Happy Holidays!

Greetings friends and family! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I know we did. We started the week off with having our own Christmas gathering at home with our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and our adorable nephews. Fun was had by all. My HUGE turkey came out terrific. In fact, we're still eating on it. The only thing about Christmas that does me in is the numerous amount of cookies we have. Mostly from Troy's mom, Cindy. I've even taken some to work and we still have some left!

Christmas eve was split into a couple of Christmas's. First, we went to my parent's to have breakfast.... ahhh, Krispy Kreme.... and to open gifts. Actually, most of the enjoyment came from watching Grant open his presents. It is so much fun to see him react. My mom cleaned out Christopher & Banks for me. Thanks mom! And Bret and Erin made sure I got Pushing Daisies so I won't be without it when it goes off the air next season. Troy is really enjoying his new rocker from my parents. Although, now I have to stare over it to the tv from my recliner. I hope everyone enjoyed the gifts we gave as much as the ones we got!


After Christmas with my folks, we headed to Bedford. No Christmas lasagna this year. In fact, the food fair was mostly snacks. Not quite as many mouths to feed without the Weavers. It was good to see mamaw and the rest of the crew. I was thrilled that the family decided to open gifts early so I could see them b/c we had to head back to Indy by 5pm. The hospital never closes... in other words, I had to work Christmas Day and the day after. We were extremely short staffed, but we always manage to do it. Christmas Day, many of us brought in food and the hospital provided lunch for the workers. It was very nice... even though we had to eat quickly.



I'm thankful it is the weekend now. Poor Troy has caught a cold. I'm trying to avoid it. But the weather is nice and warm and rainy. I'll think I'll stay in and enjoy my gifts. Thanks to all! Have a happy new year!

Halloween Fun!

As most of my family knows, I'm a Halloween addict. I love the holiday. I also love fall. The changing trees, the cooler weather... ahhhhhh. Definitely my favorite time of year. So what do I do to enjoy the season? I decorate!

And as you can also tell, I love Snoopy!

We visited the Covered Bridge Festival last weekend. We went to both Bridgeton and Mansfield. We had a great time! Troy's mom, sister, and brother-in-law with their kid joined us. My mom and dad came for a bit too. I spent way too much money as usual. But I did find some great deals. My favorite purchase was a necklace with a pumpkin made of glass on it. There went the last of my birthday money! The trip did have a downfall, we were suppose to meet Mandy and Andy at Bridgeton hopefully around noon. Instead, they found us at Mansfield around 5pm. I can't believe they even found us in the mass of people! The reason we missed each other was because, believe it or not, there are very few cell phone towers in the middle of nowhere. Cell phones were practically useless. But it was still a very fun trip. Next weekend is Pumpkin Works! More pictures to follow.

A Birthday Surprise!

I love my family.

So last weekend, Troy and I were on our way to Coal City to check out Andy and Amanda's house and "get things ready" for my birthday bash NEXT weekend. Well, give credit to Amanda and Troy, they had the bash already planned for THAT weekend to surprise me! We drove up to the house and there were all my family and friends to meet me! I was so excited. Thank you to all who planned and helped with the surprise. I really had a blast. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.


Troy's mom made the cake. Isn't it awesome?! She made our wedding cake as well.

That's right. It was my big 3-0 birthday... but I'm still 29 until the 28th.




Just a few of the fun gifts I got. Thank you mom! I also got the cool little skeleton standing next to me with the pumpkin head from my sister-in-law, Amanda.

I'm still in shock that Troy was able to keep the whole thing a secret. Even my parents were in on it! Thank you all again. You are the best!

Wii Like to Box

No my brother-in-law has not gone crazy. Nor is he inventing a new exercise routine. This is what it looks like to watch someone play Wii Boxing. If you're watching the TV screen, all these movements make perfect sense. Really.

Gretchen Winn, 1918 - 2008

My great-grandmother Winn passed away last Wednesday. Just looking at the dates I wrote above makes me realize how much she must have seen. 1918 to 2008. Quite a life.

Like most people, I assume, most of what I remember about my great-grandmother surrounds the holidays. She was a very creative woman and loved to celebrate the holidays with her family, but especially us young grandkids. For Halloween one year she hid our candy all through her house and then tied string to each one. Then she wound the string all over the house in a sort of maze we had to traverse to get our candy. We had so much fun running from room to room and getting our piece of string untangled from the others.

Another tradition was at Christmas time. She wasn't able to get out much (she stopped driving years ago) and wasn't much up on the "new toys" that we kids wanted (you know, stuff like G.I. Joe's and cassette tapes and Atari games). So she would take our Christmas gift, usually just five dollars, and disguise it in someway. One year she took one of those marble puzzles where you have to complete it to get inside. I remember seeing the five dollar bill, but not being able to get to it! The most creative one was when I got a roll of toilet paper as a Christmas gift. I was a little surprised and had to keep smiling because that's what you did when someone got you a gift and I'm sure dad had the video camera taping the whole thing. Finally I realized that she had rolled up one dollar bills in the toilet roll. I've told that story so many times and I still smile. It's always nice to get presents for Christmas (even today!), but great-grandma also made us smile with even the smallest of gifts.

