The Grahn Christmas Newsletter part 3 of 4

   That brings us to the littlest of the kids...or as the others call them, "the gross little brothers and cute little sisters".  

     Ethan will be 9 in March and still has a very deep interest in music and science.  He is in his 4th year of piano lessons and it comes very easy to him.  There is no interest in outside to this little boy, his enjoyment comes from drawing, reading and playing the piano.  He knows just how to push Angie and Emily's buttons to either gross them out or just plain annoy them.  With Hannah gone to college, Ethan's had to learn how to do chores outside which he doesn't like much and finds ways out of them.  This past spring he celebrated his first communion in church.  He was very excited about it and enjoyed a small party out here on the farm. Ethan is doing 3/4th grade work and loves science.  He is always trying to "discover" something new.  His plans of being a meteorologist are still talked about and he comments that if that doesn't work out then a paleontologist. 

Karlie is a very mature 6 year old but is easily crushed when Heather and Hannah have to leave for college.  She is the "mother hen" of these younger ones and keeps them all in line.  Being the only left handed child has lead to some interesting things when it comes to school work.  It freaks the other kids out to see how she writes and to see her using the "other" hand.  She was the first one we needed to find pencil grips for to teach her the proper handling of a pencil.  With her using the "other" hand none of use could grasp just how to show her.  :)  She loves being outside and helps eagerly with chores and found the garden this past summer fascinating.  Karlie's highlights this year were being the flower girl for Jason and Katie.  She got her hair done with my Aunt Marlene at a really salon and treated like a princess.  Karlie wants to be a farmer, a veterinarian and the president of the United States.  When she becomes president she says the first law she'd make is everyone that has kids will have to own a plucky pony...see if you know which book she got that from.

  It was a great thrill to these younger ones grow pop corn.  They take great pride in shucking, popping and eating it!  We also grew indian corn to grind and make corn bread...Karlie was impressed that we grew the ingredients. 
Behind Karlie is our energetic blond bomb shell Livi who's hair has it's on personality.  If she isn't behind her she's running circles around her.  Livi has an energy that Mark and I wish we could bottle and sell.  Her hair is another whole issue...this poor little 4 year old girl just can't grow hair or keep it tamed.  She claims her bed does her hair.  How funny is that?  I bought Livi and Karlie this past summer at the farmers market each a bunny,  Snowflake and Cotton.  After a couple of months Livi's bunny died and I bought her a new Snowflake.  Those 2 little girls talk about how they have to "pitch" their pens...sometimes they get a whole ice cream pail full!

Livi's dreams are to become a Tylor Swift...she's definitely getting the height. Now, if we can just tame that
hair...LOL   She is also the reason for the first trip to the ER this past year.  She dislocated her elbow...we thought she broke her arm.  We put her arm in a sling and Mark and Emily took her in.  Sometime during that trip her elbow snapped back in.  Found out later that this is common in young girls.  It just took us 8 girls to experience it.  That brings us to the second trip to the ER for this family this year...Preston.  Who had a febrile seizure the day after the wedding during the gift opening out on the farm.  Found out that this is also more common in young kids too...just took us 11 kids to experience this one. He should outgrow it in a few years.

 

This little boy is in love with the farm, tractors, combines and toys.  Also...LOVES having his picture taken.  Many of these pictures were taken by Angela and Emily.  His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds.  Recently he's started talking on the phone. Grandma, Jacque and Aimee have all heard about "stuck bombines"according to Preston.  That phrase came from Mark and Preston youtubing after chores. This is his favorite video.   Now just imagine Mark and Preston Oooing and ahhhhing over the stuck tractors. 
    Well, this concludes the writing about the kids...part 4 is Mark and I and other random thoughts.

The Grahn Christmas Newsletter part 2 of 4 - "The Forgotten Four"

     These four girls seem to think that no one knows them or remembers them.  Sandwiched between the older 3 and younger 4 is our "Forgotten Four".  Even though they wear the same size clothes, almost the same size shoe...they are 5 years 5 months between them.  Let me help you get to know these 4 girls a little more.  Yes, they even have lyrics to a song about the "Forgotten Four"...ask them sometimes, if you remember. In the picture Heather, Hannah, Emily and Angie (left to right)
     Heather (middle of picture to the left) is in her 3rd year at St. Norberts in DePere, WI still majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and looking into Veterinarian Schools to follow graduation spring of 2012.    She stills plays piano at the Presbyterian Church in Fox Lake...just celebrated her 5th anniversary.  This past spring she traveled to Mississippi for mission work, picture to the left.
      Heather is our pie making expert of the family.  When we need pies baked it is Heather who usually does them.  Jason has already asked her to teach Katie.

