Amber gets her hot air balloon ride!!

Ever since I have known Amber, she has wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride.  Last summer I found a place in Mackinaw that give rides.  We signed up and got put on a wait list.  Last Tuesday afternoon, they called us and it was our time!  Wow what an experience.  My knuckles were white for the first 10 minutes, but once I got used to it, what a beautiful sight!  Being up in the air with absolutely no sound!  So peaceful and relaxing (as long as I didn't look 1000 ft straight down!).

The entire balloon kit fits on a small trailer.  Not much to it!

All paying passengers get to "help" set up and tear down.  Here we are holding the balloon opening while air is blown into it.

Getting harder and harder to hold it open.

Our guide, Jim House, making sure everything inside the balloon was ready.

 Amber snapped this photo of the balloon completely inflated.

Do you think she is having fun?

We drifted from Mackinaw, southeast toward Miner.  We were bummed we weren't able to go north east toward Goodfield, but this was still great!  Found out on this trip that there is absolutely no way to steer one of these things.  You drift right along with the wind!  The only way to regulate it is to increase or decrease your altitude to try to catch different breezes.  This night it was so calm we only went 2 miles in 1 hour.

The propane blowtorch sending hot air into the balloon.

After landing, all got to help deflate the balloon and put everything away.

This is a great video that shows how the balloon is inflated in preparation for takeoff.

Awesome views from 300 ft up in the air.  The landings are pretty hard.  From what I hear, similar to parachute landings.  You have to be ready!

All in all, it was a blast and I would recommend it to anyone.  An all around awesome experience! 

Monsters!

I hope the boys selection of face paint doesn't reflect on how they have been raised!!  Oh boy.....

Jayden and Mothers Day

This morning, while the kids and I were making Amber her mothers day breakfast, Jayden told me his 2nd gift to Amber was to work all day long and not complain. After Church he told Amb "mom, Buzz and I aren't giving you the rest of your present". When Amber asked what it was, he said "we were going to work for you all day, but now we don't feel like it".


Have to love kids and their "willing spirit"......

Jayden asks a very valid question

Recently, Jayden and I were driving alone somewhere.  He always likes to ask deep questions when him and I are alone.  He was quiet for a while, then asks "dad, if the Bible says 'thou shalt not kill', why are there wars and killing all the time?"

Good question Jayden.  Very good question indeed.

Buzz is Daniel Boone!

Recently, the kids have been learning about Daniel Boone and other historical characters in American History.  We have some old Daniel Boone dvd's that the kids love to watch.  We bought the boys coonskin caps, and they play with them all the time, dressing up and pretending they are fighting indians and bears.

This week, Andrew asked at supper "dad, when can we watch "ME"?  I couldn't figure out what he was talking about.  I asked "what do you mean, you want to watch me?".  Again, he said, "yeah, I want to watch me!"  As I was still confused, he pipes up "you know, I'm not BUZZ anymore, I'm DANIEL BOONE!!"

Macy & Mariah are 3!

Happy Birthday pancakes for breakfast!  (Do you like Mariah's bedhead?)

 The biggest excitement of their birthday was getting a PINK princess cake.  Here is my attempt at a princess cake.  It doesn't even come close to some I've seen, but it made my girls happy!

 Happy Birthday to my two princesses!  *excuse the blurriness of the iphone photo:(

I felt like this birthday was such a milestone!  We are having so much fun with our growing girls and I am feeling so blessed with 4 healthy children!  I pray (and you can too) for wisdom raising these blessings God has given me!

The Greatest Generation

Just finished talking with an longtime customer from Farmington IL. He was born in 1926, served his country in the Pacific theater during WWII, was faithfully married to his childhood sweetheart for 63 years, and has lived on the same farmstead since 1949. Wow, thank you to the "greatest generation" for what you did for our country, and for your example to us that come after. There is much we can learn as a nation from your lifestyle, work ethic, and attitude!

February 2012 Grimm family update

A quick photo update of our life the last few weeks.

Mariah with some "curling iron curls". I had so much fun doing this.

