I am editor..

Any mother will understand that what one does...the other siblings have to do. I now find myself not just writer of the blog but editor. Here's Madi's take on school:

School                                                                                                            

I have been in school like 3 weeks. It is different here. Like in Billings they called library library. Here they call it Media. We have art here. In Billings we didn’t.

-Madison                         

A new blogger...

I am excited to introduce the newest blogger in the DeWilde family. I hope this is the first of many posts from our creative middle Breanne:

I am having a Tea party. I am inviting Destiny, Kendall, Emma, Eliy. I am having pink punch. I am having cookies. It will be fun. I will post pictures later.

-Breanne

At last...

Not sure I fully grasped how different moving would be when your family is bigger and older. Maybe it's just my older age but it has been an exhausting month to be sure! I can't believe that it's been a month ago already that we became homeowners again. As to be expected, it's been a somersault of emotions as we've begun to develop a new kind of normal for this DeWilde family.

When we took possession of our house, we decided to spend one week painting and cleaning before we moved in any of our belongings. Without appliances, it was tricky to say the least. If you can't make it with a crockpot, coffee pot or fry pan, it ain't gettin' made! Thank goodness God loaned us a "walk-in freezer/fridge combo" to use for the two-weeks it took to get our appliances.

 Derrick, Aliya & I spent the whole week up getting situated while Madison & Breanne stayed at grandpa & grandma's house finishing their last week of school at Pipestone schools. The girls were SO excited to finally be in a home that was ours again! We were so thankful to have a place to stay with grandpa & grandma, but Derrick really missed being away from his four girls mostly every week.

 The girls quickly picked out colors for their rooms and we set to work getting bedrooms painted. We enjoyed many a "picnics" in the porch and sleeping bag parties in their new rooms.

 On Monday, Madison & Breanne left to finish their last week of school in Pipestone.
Madison was honored on her last day of school by being awarded the "Terrific Kid" award. We were so bummed to miss it, but she was well supported by her grandpas and grandmas. Mrs. Torkelson was sad to see her leave Hill Elementary.
Aliya was so bummed to be flying solo with just mom around during the day. A highlight for her was opening her present from grandma Barb and she quickly memorized the stories told in her new "laptop." Breanne said it was no fair because no only was the laptop pink, it has a mouse.

In my estimation, the best part of our new home is the 4-season porch. There's nothing like waking up in the morning, turning on the fireplace and watching the sun come up. Coffee, sunrise, Bible and God...priceless!

Move in Day was very efficient but busy. We were blessed with 16 people to help us get the storage unit emptied and carried into the house. It went pretty quickly even when though it's pretty stressful to see your home in boxes. Slowly, we've gotten everything unpacked and still manage to wonder..."where is..." I guess it happens. You're bound to loose somethings when you move.

Our neighborhood is very friendly and we blessed with 15 kids in our culdesac! It's a party everyday after school around here. Madison and Breanne are both doing well adjusting to their third school this school year. They've made some friends and even get to ride the bus with the other kids in the neighborhood. Pitching the trampoline was a magnet for making new friends...they seem to come out of the woodwork.

Since moving in and unpacking the bikes, Aliya's decided she is a manic on her little bike. Before this crazy warm weather came in, she would be out no matter what pedaling her bike around...socks, hat, flip-flops and all. It's so fun to see her pick up skills seemingly overnight.

Before we moved out of my parents' home in Pipestone. The Sechler cousins came to visit us for the week. The big girls got to go on a date with grandpa. He said it was pretty wild! I can only imagine! When they got home, the all had a turn to show off their reading skills by reading the Bible with grandpa. 

Eegads! I'm Boy TRAPPED!

What a fun weekend for momma to get away from her princesses and spend time getting to know some little gentlemen. This past weekend, Derrick gave me the gift of time to spend with the Giffey family down in Tennessee. I had a great time and often found myself "boy trapped" (which doesn't ever happen at our house...guess I know how Derrick feels now.) I think I played more Mario Kart in one evening than I've ever played in my life and for the first time that I can recall in my adult life, I played 2-on-2 basketball. I loved just getting to know these little boys and do everyday life with them. Also, learned to thank Jesus for, "the sun, and the rain and the "citrus" seed." (I get it Grady!)

Gail & I got to have some girl time too. She's currently expecting her fifth boy (any day now) affectionately called G5 (The fifth G: Grady, Gavin, Gunnar & Gage. Get it?). She amazed me with how much energy she had. I made her walk around the Cane Creek Lake for old time's sake and we went out to dinner and a play on Saturday night. Here I thought I'd get to take a nap every afternoon...I called her energizer bunny! I took more naps than Gail did.

We got to attend The River Community Church. It was fun to see a few old friends and watch how the "little" kids aren't so little anymore. The last words I heard were from Gunnar, "Next time, bring your kids." I'll try!

