of course I knew that. He is a little kid and a boy to top it off, I would expect nothing less! Half the fun of being a kid is playing and getting dirty in the process. Nick managed to find every mud puddle in the yard.





He even managed to find a "mini lake" were he assumed he could catch some fish. I think he was on his way in to the house to get his fishing gear when I had to break the news to him that there were no fish in this lake. He didn't like my answer to much so we had to walk over to the lake and check it out ourselves. I don't own a pair of mud boots so Nick had to see for himself that there were no fish in this lake. I will be happy when that water goes away so I don't have to worry about him constantly looking for fish.


As for Madi...I did put her mud boots on but she didn't really want to play in the mud like her brother. She would rather just sit in her wagon and watch Dave work on the 4 wheeler

Madi and her friend Disa Dahlman

On Monday we had the pleasure of having Tiffany and Disa Dahlman over for a visit. It was nice to catch up with Tiffany and see her baby that has really grown since the last time I got to see her. This is a picture of the girls hanging out...looks like trouble=)

My life since the last posting...

Started out nice, it was 30 some degree's outside so we thought we would take advantage of it and send the kids out for some fresh air. I would love to say that my children made this lovely snowman but it was all Dave...Nick was his errand boy. His job was to find carrots, sticks, rocks, a hat and a scarf. He did a good job rounding all of it up. Nick was a little dissapointed because we didn't have a "magic" hat and with out a magic hat how was our snowman supposed to turn in to Frosty! I just humored him and told him maybe next year we will be able to find a magic hat. That was Saturday and then there came Sunday...



Started out with Nick not feeling so hot - he is my little guy who never complains so you know when he says he doesn't feel good he really means it! As you can tell by the pick Nick was feeling better and Madi had now come down with whatever Nick had. So, the following weekend...



Nick and Dave felt good enough to attend the Brooks Lake fishing contest. I am not sure who caught the Northern but Nick claims he did and then he said "I had to send it back home to be with his Mommy so it could grow up some more and when it gets bigger I can go catch it again". Once again I humored him and told him it sounded like a really nice plan!



Madi on the other hand took a little longer to recover then her brother so she had to stay home with me that day. She didn't do much but move from couch, to chair, to my arms. Can't say that I minded the snuggle time just don't like to see my babies sick. So, that was my life in a nutshell for the past two weeks!