I was just reading up on my fellow blogger websites and I feel so bad we haven't updated our family blog since November! I apologize for our lack of updates. Life has been good for us Gissibl's, though we are keeping uberly busy!!!!

This weekend, Kodi (6th grade) had back to back wrestling invitationals. He wrestled his heart out and did a great job! Today, he took home a 3rd place trophy. Friday night was ACAL at Longfellow Middle School -- which is essentially a two hour party at the school for all the 6th graders - he had an absolute blast! It has been a lot of fun watching Kodi grow and change as he has adapted to middle school. We have had a few challenging days as he has tested the waters (as all kids do), but over all Kodi is maturing into a fine, respectful young man.

Eden had her first day of swim lessons on Saturday morning (Kodi missed his lesson because of his wrestling match). Saturday, Eden and I hung out around the house (with Abram). We played with her American dolls, braided hair, watched a movie, and just enjoyed some (step) mommy and daughter time. It was very rejuvenating for both of us.

Matt is still keeping busy looking for a job. He has been able to find a few projects keeping him busy at home - 1 . Plowing, 2. working on the 2010 Wisconsin Bicycle Ride Guide -- where he is selling advertisements to various businesses throughout Wisconsin. Hopefully if the Ride Guide goes over well, maybe it could lead to a permanent job??? (say a little prayer for him)

I find it hard to believe that my little Abe is now 11 months old! He is growing so old so quickly! I can't believe how fast time has passed! He is such a wonderfully, happy little guy who loves exploring his surroundings! He is now walking at a fast pace...he can walk to a location faster than he can crawl now. This weekend he has been busy banging metal bowls and measuring cups. Next time I need to use a measuring cup, I will have to search the living room for it! (Haha -- our busy boy moves our Tupperware and the few pots/pans we let him play with all around the house).

Let's see, what's new with me. I am really enjoying the new off-shoot of my position at the hospital, where I am coordinating the critical care float pool orientation. It has been fun adapting to my new office hours and all the scheduling, unit growth, and fun/stress that has come along with this new role. Kristi (my acute care counterpart) and myself have grown a lot these last few months and truly enjoying our new roles. I am now working between 30-40 plus hours each week. Which has proven to be a personal struggle for myself with balancing my home sanity with my work sanity. Basically I am trying to work lots one week and then take it easy the following week so I can be home with the family more.

Well the fam is waiting to play Sorry for me, so I gotta run.
We will post pics soon :)
Beth

While Mom's Away, The Boys Will Play

Hello All, It's me Matt (Beth's personal assistant) and I have been asked to post something new to the blog, and I am happy to do this. Let's see where to start, I have so much to say. First let me post this picture of Abram James. He was trying to help me wash the dishes, and I think he wanted to see how good our dish washer worked, as you see he was getting up and going inside. Looks like Dad is going to have to have a talk to the boy, and inform if he wants to take a bath or shower you have to do this in the Tub:)

Well let's see Beth is gone for the weekend, so it's just AJ&me this weekend. We just went shopping for X-mas, we got a gift for Eden. There are some really good deals right now, I think retailers are feeling the pinch, and desperate for business. But I would recommend you wait if you can until after X-mas, when you will find the SUPER deals.

If I had to guess, I would think AJ will be walking in the next 2 weeks. He is getting very comfortable standing on his own, but is still not comfident enough to walk anymore than 2-3 steps on his own. I am in no hurry, but it is fun to walk him grow. Beth is also enjoying this process, but she would say "Abram is growing up to fast".

Finally, I am looking for work, I am looking for my calling or next career. In the mean time I am finding work, mostly painting for my brothers, and some other guys I know that own painting companies. If I were just after the $$ I would start my own painting business, as I see these guys can make some real $$, but I am after something that will keep me content for years to come. I am not getting any younger, so I holding out until I find something better. Wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers, along with those others whom are down on there luck.

I wish you all a great weekend, and GOD's GRACE to you all.

HAPPY THANKS GIVING, The Gissibl's!!!!

Well one month has gone by and we are doing pretty good. Matt is keeping busy networking and paints for his brothers business when Abe isn't keeping him busy. Abram is growing so fast! He is getting closer each day to walking. He now can consistently take about 4 steps on his own, walking from one person to another (it is our family's favorite thing to do in the evening). Abram especially loves walking to Eden. I find it so hard to believe that Abram is already 9 1/2 months old! They grow up so fast!!!!

I'm off for a weekend of scrapbooking with my good friends Kim and Anna. I'll post some updated pics when I get home.

:) Beth

Change

Change...Friday marked a day of change for us in the Gissibl household. As I was updating our blog and working on uploading our photos from this past year to the Walgreens website, Matt comes home from work. I asked him why he was home, as it was only 10am. That was when I found out he had gotten laid off from his job.

Change...so now he is back on the job market and I'll be increasing my hours to full time at the hospital. We will be making cutbacks in our lives, but at least we have been living within our means and have been preparing our emergency fund for such a day as this. (I'm so glad we didn't listen to me and use part of our fund to pay off a part of Matt's car loan...).

Change....we know we will be alright and that God is watching over us. Everything happens for a reason and God will never give you more than you can handle. Maybe this change happened to help us grow closer as a family or maybe it's to help us re-prioritize our priorities? Only time will tell.

Fall photos

burrr...we love when the weather gets crisp....bundling up in cozy jamies is always fun!

Eden and Abram in their footie pajamas!

"I'm such a big boy"

Kodi and Matt posing for a photo opp before Kodi's soccer game...sorry I forgot to bring my camera to the game...

More family photos...

The head table at Kim's wedding

Sorry the picture is sort of blurry...

Anna, Eden, and Alison at Kim and Jeremy's wedding

Kodi looking handsome at Kim's wedding on October 3!

Abe with his lovely

"Get me outta here!" :)

Like father, like son

August camping on our land

Back in August, we spent a night at our land in Ithaca, WI. We borrowed Matt's brother's camper and cooked out over a fire. We all had a blast! This was Abram's second camping trip and our first family overnight on our land! We all had so much fun. We waded in our creek - Abram loved swimming and Kodi and Eden both enjoyed the wading also! So many wonderful family memories!
Eden appreciating the beautiful view from our neighbor's hill

Mommy and Abe relaxing in the morning.

An early morning view...isn't the fog beautiful!

Yummy...nothing beats grilling outdoors!

A view of our land from up on our neighbors hill - you can see our pole shed and barn in the photo. We own everything up to the road.

Here is a pic of the kids sitting on our fence as the sun was setting