San Lo

A friend shared this video with me via Facebook. I thought it was funny. I know some of the people in the video and am familiar with all the spots that they shot the video at. I am from San Lorenzo, Ca and I loved growing up there. It was a great village and I am glad that they featured the Duck Pond and the famous bum, Joe Trombone who raps at the end of the video. I thought he died. I remember him from when I was little. As much as I loved living there, sadly I will never move there to raise my family. As the borders of Oakland keep expanding, my lovely San Lorenzo village is no longer lovely. They even had a little tribute to my friend Angelo who was murdered by gun shot to the head. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed watching this. The only other thing I have to say about it is that I can't believe he fell into the duck pond and had water in his mouth from the local soak and poke (Hot Tropics). BLEH!

Will it be a White Christmas?

Just because I think he is cute.

He still looks like an old man.

We have been watching the weather forecast for the past week to see if we will have our first White Christmas. Everyday the weatherman says that there will be no snow for Christmas and no snow in the forecast. If that is the case, then why did we wake up to this? This is the second time in a week that the weatherman has failed me. I don't mind if it snows, I would just like to be prepared for it. I guess this is a lesson that the local weatherman can't be trusted. On an up note, my neighbor was in my driveway at 6am this morning shoveling it for us. So nice!

December Fun

I love how Isaac has one ear sticking out.

 We woke up today to snow. The kids were super excited and I think Jim was too. When I drove up to the house after going to the gym, this is what I found. There were 2 cute kids enjoying the snow and Jim, along with the neighbors, outside shoveling.

Elizabeth rocking her "retro" snow suit

One of my favorite pictures

 Tonight was our ward's Christmas party. The kids had a great time playing with their friends and eating a lot of food. Jim and I just enjoyed chatting with people. The primary kids did a musical number for us and for some reason Isaac was a bit reluctant to sing. Elizabeth insisted on wearing make up for the party and by the end of it, it looked like she had 2 black eyes. On the way home we took the kids to look at Christmas lights which they enjoyed and then came home watch some of the "Music Man" and off to bed they went. I think they had a fun day.

How can you not love that cute face

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells is always a fun song to sing at Christmas but I think is even better than singing it, is listening to Elizabeth trying to sing it. She has a shy side so she doesn't like to be video taped while singing. However, since I am so sneaky, she thought I was taping William and not her. So here is Elizabeth singing Jingle Bells while you look at William.

Ice Face

On Saturday my friend Carrie and I went downtown to enjoy a nice lunch and a movie. Since she lived just a few blocks from the restaurant, we decided to walk there. I had a on jeans, a new sweater I bought, a scarf and a pea coat. My ankles were frozen since up until today I only owned ankle socks and even though the rest of me was warm as I was walking, I found my face felt like it was burning. Ice burning if you know what I mean. It felt like someone was hold a huge ice cube on my face and no matter how hard I tried to move it, the ice cube stayed. It was 18* and windy. I have never experienced anything like that before. It made today which was 38* feel warm. In fact, I didn't even use a jacket today. I am a bit nervous with how cold it can get here in the winter. I do know that I need to invest in m clothes and I get out my denial that the 2 long sleeve shirts I have will do.

As I was looking for a picture for this post, I came across this website that has some pretty awesome winter pictures.

Happy Holidays?

Over the last couple of years, I feel that the "Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays" debate is getting more fierce. I don't see the problem in saying "Happy Holidays instead of "Merry Christmas" since we are a country with many different religious views. I think it is just ignorant to ignore people that celebrate Chaunakah and Kwanzaa. Would we be so quick to dismiss those holidays if they weren't around Christmas? I do think it is more valid to argue to put Christ back in Christmas especially since the word "Christmas" comes from "Christ's Mass." I think if we put a little more Christ in Christmas perhaps "Happy Holidays" would then be just as acceptable "Merry Christmas." Anyways, we would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays from the Wuehler home.

December 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

Another year has come and gone and I hope that 2011 has been as kind to you as it has been to our family. This was a year of many great blessings. We made many friends the couple of years that we lived in Malibu and we really enjoyed our annual passes to Disneyland. We feel really fortunate that we were able to make so many memories with our family and friends at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” As much as we loved living in Malibu and going to the beach, we were deeply sadden when it had to come to an end and we had to say goodbye to the wonderful friends that we made.

Jim graduated in April from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA with a Masters in Business Administration and accepted a job at Epic in Verona, Wisconsin doing implementation and project managing. He started the Job June 1^st and the rest of us moved out to Wisconsin at the end of June not knowing what adventure was ahead. He enjoys what he is doing and all the traveling it entails.

Vanessa is enjoying being a stay at home mom to Isaac, Elizabeth and now William. There is never a dull moment and they seem to fill up her day. She never thought of herself as a country girl but she thinks the “country” has found her. Our town that we live in has 3500 people and she often jokes that there are more cows, corn and soybeans here than there are people. She misses CA a lot, but has enjoyed gardening, canning and taking the kids to the farm. She also enjoys working the UW Badger games and events.

