cold day+no heat = sharing coffee and reading books

Hey everybody! I miss seeing all the posts, including mine.

Which happen to be the most interesting(not). 

I figured if I posted, then maybe you all would too.

The only draw back is that a noteworthy accomplishment for me like, say, cleaning up after myself and getting up before eight, pales in comparison to all you super moms who seem to have supernatural powers to be able to... well maybe I shouldn't elaborate because then i might forget something. (And I was getting just a little overwhelmed as i thought about it).

Evolution is just a little more plausible when you think about the difference between wives/mothers vs. single ladies.

Anyways, here's what I've been up to:

First let me tell you that what you see next is one of the best ways you will ever spend three dollars and seventy-nine cents and is an essential item for your home.

And no, it didn't take care of abbie. I'm still working on that.

Here we have another handy tool to use if you haven't cleaned your house in a while and can't take the smell.

Actually, I'm working in the attic and the dust and insulation gets stirred up quite a bit.

It can be a good deterrent from eating too many of mom's cookies but no guaranties because it didn't really work like i thought it would. Mostly it just looks important.

   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               the process of covering up the insulation in the eaves

                

 And then these people stopped over, bearing gifts in pajamas!
 

That's my Saturday!
Miss those of you that a statement like that would apply to,
 and can not wait to see you all in three weeks!

P.S. less than a week till Branson, can't wait! 

      Here are some beastly pictures from the 5k. 

       They didn't get any of Edith because she is too fast. ;)

"you can do it, sir"

I almost cropped myself out of this picture--not sure why I'm grinning like a fool. I know it wasn't runner's high. 

rainy/snowy day--calls for hot coffee and milano mint chocolate cookies. missing you all today...but especially mom. love how she makes the normal everyday things special. what are you all up to?

6th annual camping trip -- guest post by Tim

Weikert Family Camping Trip

ReLoaded

When: Friday-Monday, September 20^th – 23^rd, 2013

Where: Two Rivers State Park, Nebraska

Who: Weikerts, in-laws, outlaws, and bandits everywhere

Hey Everybody! Pack your bags and head west! (or mostly west, and a little south, and north if you're from Wildcat land, and east if you're from Husker country, or just listen to your GPS. But careful, it might take you to Bluffton). Meet up with Weikerts, Helmkes, Novaks, and Weddles for a weekend of absolute awesomeness!

Friday afternoon/evening

Get here! Arrive and set up camp. Prizes go to the first and last campers to arrive (must be present to win, not available in all states. Some prizes have been known to the state of California to cause discontentment or dashed hopes, as effort outweighs reward in some cases.)

Eat supper, relax around the campfire and discuss/argue/debate/cast lots over plans for Saturday. Then pull out your flashlights for flashlight tag.

Saturday

Family race at the crack of dawn – Edith and Abbie, race coordinators

Those over 50 and under 15 or those expecting can ride their bikes. Or those with walking casts.

Breakfast (for those who can stomach breakfast after running a race)

Later on, enjoy wading/tubing/canoeing/throwing fellow campers or other strangers into the river. And really whatever crazy fun things we can think up to do on a free Saturday.

After supper, enjoy and participate in a talent show, brought to you by the best and brightest of the Weikert family plus. If you're short on ideas for what to bring to the show, consider the following:

• Brush up on your yodeling skills
• Rub your head and pat your belly, or however that goes
• Teach Hayley how to whistle
• Type the chinese alphabet on a typewriter

...And seriously, you must enjoy and you must participate. Thou shalt have fun and thou shalt be fun.

Saturday will wrap up with...well, when Saturday's good and ready to wrap up. And not a stitch sooner!

Sunday's a comin'!

Roll out of bed and get in your Sunday best. Our in-family Church Researcher, Mr. Daniel Novak, will research and locate a great community of believers with whom we will join to worship Jesus.

Before lunch, everyone assemble at the campsite for a family picture. Get your marching orders from Caleb and Marlys, who are crowd control and photographer, respectively.

After lunch, you have the opportunity to make World History in Minute to Win it! Whether it's beating the 75 summer salts completed or the 54 grapes consumed, you could set a world record in this legendary event. Directed by Marlys, Hayley, Elizabeth and Jacob, contestants will attempt to do the impossible...or the improbable, or just the downright ridiculous.

Grandpa Dean and Grandma Linda are on for supper on Sunday night, and if there's any room, we'll try to fit in some dessert. Then we'll gather around the campfire for some singing, Bible study and a panel discussion with the littles.

We'll also have some time of group prayer, thanking God for the wonderful gift of family, even if we're sick of each other by this time. Because rain or shine, some of the best gifts He could have ever given us, He's already given us in each other.

Monday

Wake up to the amazing sounds and smells of nature: birds singing, trees swaying and...wait for it...bacon! Breakfast is served!

Calling all party animals! Break camp and head to Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha to visit little critters from all over the world. We'll make a lunch plan before we leave. If you have to split and head home, we'll sing Happy Trails. Probably in the Rain Forest. The acoustics are amazing.

Camp Assignments:

Devotions – The Guys

Firewood – Ezra and Kain

Race coordinators – Edith and Abbie

Music – Caleb and Tim

Church Search - Daniel

Amazing Derves – Cambria and Tim

Camp Medic – Daniel; Camp health and safety patrol – Ty and Matthias

Minute to Win it – Marlys, Hayley, Jacob and Elizabeth

Family Picture – Marlys and Caleb

Paper plates, forks, cups, etc – Dean and Linda

Talent show MC – Bronz and Caleb

Talent show actors, musicians, freak show artists, etc. - all

Caffeine – Lydia; Friendship Tea – Linda

Panel discussion guests: Jacob, Cambria, Ty, Kara, Kamie, Matthias, Brock, Eli, Marcus, Blake; Panel Moderator: Grandpa Dean

Canoes – Dean and Linda (and anyone else that has one)

*We could certainly be overlooking some things, so if you notice an oversight, please let us know, or commandeer responsibility of the area we missed! Your choice - thanks!

the gang

Addictive Peanut Butter Granola

Addictive Peanut Butter Granola

2 1/4 c. Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/6-1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/3 c. peanut butter, chunky or smooth

1/4 c. brown sugar

Extras:

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

1 c. mixed peanut butter and chocolate chips

1 c. chocolate chips

     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together the oats, flour and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.  Stir in the vanilla.

     Add the vegetable oil and peanut butter and mix.  The mixture will be a bit chunky.

Stir in the brown sugar.

     Spread onto a cookie sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool and then add the extras.  Enjoy!  

     Serves: 4-6

P.S. I usually double the recipe.  Also, the recipe says that it will last a week but we're lucky to make it past two days!  We all love it!

hey all! 

  

  I am so looking forward to seeing you all in a couple weeks. These pictures will just help me wait. :)

Great idea, Hayley! I can do pictures! Here's a few from the wedding last weekend.

black and white --hides a multitude of flaws , right?

    

Tim and Addie Mae dancing the night away  ;)

Marcus enjoying the wedding favors





And here's some more just of marcus :) Not brave enough to post pictures of me still in pjs. Maybe that should be next weeks challenge, Elizabeth!

helping pack ;)

and somehow he figured out how to climb up on his chair -- I see some bumps in his future!