My parents spent the past 5 days with us here in Tosa, we were all sad to see them go today. It was a very nice and relaxing visit. I was excited to not have to work everyday they were here so I too got some quality time with my folks.

Kodi is all done with wrestling (has been for about 2 weeks) - he ended up finishing first in his weight class/jv in our conference - so that was exciting! He is loving junior high and looking forward to summer and for our mountain bike racing season to start.

Yesterday we went to Dave and Busters with Matt's brother, Mike and his family. The kids all had a blast running around the arcade and playing games. We then came home where Matt made some delicious homemade pizzas!

Abram is doing well and continues to flourish! He loves playing outside and wants to spend most of his day out there! He is now starting to say "hi" more frequently along with mama and dada and he also has learned a few more signs - "dog" being the one he used lots today.

That's about all that is going on here in the Gizzy household. I'll try to write more later :)

3 months till DISNEY!

We are getting excited for our family trip to Disney World! So far, Matt, the kids, Sarah, Ed, their baby, my parents and I are going. As of right now it looks like Ang and Marv aren't able to come, but we will have to do something else together this summer. Last night, I started looking into everything at Disney and it is amazing how much there is to do there! Yikes! We have to get planning to make sure we make the most of our trip :). Matt and I both know that this trip is for the kids and so we want to make it the best trip for them ever!

We are all eager for spring! Abe loves going to the park and swinging and going down the slides. Oh, summer is going to be SO MUCH FUN THIS YEAR! I can't wait to be able to start my garden and move my porch furniture back outside.

I hope all is well for everyone! Thanks for following our blog...I'm going to try and start updating it more frequently!

Hello,
l3999999999999999999999999999999kkkkkk[0 h (this is Abram typing)
i7yo cktttckcx (I want to let you all know that I am a busy boy)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx7yy77jkm, (I love to read, type, and play with balls)
'd9gv guiytbdsdyuiytrdrtyuihyg ';lbf n (I am crying on the floor now as mom said I have to stop typing, I wish I could just have my way all the time!).

Well today is February 28, the last day of the month. Matt and I are sitting here watching the Olympics and procrastinating going to the grocery store. Right now US vs Canada Men's Hockey is on and we just tied the game 2-2. OT it is...looks like the grocery store will have to wait until another day.

Abram is a busy little guy. He loves to play with balls and giggles with glee whenever someone catches the ball he "throws". Right now he is trying to climb up and type some more. I guess he has lots to say :)

Abe had his first birthday back on February 5. I can't believe how quickly his first year has passed! So much has changed as he has continued to develop. I can fondly remember back to the days with little sleep. Man is it ever nice to get a good nights sleep. Abram is now consistently sleeping from 7(ish) until 6(ish). So as long as Matt and I get our booties into bed at a decent hour we get a good nights sleep.

Kodi's 1st wrestling season at Longfellow is almost over and he had a pretty good year. He was on the JV team but won about half of his matches. Soccer just started up for him last week (so he had 2 weeks of duo sports - thankfully soccer is only 1 day a week until spring). Soon enough our chaotic Wednesday's will return with both Kodi and Eden having soccer practice.

Matt's still looking for work and I am still working away. Life is good for us here in Wisco. We couldn't ask for any more blessings (aside from a job for Matty).

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.