Happy Holidays from the Leuwerke's!

Make your own scrapbook design

Leuwerke Holiday Slideshow 2010

Slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Leuwerke Christmas Letter 2010

December 24, 2010

It’s Christmas Eve, which means I have 24 hours until this becomes a New Year’s card.  Time keeps flying by around the Leuwerke household.  Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Laurel, 7 years old, is a first grader and loving every minute of school.  Playing tag at recess is the highlight of her day.  She has become an excellent reader and likes to journal in her diary at night.  She took Tae Kwon Do this year and advanced from white belt to yellow belt to orange belt.  She can even kick and break boards (don’t tell the boys that chase her at recess).  Laurel had a great time playing soccer this fall, and she elatedly scored two goals in the last game of the season.  She is now taking dance and enjoyed performing at a Simpson College basketball game this month.

Norah, turning 5 years old next week, is in the Pre-Kindergarten class at Victory Christian Academy.  She adores Mrs. Maxwell and has made some great friends this year.  She is our “fancy” girl.  Wearing a skirt or dress is her request most days (even if I make her wear pants too in the winter), brushing her hair in the mirror for hours, and singing or dancing around the house.  If you can’t find Norah, she is most likely in her room reading.  She has nearly caught up to the second grade reading of Laurel’s homework.  Norah enjoys tap and ballet class and was pleasantly surprised when Laurel decided to follow in her footsteps and join her class.  She is blossoming into a happy, beautiful, young girl.

Carter is definitely a 2 year old, even though he will always say he is 3 when asked that question.  He is the talker of our family and has two modes, full speed ahead and sleeping.  He keeps us entertained with his predictable conversations, “Guess what?  See Russell…Russell get me!”  Russell is the cat who lives at Grandpa Doug’s shop.  Carter loves to talk about him and visit him until he gets within 2 feet, then he is not so brave.  The other obsessions in his life are trucks and Grandpas, much to their delight! Carter and Lesley take a Kindermusik class weekly, that they both enjoy. 

Wade continues to teach in the Counseling program at Drake University and became the Chair of the Leadership, Counseling and Adult Development Department on a permanent basis this spring. His consulting work continues to grow and keeps him learning new skills and traveling to new places.  In addition to his travels for work, we have enjoyed trips to the Cayman Islands to celebrate the Saxer-Todd wedding, to Wisconsin for Uncle Larry & Barbara’s wedding and a family trip to the Dells, and a magical trip to Disneyworld with the kids.  

I started a new job in July with Mercy Home Infusion and Mercy Hospice.  It really is the perfect job, the clinical work is challenging, the hospice work is rewarding, and the part-time schedule makes our family life much less stressful.  I enjoy spending 2 ½ days during the week at home with the kids and no night or weekend pharmacy shifts.  I also volunteer in the church nursery and we both are First Grade Sunday school teachers.

We continue to be blessed to have amazing grandparents living so close.  We have enjoyed family gatherings at the gazebo, family trips to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida, and many days and nights of babysitting (only one trip to the ER) with grandpas and grandmas this year. :-)

Wishing you health and peace this holiday season and in the New Year!

Wade, Lesley, Laurel, Norah, & Carter

Let the holidays begin!

We have had an action packed week.  Tonight we saw Santa at the Holiday Extravaganza on the Square.  The kids all liked Santa this year, Carter even gave Santa a high five.  They were all ready with their well thought out lists.  

 The girls' dance team performed in the window of a furniture store up town.  It was fun to see them enjoying themselves.  Their ballet routine was to Santa Claus is Coming to Town and tap was Girls Just Want to Have Fun.  They were amazed that I knew that song. :)

 Grandma & Grandpa Mahr stuck it out to the bitter cold end by going on a horse drawn wagon ride (after 1/2 hour in line).  Then we got to see the lighted parade.  It was a fun night but very cold!

 Last night Laurel sang in her first musical: A Bear-y Merry Holiday.  She adores her music teacher Mrs. Johnson (below).  She even had a speaking part which she did with great expression.

 Laurel was a dancing bear & her friend Olivia was a panda bear.

The bear nose rubbed off on Grandpa Doug, but neither of them cared. :)

It was a great week, but we are really missing Wade who has been traveling for work since Tuesday.  I couldn't have made it through the week without some exceptional grandparents!!! We are so thankful to be close.

Beautiful Commute

My morning commute was great today!  The balloons were floating right over Highway 65/69 on my way to Des Moines.  Even though it looks like I was driving 65mph, I can't quite recall, but I think I must have been stopped at a stoplight or safely pulled over on the side of the road. ;)

Saying Goodbye to Medicap LTC

Tuesday was quite an emotional day.  It was my last day at Medicap LTC.  I was lucky to have a great bunch of coworkers, which made my decision to leave very hard.  We worked hard and had a lot of fun over the years.  The staff bought pizza and gave me a really nice card.  We had one last staff meeting where we teared up, then went on with our busy day.  When we got to the end of the day it was just Austin & I, so I gave him my key and we both started bawling.  I had the kids with me, so it was hard to explain to them, but Laurel said "Mom it's ok to be sad, I'm sad too" & gave me a much needed hug.  A half hour later we ended up having dinner & drinks with Austin & Emily.  So, hopefully I am just saying goodbye to work and not to my great group of friends.

The Medicap Crew (minus a few people who insisted on being on vacation on my last day)

The silly Medicap Crew that I know and LOVE!

Balloons 2010

We had a beautiful show of balloons at our house last night.  The kids had fun watching and "chasing" the balloons.  Nearly every year we have a balloon that lands in the field behind our house.  Carter was very excited about the balloons and wanted to catch them.