Starting this past fall she doesn't need to travel back and forth to school alone, Hannah has joined her.  

   Speaking of Hannah, she graduated high school this past spring and started her college adventures majoring in biology.  We held a party for her here on the farm the end of May.  She seems to be really enjoying college life and has adjusted well.  It helps that her and Heather come home every other weekend...to do laundry.  While I'm typing this they will be gone the first 3 week stretch, Hannah's not sure if she'll be able to do it.  I didn't realize it until this past summer but this is the first time she's been away from home.  She is also part of the MC3 program that Heather was involved in.  Basically she helps tutor elementary school kids after school.  Plus they are involved in other community projects.
   Hannah and Emily had a major mile stone this past summer...they BOTH got their braces removed!!! They had theirs on less than 2 years.  These girls are very proud of their smiles and not afraid to share them.

   That takes us to Emily...before Angie, a first in her life being 14 minutes apart.  Emily is our "cop wanna-be" of the family.  She is so into cop shows, investigating, evidence...you name it, Emily is there.  She was so excited when Mark got pulled over after church one Sunday by "hot cop"...she came home looked him up on the internet.  If you ever need info about someone, ask Emily.  She knows the web sites to go to and find the information you need.  Yes, she is seriously thinking law enforcement after school. 
    Heather has had Emily play piano in church with her and they want to work her into the schedule.  When they play together it's usually duets.
   Emily and Angie still feed calves around the corner for Kevin Schultz.  Over the summer they bike back and forth their 2.14 miles.  Both girls are excited to get their license so we don't have to drive them. They also still help the neighbor down the road clean house.  They take turns every Thursday afternoon.

    Angie, as I call her...Narg as everyone else calls her.  Poor girl will have that nickname a long time.  Grahn backwards for those of you trying to see how this fits in.  Angie is a shop-a-holic...LOVES black friday shopping with me.  Stalks the store ads and up at 4 ready to go!!!  Do you remember seeing the Target Black Friday ads?  That is Angie!!!  Check these out and you'll see what I'm talking about target1 target2 target3  That is so Angie.  If I ever need someone to go shopping with me, I ask her...it gets it out of her system. 
     Angie isn't sure about what to do just yet after school and is keeping her options open.  She has considered photography/art or even small animal vet.
   Ok, now you know these girls a little bit more as individuals. But many see them together...are you able to tell them apart?   Answers are upside down under each picture...

 

ɹǝɥʇɐǝɥ 'ʎןıɯǝ 'ǝıbuɐ 'ɥɐuuɐɥ

ʎןıɯǝ 'ɥɐuuɐɥ 'ǝıbuɐ 'ɹǝɥʇɐǝɥ

Hannah, Angie and Emily participated in Solo & Ensemble this past spring.  All 3 did solos on the piano and Hannah and Angie did a piano duet.  

The Grahn Christmas Newsletter part 1 of 4

     This year the Grahn Christmas newsletter is going green.  It will save over 200 pieces of paper and $100 in ink.  The kids had brought up about selling subscriptions but I didn't think that would go over well.  This way I'll be able to share more pictures and go more in depth without worrying about how much this will cost.  So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy part 1...
     We'll start at the beginning with Jason, who had probably the most amazing year.  We left off last year with his engagement announcement to Katie Buwalda.  This was a first for this family.  Jason and Katie made sure everyone in the family had a "job"...that alone was a major accomplishment.  The wedding was beautiful with greens and pinks, the weather was perfect for their hay ride to the reception.  They were blessed with over 150 family and friends join them for their special day.

     The newlyweds have set up house in the house that Jason bought 4 years ago, in Cambria.  Jason still works on a dairy farm and hopes some day to buy cows.  Katie quit her job in Watertown at the photography studio.  Getting paid just over minimum and having to drive an hour one way to work wasn't balancing the budget.  It took her a few months to find another job but now she works in Beaver Dam at Recheck's Food Pride.  They are already talking advancement with her position.  She still does photography on the side and has started Grahn Photography...until that takes off the grocery store will have to pay the bills. 

