Bubbles Anyone?

Boating..........

God Bless America

Somerset Tournament

We headed off recently to the town of Somerset for our first Hockey competition where Chuck decided that he was going to play GOALIE!!!!! Now he must have been okay with this, but his mother just about had a nervous BREAKDOWN in the championship game. We were playing for 1st or 2nd and the opposing team was making a lot of shots on goal, each time my heart just about jumping out of my throat. Chuck's nerves are much better than his mothers because he made outstanding saves and because of him they won the championship!! Literally post game, my hands were just shaking, as a mom you just want your children to do the very best they can and hope that is enough to help their teammates. Chuck is like me VERY hard on himself so I was happy for him and his success- he was beaming from ear to ear post game!!! Now the coaches want to work with him for full time goalie, I just said "Let's give all the kids a chance and come back to Chuck"... they all just laughed at me. Anyway here are MANY pictures of the game....enjoy!!!
Warming up..

Game Time


oh, he did play one game as right wing too :)


You can't see it very well because of the plexy glass but that is Chuck with the trophy to the right, the coaches gave it to him and told him to skate around with the team as a VICTORY lap.. LOL funny!!!


And the Champions!!!!

Hockey Has Started........

Well the season got off to a slower start than normal this year due to some unforeseen association changes(organizer quit)so we are all thankful the Coaches stepped up in getting things rolling for the young kids. Once again for whatever reason I was nominated to be the Team Mom/Manager for Chucks team. Not a bad thing as it helps with the cost (and knowing what is going on) and it is all for the sake of the kids which is the reason we do all of it, right!!!

Below are some pictures of the Chuck man early season:

Blue Jean on Blue Jean New Years Eve!!!

This year we did something a little different and instead of renting the Limo for the night, we decided to stay in and play cards at a friends house. One of the Friends has this "thing" about people wearing blue jeans with denim or blue jean tops/ jackets etc. So this year, all of they guys showed up with that attire, while some of us had to really dig in the back of our downstairs closets for this, others it was more readily available. It took awhile for Jenny to catch on to what the heck was going on, and as you will see below once she did, all of the guys "mobbed" her with hugs in their wonderful attire. It was a a fun night for all!!



The hubbie and me......

Happy New Year!!!!!

I can't believe that we are in the 2009 year already- it seems that time just keeps flying by!!! I don't have any pictures ready to post yet for NYE however wanted to say- I hope this year brings you and your loved ones all of the blessing and joys of the new year.

Love
The Gardow Family!!!

The Gardow Grandchildren

One of the long standing jokes in the Gardow family, (one well established before Jon & my marriage), is that there is ALWAYS a child crying about having to take the traditional Christmas picture. Some how year after year there is always ONE child that just "Doesn't want to do it!!". Happily this year after many years, we were able to break the standing joke with pictures at Grandma Gardow's house! We were able to get all kids together and no one got upset!!! Can't say they are paying attention but it is better than the alternative.

Here is a picture of the Beautiful kids........

The Stockings were Hung with Care.........

The stockings where hung with care, the cookies were out for Santa, & carrots for the reindeer - all in anticipation of Santa's visit to our house. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the anticipation of the kids reaction to the presents under the tree. Not because of the giving of the gifts, it is the excitement on their faces that makes all the hustle and bustle well worth it.

This year Madie really made Jon & I laugh, she had taken the time to put cookies & carrots out for Santa & the Reindeer. She fell asleep on the couch though before everyone left, and half asleep she raised her head just to say "Don't let Papa eat Santa's treats Dad!" and was fast alseep again in a flash! Jon tried talking to her, but she was fast alseep. If any of you know Jon's Dad, you know how funny this is with his sweet tooth. Moments like these are treasured times to remember.

Christmas Eve Celebrations

Holidays are a time for sharing and spending time with family and loved ones. For sometime now Jon & I have hosted Christmas Eve at our house after Christmas Eve Mass with Jon's parents, siblings, & their families. It is a nice way for the family to get together and relax a little before bedtime and the Santa events.

Below is a picture of our family after Church:


Below are pictures of the kids having fun playing games, dancing, and the adults playing cards. It was a fun and relaxing time that makes the holiday worth while. {Although you can tell Ms Ari does not enjoy Aunt Shell's picture taking :) }

Decorating the Tree

Excitement always surrounds the X-mas tree decorating. Below are some cute pictures of the tree and the kids after the job was completed.

The Tree.....


The Kids.....

Baby it is COLD outside!!!

Each year at work we trying to find activities that can accommodate both the staff and their families to share the holiday season with. This year I planned a sleigh ride (with Clydesdale's & bells) through the local park that puts on a SPECTACULAR light show. While they begin putting up lights in September, it is all worth is as you see the wonder and enjoyment on the kids faces as you go through the park. It was really cold this night (I think only 5 degrees with the wind) which lead to a lot of "snuggling" on the ride. No one complained though and it was suggested we do this activity again for next year. I will post the picture of the lights after I adjust them (lighting) but here is the wagon full (at least that could make it).

Let it Snow!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've have places to go
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It is an anual tradition now that the Extended Gardow Family (Jon & his siblings and their immediate families) venture out to find our prized Christmas Trees each year. It is filled with a wagon ride there, searching for the perfect tree, teaching the younger generation how to cut down trees, and a ride back to warm up with Apple Cider/ Hot chocolate followed with the ride home to have warm soup and good family converstations. This is one tradition that I really do hope stayes with our children and something that our current family keeps up. While it may seem to be a hassel to have a real tree now days, I personally love the smell and the experience that goes along with the real tree. Enjoy the pictures!!







MERRY Christmas!!!

How to Make a Gingerbread House- simple recipe

4 Kids (Grandkids/ Nieces/ Kids)
1 Grandma
1 Mom/Aunt
1 Grandmas House on a COLD Sat day!!
10 bags of Candy (or more I quit counting)
6 batches of frosting
2 parts each of Gingerbread Housing (to make 2 houses)
Lots of Laughter
Lots of Creative Thinking
Lots of Fun
Lots of Snacking
Lots of Memories

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Madie and Katarina


Sam & Charlie

Giving Thanks

As always we head off to my hometown for Thanksgiving with my family. We went up the night before to enjoy the swim park with my cousin's boys, Henry & Max where the kids all had a blast playing in the water. The next morning we woke up to the following beautiful view on Thanksgiving day:


The day was complete with a great Thanksgiving meal and wonderful time spent with family. It was funny to see the younger ones wrestle one moment and then play just fine the next:


The day was complete as Aunt Pat, Kirsten, Dale, Jon, & I all played pool and reminisced with the old Juke box that Grandpa has. It was interesting to see the same running routes and poles were used for dancing as we did 25-30 years ago. I guess some things just never change over the years.
It was also nice to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa as they are now 95 and 96 years respectively and still living at home. They don't miss a beat and are still very much aware of each other's habit's in life- they have been married for over 70 years!!!! Hopefully there will be more memories of years past next year to share!!!