The Howerter Family Homepage

Ryan, Elijah, Josiah, Lily, Grandma Nell and I went to the City Museum in St. Louis.  It is a pretty awesome place, but it was very stressful.  I don’t really think it is a place for young kids.  There are lots of slides and paths to explore, but they don’t always end up near where they started.  The kids go through tunnels, down in holes, and you are just left hoping they come back.  I tried to go on 2 things with Lily, but these paths immediately became dark and very skinny.  I turned back because I am quite claustrophobic.  Ryan then took Lily back to one of them, and they went on through.  He said it wound up in these wire tunnels which got quite narrow.  He said at one point he did not know if he would be able to squeeze through.  Lily had also gotten scared and was crying.  When they came back to us, they both looked pretty upset.  I am so glad that I did not go on it!

I don’t want to make people stay away from the City Museum, but it is for kids old enough to go on their own and check back in with their parents.  We did not lose any of the three kids, but Grandma Nell and I were worn out from the experience! 

The kids had a great time though, oblivious of the emotional scars left on Grandma Tracy   It was great having Ryan with us too!

Well, it seems that spring is actually on its way.  I have seen buds on the trees and bushes and some spring flowers pushing through the ground.  The sunshine was a pleasant surprise yesterday too.  Hopefully, we will have some nice, sunny days ahead.

Like everyone else, I am ready for the cold, cloudy days of winter to be gone.  We had that touch of sunshine and warmer weather a few weeks ago, and now I am tired of winter.  I even prayed for no snow this past week, and, if you know me, that is very unusual!  I know it is still February and winter is still here, but could we please just have a few days of sun and warmer temps?

I know it is a little late, but I wanted to say Happy New Year!  I hope that your 2011 is going along fine so far. 

Our Christmas was wonderful. It snowed on Christmas Eve day, so we had a white Christmas.  Ryan, Sara and the kids came over to the park near our house to sled, so I met them there.  It was so much fun watching them go down the hill.  Lily asked me to go with her, so I went down with her and then later again with Josiah.  It was a fast ride, and I loved it.  Later that eveing, Jay and Katherine came over for the evening.  We had dinner and then watched White Christmas on our big screen.  That was pretty cool.  Then, on Christmas morning, we were lucky enought to have Jay and Katherine and Ryan and Sara and the kids here all at one time to open presents.  It was a little wild with the boys opening all their presents at once, but then Lily opened hers one at a time.  We watched as she opened each one and said how much she “doved” it (loved it).  She is lots of fun to watch because she enjoys each one.  After the kids were finished and playing with thei stuff, we opened ours.  It was much calmer, and we all got what we wanted:-)  We then had a relaxing day.  It was great.

Now we are 9 days into 2011, a decade after Y2K.  Only God knows what this year holds for us, but I think it is going to be full of surprises.

Truly this was the first “blast” of winter.  It rained all day on Saturday, turning to sleet and snow late in the evening.  The wind picked up late in the day, and that is what caused the problems.  Sunday morning we woke up to winds gusting 30 – 40 mph with blowing snow.  As we drove to church, there were times when we could not see anything in front of us due to the blowing snow.  The wind just cut right through you regardless of how many layers you had on.  Interstae 55 waas closed in the afternoon, but I don’t know for how long.  John and I took advantage of the bad weather and went to the Cracker Barrel after church.  We got seated immediately, and this never happens on a Sunday.  Isn’t it amazing how John and I always seem to get food into any situation?   I hope all of you were able to stay warm and safe yesterday.  It looks like the frigid weather is here for a while, but at least that wind has died down.

First deer season has come and gone, and the boys did all right.  John, Jay and Mark each got one.  Ryan and Zeke saw some, but did not get one yet.  We had a houseful with Zeke and Carol and Mark, and we had a good time visiting.  The boys did not stay up too late though:-)  I thought that John would really miss the old house during deer season because of the barn and such, but he said it was nice being closer to the farm here.  Now the boys are waiting for second season.

I just realized that I did not post anything during the month of October.  Wow.  All is going well with our family, but I guess we have been busy.

Ryan and Sara have moved to a new house just down the road from their old one.  It is in the Chatham school district, so the kids started there this year.  Elijah is in the second grade, and Josiah started Kindergarten this year.  They both seem to love it there.  Lily is in preschool this year at Washington Park, and she really likes it too.  It is hard to believe that all three are now in school.  (Lily only goes 2 days a week in the morning.) They all love their new house too.  The house is a little bigger than the last one, and the yard is much bigger and completely fenced in with an 8-foot privacy fence.  It is fantastic.  They have trees to climb and lots of room to run. 

John and I are settled in our new house, and we love it.  It is so fantastic to be so close to everything.  We have all the furniture that we have ordered, but we are still looking for a desk for me.  Right now, my laptop is on the kitchen table.  I will be glad to have a place of my own to put my stuff.

Jay and Kat are doing great too.  They are building a garage in their back yard, so things are a little crazy for them too.  I am sure we will have a group work day soon, and those are always lots of fun.  I really enjoy when we all get together and help out.

The weather is getting cooler, and the leaves are turning, showing me that winter is on the way.  Before we know it, Christmas will be here, and that is my favorite time of year.  Let me be the first to tell you Merry Christmas!

Well, the end of summer is nearing.  School starts for my grandkids tomorrow.  Elijah will be in second grade ,and Josiah will start Kindergarten!  I cannot believe that Josiah is starting school.  Lily will also be going to preschool in September.  They are growing up way too fast!  They will be going to school in Chatham because Ryan and Sara are buying a different house.  It is only about a block south of their current house, but it is in the Chathm school district.  It is a great house with a huge fenced in back yard.  It has 4 bedrooms, so each of the kids will get their own bedroom.  It will be nice for them to each have their own space. 

John and I are loving our new house.  We are still awaiting our family room furniture, his desk, my desk and our kitchen table, but we have pictures hung which helps make it feel like home.  I am hoping that by my birthday, we will have it all together!

Brandt was matched yesterday to University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, Kansas, for his residency in General Surgery.  I think they will be moving sometime in May.  Congratulations and good luck Brandt, Angel, Oliver and Weston.

Brandt and Angel’s baby boys, Oliver Elijah and Weston Nathaniel, were born last night, and Mom and boys are doing  fine.  I went to visit them this afternoon, and Angel looks great.  (You do too Brandt.)  I got to hold Wes, and he slept the entire time.  Congratulations Brandt and Angel!