My 3 boys post haircuts.

We spent 3 days in northern Wisconsin with Mike's parents. Thanks to Joyce and Barry Kloter for taking such good care of the kids while we were gone! We spent 2 days snowmobiling and cross country skiing. 1/2 way through the cross country trails, there was a "rest stop" that had firewood, places to sit, etc. It was fun spending quality time with mom and dad Grimm in the peace and tranquility of the northwoods.

Mike being Mike!

Do you think the kids are ready for warm weather? A few days ago, they found the "swimming suit" drawer. How fun!

Mariah is a little like Buzz. She somehow finds ways to get herself in trouble without even trying. This video is classic!

Hope you all have a blessed March!

Goodbye to Grandpa Zimmerman

Amber's grandpa Zimmerman went to his reward last Friday at 92 years old. He served the Lord faithfully for over 70 years, and influenced many many people. He let his light shine to me in the short 8 years that I knew him. His Godly attitude and humble heart were on display daily.

He also showed me how a true Christian marriage should be. He and grandma would call each other "lover" even after 65 plus years of marriage. During the visitation, it warmed my heart to see grandma get up every few minutes, walk over to the casket, kiss grandpa, and whisper to him. What a testimony to all who witnessed it!

Talking to my brother in law Kevin Joos and I in 2005.

Holding Andrew in 2006.

Holding Macy in 2009

Visiting our new house last spring.

Holding Macy 1 month ago as his health was declining.

After the visitation, I brought the kids back to mom Adams' house (where he died). The boys were asking questions about grandpa's bed, machines, etc that were still in the living room. I explained to them that this is where grandpa died. Jayden (who recently learned how to read and is trying to sound out everything he can) looked up to the mantle and said "good thing it says "FAITH" up there!"

I had to think....that is exactly what grandpa would want us to remember. Faith in God above all else. Thanks grandpa for the heritage you left us! We will all miss you, but look forward to that great reunion someday in Heaven!

Pray for the Sauder family

Please pray for the Derek and Leann Sauder family from Tremont IL. They recieved very bad news today about Derek's cancer. You can follow their blog at http://lrsauder.blogspot.com/.

Jayden loses his first tooth!!

Experiencing all of your child's "firsts" in life is the best part of being a parent.

After going weeks with a tooth that is about to fall out, Jayden finally asked me last night to pull it for him. I did it once, it cracked loud, started bleeding, and Jayden started wailing in fear..... I went to get changed from my work clothes, thinking that he wont let me touch him for days, and here he comes, bound and determined to overcome his fear. Through his tears, he says "try again, dad". On the 3rd yank, out it came. He was so excited. He was even more excited this morning, when he woke up, and saw money under his pillow instead of a tooth.

The thought I had last night, was that today I pulled his first tooth, tomorrow I will be letting him drive a car for the first time, then watching him get married, etc etc..... Life goes so fast, enjoy each day that God give you!

Minnesota with the Joos family!

Last weekend we had a great 3 days with Amber sister, and her family. Contrary to popular opinion, Minnesota is hospitable in January (sometimes!).

On Saturday, Kevin and I took the 4 oldest kids to lake Minnewaska to ice fish. Kevin's brother Michael had a bunch of single guys there as well. 55 fish later, we went home..... Andrew and Jayden even got in on the action!

The best part of ice fishing for kids. Hot dogs, unlimited soda, and great times, with no moms around to stop the fun. Below is Kevin and I pulling the kids around their lake with the 4 wheeler.

Adyson, Macy, and Maria having the best of times.

This is a crew. Buzz, Mallory, Mariah, Macy, and Adyson having fun with costumes.

Never having enough

Macy this morning after breakfast, surrounded by more new toys than you can imagine: "mommy, when is it Christmas so we can open presents".....

oh boy, where did we fail...... LOL

Buzz teaches us about having a pure heart!

Andrew again showed us what the scripture says of "becoming like a little child" (innocence and purity of mind).

Last week, during the Christmas festivities, Amber was telling the kids about how many millions of kids in the world will be starving this Christmas. Andrew pipes up "no they won't mom, because we made food boxes for them last week with the Sunday School kids!