I was able to grab lunch with a friend, Amber, in Nashville before flying home on Monday. It was fabulous to catch up and edify each other in really just a short time. That's what I love about relationships built on Christ, there's always something to connect on and common ground.
Now, it's onto the next chapter in our lives...we bought a house! Yeahoo! We're so excited and expect to close on February 17. It truly has been a blessing to be (quite literally) "with" family for this stay but I see that's important for our family to be on our own and most importantly together with our daddy.

Jesus loves us even if the Vikings stink!

Yes, we know the Vikings were horrible this year, but we love 'em just the same. (Just like Jesus loves us, even when we stink!) Breanne and I are especially excited to be the Jared Allen fans, sporting number 69 jerseys, as he finished a fantastic year! I loved his interview after their last game where he thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to play. What a fantastic player and role-model! On New Year's Eve, we went to Sioux Falls roller-skating with the Kracht cousins. It was fun and we all wore our jerseys...great photo opp!

Over Christmas break, we got to visit "the Grandma Great with the Grandpa Great," in Beaver Creek. It's always fun and games with this grandma and once again, she didn't disappoint. She told her Little Red Riding Hood story with the amazing doll that becomes a little girl, a little old lady AND a Big Bad Wolf all in one. The girls thought it was great!

 I enjoyed a visit with grandpa as well as watching grandma with the girls. Last weekend, Aliya (a little dramatically) said, "I miss Grandma Great!" I asked her which Grandma Great she was missing. "The one with the grandpa-great." I guess we'll have to visit again soon.

 Breanne and Aliya are our newest roller skaters and I couldn't resist this picture as they watched other kids skate. Breanne won most improved skater in the DeWilde family for sure. We're so proud of her for persevering and mastering her skills. Madison is always a skating fool out there and spends all her time on the skate floor. It was the Kracht cousins' first time roller skating and they all did very well. We were impressed!

Christmas' Amazing Race!

How wonderful it was to not travel 750 miles to spend Christmas with family! We enjoyed great memories with both families and even squeezed in a one extended family festivity. We began our season with school programs. Both Madison & Breanne did so well singing with their classes, even though they didn't have much time to practice.

They seem to be making friends as Madison was spying and waving to many new friends while we waited for Bre's program to begin.

The girls are enjoying afternoon snacks the grandpa when he gets home from work. On Grandpa's birthday, the girls surprised him with birthday Special K bars! He was excited and we topped it off singing "Happy Birthday...Grandpa Rock, Stinky Socks." (Not quite sure how those two phrases go together...I guess anything goes in second grade.)

One afternoon, we had a surprise when uncle Bryce came to visit the girls after school. He said the lego stash at the grandma Linda's wasn't up to par, but he still helped make a house, car and garage.

The girls were so excited to complete the Amazing Race, Cousins Edition at our Christmas Party. We had three teams.

The Red team was Breanne, Braelyn, Daniel and chaperoned by Derrick. This team came in last but finished in stride after eating 14 cups of Cheerios before finding the cup with a marked X. It was so fun to hear Derrick tell stories about his niece and nephew!

Breanne & Braelyn give directions to a blindfolded Daniel who finds the wrapped box that holds the math problem.

Madison was part of the Green team with Chloe, Micah, Abigail and Uncle Lucas chaperoning. They led the race for the majority of the time. Chloe was her usual self...all smiles, all the time but Madison had her game face on. Derrick reported that at McDonald's she was not wasting any time on posing for a picture.

Micah blindfolds Madison to go find the math problem, wrapped in a box in the backyard. "Oh, a math problem, that should be easy," Micah tells his team.

Sucking up jello in a straw...not so easy and Daniel pointed out that next time I should put the instructions at the bottom of the jello IN A PLASTIC BAG...point taken!

Madison made it 3/4 a way around the block before dropping the onion...forcing her team to compete in the 5th leg of the race.

The Blue Team was Carter, Rebekah, Caleb & Aliya, chaperoned by Uncle Mike. They were held up at McDonald's waiting on some fresh fries. They may have been tasty, but could have cost them the game...

Although they lagged behind most of the race, their patience perseverance would pay off!
Rebekah was the only balancing act to make it around the block without dropping the onion off the spoon so her team didn't have to participate in the 5th leg of the race. They easily won while the other teams ate more Cheerios.Aliya celebrates her team winning the Amazing Race!

The weather was fantastically cooperative and 1/2 the race was outside.

Aliya & Abigail were also excited to participate with their cousins. The cousins all play really nicely and enjoyed a sleepover with at grandma's WITHOUT their parents. (Aaahhhh...for us!) Aliya and our very own Chlo-Bear (a.k.a. Ka-o-la-Bear to Aliya) were all smiles after the sleepover.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with the extended Veldkamp family for a few hours. Most enjoyed a game of kickball after grazing on Christmas splendor.

