Just a day home with the family

Last weekend was wonderful.  We did a whole lot of just hanging out. 
We watched an old movie on Friday - The Nutty Professor (the Jerry Lewis version)
Kids all cracked up at the clothes and crazy music!  I just laugh at them.
Saturday Hannah and I needed some girl time.  I took her to get a manicure then out to lunch.  We had such a special time.  She got all dressed up to go and was fun, talkative and we got to have a good talk about what God has in store for women.  
We watched Hannah play some basketball that afternoon.  Little James is the scorekeeper these days.  He does great and it's a good older kid job. 
Evan and Noel even "helped" make cookies.  The really just want the "licker" as Evan calls them.
Love just hanging out with the kiddos.

Snowfest

I am so far behind in blogging! 

The big kids had a day off in January and we hopped in the van and headed up to Snowfest in Frankenmuth along with Hannah's friend, Jenna.  She is a sweetie and fits in our crew just right. 
We met my dad up there much to the kids delight and hung out with him.  Seeing that it was a warm January, it wasn't as exciting as it could have been.  No ice sculptures and the snow carvings weren't done yet.  Still, the petting zoo and camels were there so we had fun anyway!  That's how we roll.

Winter is Finally Here

Winter is here which means the start of basketball season.  Hannah's favorite season.  She is playing again this year.  This year is different though for two reasons.  First, Dad is coaching.  She loves having Big James as her coach.  Hannah is a Daddy's Girls all the way and she takes pure delight in the special time with her dad.  Second...it's way harder playing 6th to 9th graders.  Some of these girls are tough.  They are older so they are out of the the "learning" league now.  They can steal, fouls are called and free throws are thrown.  She loves it!  They won their first game but I heard from the coach tha he's not so sure it wasn't more luck than skill.

Winter has arrived outside too!  Hannah and Evan made the cutest little snowman while Little James was at snow camp for the weekend.  Isn't it adorable?  It was.  They smashed it.  Jumped on it yelling like Banshees.  SO. MUCH. FUN.

It's a New Year

I'm going to try to post more.  I promise.
Today I am catching up on things and I promise a post with lots of info and fun Wickman happenings. 
Here's a couple pictures to hold you over :)

Merry Christmas from the Wickman 6

We want to wish you a Merry Christ-fill Christmas!!  We hope your days with your family and friends is special, fun and celebrated the reason for this season.  Jesus.  We have had fun counting down to Jesus' birthday.  During November we made a chain link and every link had something we are thankful.  During December we have read them and thanked the Lord for each thing or person.  It's been a great reminder that although presents are fun, God has certainly blessed us in abundance. 

We have had a fun year!  The above picture is from one of our favorite moments this year.  We went to the East Coast for a week and a half.  We covered Niagara Falls, Maine, Boston and New York City.  Plus all the states in between. 

James IV finished up his last year in elementary school and is now a Junior Higher.  He is getting tall and even more handsome.  He played soccer this past spring with his dad coaching and they came in 1st place!  He also started running Cross Country this fall.  I think he has found his sport.  He loved it!  he also came in 2nd in the National Geographic Bee beating out over 850 other kids!  Most of all we are so proud of his love for the Lord and others. 

Hannah is in 6th grade and is has grown a mere 4 1/2 inches since May!  She has been a challenge to keep clothed in clothes that fit.  She ran in Girls on the Run in the Spring and ran her first 5K.  She did awesome!  Her real sports love is basketball which she is playing again this year with Dad as her coach.  She is a "total package" is what I tell her.  Beautiful, smart, and fun!  She is an all A student and has been student of the month for her grades and the way she respects her teachers.

Evan turned 3 this year!  3!  Isn't that crazy?  He is a funny little boy that loves an audience to make laugh.  He is also a real smartie.  Just like his siblings.  He has learned to read some small words but is quickly picking up on more difficult words.  No more spelling out plans for us.  He loves to count, read books and do puzzles.  His other love?  Music!  He enjoys listening to music and singing.  If I can't get his attention I just have to sing to him. :)

Noel is 1 1/2.  I really was beginning to wonder if she was going to walk but at 13 months she finally realized she can get around better.  That, and her older sister stopped carrying her everywhere.  Ha!  She is into EVERYTHING!  All doors are closed and valuables are up high.  She is a little mommy and loves her babies and her blankie.  Can't wait to see how she changes this year!

James and I are doing well.  James still likes his job and we love our community.  I enjoy being at home and available to the kids.  I know they like it too. 

We hope you all have Merry Christmas!
Love,
Pam for all of us.

Thanksgiving and James Birthday

Just some pictures to catch you up on our Thanksgiving weekend.

Cross Country is Over

The final meet is over and cross country was a success.  James loved it and so did I.  Fun to watch, exciting, and made James feel like a superstar. 
I love his team.  They are truly a TEAM.  I was encouraged by the way the team encouraged one particular team mate.  Nick.  Nick is different from the other kids.  Autistic, slow, sweeter than any kid I've ever met.  Nick finishes every race.  He is always last but always happy when he finished and oh so proud of himself.  I cried every single meet I was at when I saw him finish.  Not because I felt sorry for him, but for his pride and the team was always running with him.  Oh sure they had already run their miles but as they finish they go find Nick and run with him to the finish line.  He had friends and was a part of that team just like the guys that finished in 11 minutes.  When he ran in at 35 minutes, he was not alone.  Cool.  Very cool. 
So there it is.  Cross country is over.  Races ran, lessons learned...great season.

Pic One - Nick
Pic Two - The team running Nick in.