     That brings us to Jacque...our award winning balcony vegetable gardener.  You read that right...she took first place in balcony greenery and was able to deduct $100 off her rent.  Her rain forest/eco-friendly habitat she created blessed her with fresh vegetables all season long.  She still works in Waukesha as a nurse and has been known to take in her bountiful harvest to share with co-workers.  I don't have a picture of the habitat she created at this time but just imagine tomato plants growing up into other residents balconies.  Along with very large bean plants, flowers, lettuce...she did attempt zucchini but moved the pot and the plant wasn't pleased.  The 20x6' balcony also was home to various flowers too.
     This past year she has also rescued 2 cats from the local shelter that reside with her. I'll need to get pictures of them too. :o
     A really big mile stone in Jacque's life happened when the braces came off her teeth!!!!  She was so proud that she made it through the over 2 year ordeal!!!
     Every other week Jacque still finds her way home.  She likes the visit along with taking veggies from home that she can't grow in town.

     Next is Aimee...Since last year she has moved into an apartment which I think she liked at first but is talking about a house.  After 5 1/2 years at Marian she will graduate!!!  Look for updates on this event to still happen in December.  She's hoping to get yet more schooling and work as a pharmacy technician.  She still is a manager at the Culver's on the East end of Johnson Street in Fond du Lac.
     Having a new doctor working with her seizures has helped tremendously.  What a difference a different med can do.  With the seizures she has had, Aimee started noticing back troubles.  Recently she started visiting a chiropractor in Waupun.  A little hesitant at first but now is starting to see some relief. 
     Aimee is now the proud owner of her car...she sent in the final payment in October!!!  This is the first time for her NOT to have a car payment!!!  She hasn't had the best of luck in the vehicle department.
     In October Aimee came along with us to Devil's Lake to hike the bluffs with us.  It's not easy for the older kids to come along anymore so this was a treat. 

Randolph's Craft Show

This past Saturday I set up show for the 4th year in Randolph at the High School.   This is my best show of the year.  They know how to bring in the people and repeat customers can't be beat.  One of the people going through was our postmaster.  She thanked me for all the business I move through and I was able to show her what she's shipping in those boxes.  Another person that caught my attention was an owner of a bed and breakfast in Randolph.  She's looking for little soaps and lotions for her business.  That got me excited!  Below you'll see pictures of my set up.  I've been in the same class room all 4 years. 

 There are only 3 of us vendors in this room...we've been together all 4 years and have gotten to know each other well.  We all set up anyway we want and I like to set up in a straight line.  It really helps with the flow of the customers. 

Going Paperless

For the past, I don't know how many years, I've always sat down at this time of year to write "The Grahn Family Newsletter"...not this year.  Well, I kind of will be just not sending it.  Everyone will be getting a link to this blog.  This is where they will be able to read about us and see a whole lot more pictures.  Last year I kept track and the newsletter costs us right around $100 to print and send. 
Then comes the issue of which kind of format should I use...go month by month? or write about each person?  We've come to the conclusion that I will write about each one of us...that way I can write a small amount each day. 
So sit back and watch for the virtual unfolding of the 2010 Grahn Newsletter. 

A Cougar in our neighborhood?

     This past summer we've had our suspicions about a possible cougar living in our area.  A week ago Sunday it was confirmed by 2 of our daughters as they headed back to college.  They saw within 15' of their car a cougar walking down the road and cross in front of them. 
     I've been doing lots of reading about them since we live on a farm and have small children.  This is what I came up with from the state DNR site....

"Cougars (Puma concolor) also known as puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn (Ojibwa), once roamed throughout the state of Wisconsin. It was one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Currently bobcats are the only known breeding wild cat in the state, with a fall population of about 3000 in northern Wisconsin, and lower numbers in other portions of the state. Canada lynx do not appear to breed in Wisconsin, but rare visits are made to the state from this northern wildcat. Wild cougars probably disappeared from the state by about 1910, but reports again began to surface in the 1940s of possible cougars in the state. These were probably of escaped captive cougars or misidentifications. Since the 1940s various naturalists and wildlife biologists collected reports of cougar observations.
Since 1991, the Wisconsin DNR has conducted a standardized system of collecting reports of cougars and other rare mammals. On January 18, 2008 a cougar was sighted near Milton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. The sighting was verified as 'cougar' from the tracks and DNA from a small drop of blood from a cut on the foot. Tracks were also found near Elkhorn, about 23 miles southeast of the Milton sighting. In early 2009, a cougar was sighted in Burnett County. Then in late 2009, a cougar was confirmed via tracks and photos travelling from St. Croix into Dunn County. Tracks and other sightings have also been confirmed in northern Wisconsin in 2010. For more details or to report a cougar observation, visit the DNR's "Cougar Sighting"
page."

This is a picture of one I found on the DNR web site. 

I'm really excited that we are going to be able to set up a trail camera to see if we'll see anything like the above picture.   Please, if anyone sees one in the area please report it.