Aliya got an array of baby accessories from grandmas (crib and nursery set, stroller, bottles, and such.) But nothing is as portable & lovable as the baby the cries and coos until you feed her and give her her pacifier.

We got to celebrate with our girls on Christmas Eve. After a refreshing nap (and quiet time for mom and dad) we ate Cinnamon Rolls and read the Christmas story. Decorating their own gingerbread houses was a hit!

Breanne and Madison were mostly on their own with the decorating, but Aliya got support from Daddy. With about half of the house covered Breanne says, "Can I be done now?" as she pulls off a fruitsie roll and pops it in her mouth. Apparently finished with the decorating and on to the eating!

It's a brown Christmas in Minnesota this year...
One laughable moment was Aliya taking a bite of the chocolate bar and then placing it perfectly on the gingerbread house.

When our presents were opened and Aliya vacuumed up our mess with her first Kenmore vacuum cleaner, we headed to Grandma Barb's for a couple days. (Did I mention that 20 miles was the most we drove this Christmas?)

Aliya was very excited and extremely adorable saying "Percy Harvin," when she got her first Vikings jersey. The same number as the famous Uncle Bryce...

The girls had lots of fun with new toys and accessories, and playing games as it the tradition at the DeWilde house..."Wanna play a game...Bryce?" It's been a long time since we've all been together and was great that Auntie Melissa and Uncle Ben could travel from Peoria, IL.

When Kayla arrived on Monday, they were excited to get their "Kayla pillows" complete with lots of photos, favorite Bible verses or lyrics and 129+ buttons! (Breanne and Madison seriously counted the buttons!)

That's where the party's at...a Christmas Letter

"Wherever We Go" by the Newsboys

Hands up,

Holler back here,

Let's throw this party in gear,

We brought the welcome mat,

Wherever we go, that's where the party's at.

When the Newsboys came out with this song one year after our move to Montana, Derrick said, “that’s like us…wherever we go…” Six years ago, we made the leap from Tennessee to Montana. It didn’t totally make sense (Derrick had a good job, great friends, a fabulous church family, not mention 20 miles from the lake) but we didn’t want to live our lives wondering, “what if we would have...” So we stepped out of the boat and tried Montana. If wherever we go, that's where (our) party's at, the party has moved. It’s almost deja vu. In Montana, Derrick had a good job, we had great friends and a great church family (not to mention the mountains nearby), but when the opportunity came to move to Minnesota closer to family, we couldn’t pass it up. Something about seeing the girls with their grandparents for quick visits and listening to Madison tell her friend in Montana on the phone all about the day they got to spend at their cousins has already been received as a blessing from our good Lord.

But let me back up and give you a synopsis of our year. In March, we got the ultimate Montana experience of snowmobiling. Derrick & the girls LOVED it. Give mom a hot cup of coffee and a warm fireplace and I’m good. It was fun to be with friends, out in the mountains and listen to Harold’s stories around the woodstove. In July, we bought a boat and the rest of the summer is history! We spent every weekend after that, save one, on the lake. The best was watching Madi & Bre water ski! Derrick & I celebrated 10 years of marriage in August. Most people go on a cruise or maybe even Hawaii…Montanans go backpacking. It was awesome to be alone, just the two of us, in the mountains for a weekend!

Aliya had her first broken leg in March (why do these things always happen when Derrick is out of town?) She’s often making us laugh and is truly a sweet, well-natured little three-year old.

Madison continues to exhibit the spiritual gift of compassion & generousity. If she’s got a dollar, she knows someone who needs it more than she does. This year, she & Breanne helped with our family garage sale and made enough money to fill 20 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. She enjoyed girls’ softball this year and began piano lessons in the fall.

Breanne learned to ride her bike without training wheels & requests a house with a long-driveway for lots of bike riding! She’s very wise and precautious and was an excellent class helper for her teacher!

For a couple years, we’ve been praying for an opportunity to return to the Minnesota area, but God never opened the door for us to go. About October, the door swung open. Derrick was offered a job with a new engineering consulting firm called Kestrel Engineering and asked to relocate to the Minneapolis Metro area to work from the office there. We were prayerful and decided to accept. The week following putting our home for sale, we had sold it. This was much quicker than we anticipated, but it was a very direct answer to a prayer asking God to confirm that this was His will for our family. The flip side of that is that it has left us homeless, but we are so grateful for the graciousness of our parents who both offered to let us live with them until we find the right house. It’s a relief to not be rushed in decision making and actually, the arrangement is working out okay. We’re currently residing in Becky’s parent’s “2-bedroom basement apartment.” We’re super blessed to be VERY close to family for this Christmas season! May you be blessed as well by obediently following Christ. Merry Christmas!

P.S. If you see Santa, let him know Madison, Breanne & Aliya’s stockings are hung at 911 5^th St SE, Pipestone, MN 56164.