Getting Warm by the Fire

I love to cook and bake. I'm always making something and do my best to make it from scratch. Greyson has enjoyed helping me this year and especially loves when I'm done because that means batter. He likes to stand on a chair doing dishes (really just making a big wet mess) and trying everything that I'm making. During Christmas he got particularly wet and dirty. So I stripped him down and he decided to warm up in his long johns with his xtra tuff boots next to the fire. It reminded me so much of Stephen I had to take a picture.

Christmas Program

Well being so far away from all the kiddos greyson and I normally get to see and work with each day we started doing AWANA this fall at Gibbon Baptist. It has been great to be around Kindergarten through 6th graders even if it is only once a week. Greyson has a great time playing with the kids, singing along and of course running free around the church. WELL I thought it would be a lot of fun to put on a Christmas program with all the kids. So with the help of the church and Christian Ed we provided a meal for the kids and had practice in November and December before AWANA. It was a lot of work, but so fun to watch all the kids perform. I was so thankful for Nancy Widdowson and many others who helped costume all the kids. Many of these people were the ones that put on Christmas programs when I was a kid and it was fun to work with them. Anyway, we had over 70 kids and of course it was a lot of fun.
I am very thankful for a husband willing to take on these crazy activities and a son that thinks singing and dancing is fun too. It was a great family activity. Stephen and I may be lacking in a lot of areas, but the Lord has blessed us with the ability and desire to work with children and while at times it can be overwhelming and crazy it's a great gift the Lord has given us.

Fun with Greyson

Greyson is a great little helper. Throughout all of our end of the year cleaning and work he was right along side us through it all. When Stephen had late nights of video editing Greyson was right there to "help" if nothing else it was a great distraction after a long day and night of work. He learned how to mob and is really pretty helpful. He loves to put stickers on paper and playing with play dough is a favorite activity.
We're very thankful for such an incredible little boy who keeps us guessing, growing in patience, and almost always smiling.

Greyson the Helper

Our son keeps a very close eye on everything Stephen and I do and he has become a big helper. One of his favorite things is doing dishes with my while I cook in the kitchen. This always ends with Greyson dumping a cup of water over his head or taking a very wet wash clothe and cleaning his face. He also helps Stephen make a fire and loves to blow through the glass or hand Stephen small sticks to put in. The other night we were going to paint our wall and set out all the equipment before putting Greyson to bed. He knew exactly what to do and set to work at it.
Then just this weekend I set up the nativity that I grew up playing with. I didn't model this behavior, he just set to work moving the shepherds, wisemen camels and sheep all around. It was so fun to watch him do something I had spent so many years doing too.
Our little boy is growing into quite the helper.

Gus and Greyson

Greyson and Gus have always been quite the pair. Greyson can do just about anything to Gus and he just roles with the punches (sometimes literally). Anyway, here are a few pictures from greyson and gus being so cute!

Christmas Tree Shopping

Every year that we have come down for Christmas and every year growing up we always headed out to our pasture to select the perfect Christmas tree. This year we had plenty to choose from and I think it was the fastest we ever picked out trees as well. Greyson had more fun this year being able to walk around in the snow (or waddle, with all the layers of clothes). Anyway, we got a great tree and it only leans a little bit in the stand and it was free and we don't have to store it:)

Happy Birthday Stephen

Well there is a new addition to the Wellensiek family, Doc. He is a very cute and smart little yellow lab. He and Greyson have a lot of fun playing, well really Doc just tackles Greyson, but no complaining from the little guy. There have also been a lot of cranes out our back door and around in the fields nearby our house.
Stephen celebrated his 29th birthday and we of course celebrated with the traditional, all homemade german chocolate cake. Greyson could hardly wait for Stephen to get home that night!