Isaac is doing great and is making new friends. He played soccer this summer and is looking forward to next year when he is old enough to play flag football. He really enjoys his 4K (pre-kindergarten) class and learning his letters and numbers. Because he wasn't 5 by September 1^st, he has to wait until next year to start kindergarten. Isaac is our inquisitive child. He unknowingly plays “50 questions.” As annoying as it is sometimes, we admire his love for learning. He also really enjoys playing Wii, playing with his legos, cooking and being a big brother to Elizabeth and Isaac.

Elizabeth is 2 going on 12. She loves to go shopping and loves getting her hair, make up and nails done. She is Mommy's little helper and has such a sweet spirit. She also has a tomboy side and loves rough housing and bothering Isaac. She makes us laugh everyday and enjoys going to nursery at church to see her friends.

William made his debut into this world after 17 hours of labor on 11/10/11 at 6:35 am weighing 8lbs 11oz and measuring 20 inches long. He is the sweetest baby and we just can't get enough of his love. We look forward to seeing what type of personality he will have and how it will add to our family.

As 2012 approaches, our wish is that it will meet you with good health and many blessings. We miss each one of you and think of you often. Our door is always open if any of you feel up to a trip to the “Cheese” state.

Much Love,

The Wuehler Family

PS: Can't get enough of us? Spy on us to see what we are up to at www.wuehlerfamily.blogspot.com

Then and Now

 As you know, on 11/10/11 at 6:35 am, William Jon came into this world. Since he was over due and since the doctor had a hard time pulling him out, we joke that if William could, he would have crawled right back in and stayed in the womb a bit longer. Needless to say, we are so glad that he didn't. He is the sweetest, noisiest baby. He doesn't fuss unless he is hungry or needs a diaper change and makes lots of grunts and squeals.

 Now after his 4 1/2 weeks here on Earth, I am starting to wonder where my "little" baby went. At his 2 week check up, he was a pound and a half heavier than when he was born AND was two inches longer! I could only imagine what he is weighing and measuring now at 4 1/2 weeks since he eats 4ozs every 2 hours. We just love this little man and he brings such a sweetness to our family.

We Love Baby William

 We love Baby William! Isaac and Elizabeth can't get enough of William, much to my dismay. They always want to burp him, give him his pacifier, hold him and even try to help feed him. As much as I am happy that they love him and accept him as part of our family, I sometimes wish they didn't want to have so much to do with him. That way, I don't have to watch them like a hawk when they are around him. Oh well. I would rather have them show their love to their baby brother.

Photo Rejects

 Every year we take a family picture at the end of November or the beginning of December. And every year it seems to get more difficult as we add more kids and as the kids get older. This year was no different. After about 5 pictures, the kids were done with their pictures being taken. We had to seize every moment we had. I just kept thinking that out of 100 photos, there had to be at least one or two decent pictures. Here are some of our reject family pictures.

Surprise!

 A day after Jim's mom left after being here for 4 weeks, Ryan and Robert flew into Chicago for a week visit. I was supposed to go with Jim and the kids to Chicago to have a fun overnight and pick up Ryan and Robert but I opted for William and I to stay home and just relax.


The kids were very excited to have them here and play the wii and restaurant among many other imaginary games. I was busy cooking in the kitchen for what felt like most of their visit. I think it was the highlight of Ryan's trip to have a home cooked meal every day.

 On Thanksgiving morning, we were all in the living room watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on our new tv when out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone in my backyard. I do a double take and realize it was my parents faces that were pressed against our back sliding door! They came and surprised all of us except for Jim, the secret keeper, for a quick Thanksgiving trip. We were all very excited and I was also thrilled to have some more help in the kitchen and around the house.

 Elizabeth LOVES to go shopping at Costco and always tells my Dad that she wants to go "shopping" with him. Well, on Saturday we went "shopping" and scored some awesome stuff. First we bought 2 turkeys to put in our deep freeze since they were only $.49 lb. We can't wait to eat them throughout this year. We also bought our 8ft real Christmas tree for only $30! Yup, only $30! It was such a bargain and it isn't even a Charlie Brown tree! Of course my parents bought some more gifts for all of us before our shopping came to an end and we headed home.

At home the kids were so excited to decorate the house and the Christmas tree and I think that my parents were thrilled to be there to help. It was nice to have them here and share a part of our Christmas decorating since it will be the first Christmas that we have not gone home to visit family. Their visit was short and quick but I am glad that they were able to come and visit and suck up the kids sweet sugar.

BTW- If anyone knows of a site that I can put a free slideshow together for pictures on my blog, please let me know. My other slideshow site is no longer available and I don't like posting this many pictures.