How many times do we as Christians feel we can't fix all the bad things in the world, so why try. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you see how much poverty, hunger, and trouble there is in the world. Andrew reminded me that it does matter to the one, two, three or ten, that we do help. The bottom line is, am I doing what I have been called to do (serve and obey God, spread the gospel, and help the sick, hurting, and helpless). We do our best, and let God do the rest!!

Merry Christmas from the Grimms!!!

Macy great comment

Tonight at supper, Macy kept asking when grandma Sharon was coming. In her little girly voice she asked "um, um, is she coming at 20 after naps?".

Buzz thinks dad had 2 moms

Here is another classic from Andrew.

When I was young, we lived in the house that Barry and Joyce Kloter live in now. I have told the boys this different times.

Recently, Andrew was with Joyce and asked her "Joyce, how old were you when you were my daddy's mom?" Confused, Joyce told him that she was never my mom. Andrew piped up "but daddy said he used to live at YOUR house!!".

It all does make sense looking at it from a 5 year old's perspective, huh??

Funny Turkey Story from Buzz!

A few weeks back, Amber and the kids were at my aunt and uncles place, Scott and Phyllis Leman. Andrew saw a big stuffed turkey in the corner, and exclaimed "THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHICKEN I'VE EVER SEEN!".

Guess we haven't done a good enough job teaching poultry names to our kids, huh?

Thanksgiving program

Jayden's 1st grade class put on a Thanksgiving program today for family and friends. Their first performance was at Goodfield school, and then they went to Eureka nursing home and performed there. After that they got to go to Hardees which was a huge highlight for the kids!

They all did so good memorizing cute Thanksgiving songs and speaking up for us to hear! Their little hats and props were cute too!
I'm loving Jayden's grin in this pic!

Trick or Treat!!

Mom and dad had to join in the trick or treating fun this year........ Great memories!

Buzz wants a door for his birthday

Andrew's birthday is coming up. A few months ago, he and Jayden accidentally put a hole in mom Adam's basement door. I made a big deal about it to them and made them pay money from their piggy bank to teach them a lesson.

Forward to tonight. Andrew is telling us what he wants for his birthday. In a very innocent voice, he tells Amber "mom, can I have a door for my birthday, so I can give it to grandma Sharon?".

What a guy.......

Photos of new home

Many of you from out of town have been asking for photos of our new home, so here you go. Sorry they are 7 months late.

A craft blog

I decided to make an outlet for all my creative imaginations and inspirations! For about the past year or so I have been surfing the craft blog world and loving it! There are so many fun projects and ideas out there! Once I started trying some of the fun ideas I saw I couldn't wait to share them with someone. My family had to get e-mailed pictures of my creations. Now I decided to just post on a blog and if you are interested you can follow and comment! I'd love to hear from you! The new blog is: grimm-inspirations.blogspot.com.

Amber

Generation Gap!

Found a 1992 edition of "The Sporting News" magazine the other day. At work, a few of us were looking through it, remembering all the players from our childhood. One of our young technicians comes up, looks at it, and says "The Sporting News, whats that? Oh that must have been before the internet".....

Wow, do I ever feel old. Only 7 years age difference, but a total generation apart......

Mike

Kiss mom! Buzz great comment.

Saturday night, we were driving home from a wedding. Amb and I had to drive separate. On the way home, we both needed fuel. After pulling along side Amb, filling both vehicles, and taking back off, Buzz asked me "dad, why did you pull next to mom at the gas station?". I responded "because I like to be close to her".

Very loud, he exclaims "yeah, so you can kiss her!!".

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew....

Macy swallows a magnet ball.

A few weeks ago, the kids were playing our magnet building game. Macy coughed a little and then cried. Amber came into the room and asked "Macy did you swallow something"? She responded "yeah, a BALL!" We worried a little that she may have swallowed multiple magnet balls, so the next morning we got a x-ray done. Bet you can't tell where the ball was??

Thankfully it passed a few days later...Too funny!