Days With the Duerksens

Lying under the Christmas tree makes me . . . HAPPY!

We call this multi-tasking!

Somehow, Thanksgiving came and went without me taking many pictures. However, I did get this one of a silly pilgrim girl. The pre-schoolers made these hats last week. Cambry had fun wearing it -- at least for a little while!

Today I had the urge to bake bread. I hadn't done that in a while, so when I found my Grandma Betty's recipe for French Bread, I got started. Turns out, it was almost easier than baking a regular loaf of bread -- it didn't take as long. Anyway, when I'm using my Grandma's recipes, I feel like I'm making something really good. She was an amazing cook -- the kind that altered every recipe to her liking. It is almost impossible to copy any recipe from her books because even if we follow the recipe to the letter, it still doesn't taste quite like Grandma's! The bread was delicious -- Caiden had 3 slices at supper!

Cambry is forever singing! She can make anything into a song and Delaney seems to enjoy her performances. She belted out "Jesus Loves Me" for Delaney the other day. And yes, Cambry's hair really does look like this most of the time. :) Enjoy!

Already it's been 3 months! Delaney is starting to develop a little personality -- always ready with smiles, and her big blue eyes can tell quite a story! She likes to make gurgling and cooing noises, too - quite a treat when I'm changing her diaper. She's become a cat-napper some days and a lengthy napper on other days. In other words, no real schedule yet! She can usually make it until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning before she needs to eat -- a welcome change to her nights! We are enjoying her immensely and always look forward to what's coming next in her development!

I often get this face as Delaney wakes up from a nap!

As Cambry was getting ready for bed tonight, I had such a touching conversation with her -- I just had to share it! She got started talking about bows, somehow . . . Cambry: "Hey, there are bows in rainbows!" Me: "Yes, that's right,: Cambry: "I have set my bow in the clouds!" (remembering part of a memory verse from Sunday School) Me: "Yes -- do you remember who said those words?" Cambry: "My Sunday School teacher!" Me: "That's right, but do you know who said it in the Bible?" Cambry: "God did." Me: "Yes, a lot of things we read in the Bible are God or Jesus talking." Cambry: "And Grandma Betty, she's up there too!" I was so touched to hear her say this -- I don't know if she remembers Grandma Betty at all or if we just talk about her enough, but whatever it is, I'm happy to know that Cambry understands that Grandma Betty (my grandma) is in Heaven!

A couple of months ago, I nominated Goessel Elem. to receive a $500 check from EMC Insurance and KAKE TV. Much to my delight, they picked our school, and yesterday, Mr. Pauls (our librarian) received the check. The fun thing about this award is that Susan Peters, one of the KAKE news anchors, comes and reads a book to the whole school. I was able to go and watch the presentation -- it was so much fun! She read a pirate book that Mr. Pauls had picked out and he even made her put a pirate hat on with some "gold" and "pearls." She had fun with it, and the kids had a great time! There was a short 30 sec. spot on the news yesterday. On Saturday (the 6th) there will be a 1:30 spot on the 6:00 news (channel 10). What fun! And what a great way for our school to get some extra funds!