I'll miss you Grandma!

Here is the notice that ran in the Brazil Times:

Gretchen Marie Winn, 89, Brazil, died at 8:35 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at St. Vincent Clay Hospital.

Born June 13, 1918, in Clay County, she was the daughter of Daniel and Carrie Bolin Lancett.

She graduated from Brazil High School and began a long career employed at The Brazil Times newspaper where she worked as the advertising manager.

She married Richard E. Winn in 1936. He preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 2007.

She was active in the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed crocheting, writing poetry and painting.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Brazil.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents, four sisters, Ruth Crewes, Margaret Butts, Helen Parson and Vivian Lancaster, and one son-in-law, Walter Wegner.

She is survived by one daughter, Karolyn M. Wegner, and one son, Richard E. Winn, Jr., all of Brazil, grandchildren Cindy Stiffler, Candy Clerk, Dan Wegner and wife Linda, all of Brazil, and Christy Prulhiere and husband Paul, Camby, Cathy Short and husband Shawn, Beaver Creek, Ohio, and Sally Ann Winn, Helena, Mont., great-grandchildren, Troy Stiffler, Indianapolis, Amanda Sebastian, Coal City, Trent, Tressa and Tiara Clerk, all of Brazil, Danny Wegner, Terre Haute, Amos Wegner, Brazil, Natasha Wegner and Aaron Prulhiere, both of Camby, Emily and Hannah Winn, both of Helena, Mont., and Kaylee M. Short, Ohio, and one great-grandson, Brian Sebastian, Coal City.

Moore Funeral Home was chosen to provide cremation services.

Visitation with the family will be 6-7 p.m., Monday, at Moore Funeral Home. A memorial service will be conducted at 7 p.m., Monday, with Rev. Tony Alstott officiating.

Should friends so desire, expression of sympathy may take the form of donations to First United Methodist Church, 201 N. Meridian St., Brazil, 47834.

Visit www.moore-funeral-homes.com to second condolences to the family or for more information.

Fall is (was) in the Air

I'm a little slow with the blog these days, but I've finally got pictures of our fall adventures. Let me just lump them all into one post and get them up for all the eager viewers.

Covered Bridge Festival

Rachel poses in front of the main road in Mansfield. Behind her you can see booths selling pizza, turkey legs, giant pork tenderloins, and sati-babis. Ummmm, fall festival foods.

Rachel and I pose while I try to take a self-picture like all the kids do these days.

The odd thing is that someone was selling outhouses. I suppose this is decoration for someone. Brian just thought it was a cool play house.

Beautiful fall foliage marred by some power lines. Yes, there are power lines even in Mansfield, IN.

Mandy, Brian and I browse some booths. Right after this Brian bought (read: Mandy bought) a toy motorcycle that was marked $2. The man at the booth said it was actually $4 and that it was marked wrong (along with all dozen of the others). Fortunately Brian escaped with only paying the $2, but how could you try to scam a three-year old like that?

The old Mansfield Mill. This is what they used before those power lines went in.

Mom and Mandy on our way out of Mansfield. My mom is extremely camera shy. The only way to get her in a photo is to run in front of her and hurriedly snap a picture from afar.

Pumpkin Works

Parents spend all that money on toys and all kids really want is just a big room full of corn.

There's a guy behind this pumpkin with microphone. He can move the pumpkin's mouth and talk to the kids. We saw a lot of kids get freaked out because the "pumpkin" would mention something specific (what they were wearing, how tall they were, etc.). Don't these kids know that pumpkins can talk?

Rachel's idea of heaven: surrounded by pumpkins.

Brian looks on as we walk off and leave him alone in the corn maze. (Just kidding.) Actually he probably would have been better than us adults in getting out. Andy and Rachel were using a map and it still took us an hour.

Pictures of everyone on the hay ride to the pumpkin patch. I'd say 95% of all pictures I have of my mom our in shadow, her hiding, her looking the other way, taken from a long distance away or some combination of the above.

Andy and Brian. I wonder at what age kids learn to look at the camera?

Believe it or not, this is the picture BEFORE we traipsed through the pumpkin patch.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Andy actually ended up taking this home. He had to carry it with one arm because of his shoulder surgery. He still lifted it easier than me. Maybe I need a home gym for Christmas???

It's not really fall until you've put a miniature pumpkin in a giant sling shot and fired it at silos in a field.

Hey! Not one word about my wife being a witch!

Halloween

Our front porch. Guaranteed to scare off possible trick or treaters.

Pop quiz: Guess which pumpkin is mine. One of these...

Or this one.

Rachel insists this is Achmed, the Dead Terrorist.

New Addition

Let me introduct my newest cousin. Kaylee Marie Short was born October 30, 2007 to Shawn and Cathy Short.

Richard E. Winn, 1917-2007

I don't know how to write a proper eulogy for my great-grandfather Richard Winn, so here is the obituary that ran in the Brazil Times.

Richard E. Winn, age 90, Brazil, died at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at Holly Hill Healthcare.

He was born Oct. 20, 1917, in Clay County, as the son of Clifford and Helen Barndollar Winn.

Following graduation from Brazil High School he attended Indiana State University, Indiana University and University of Missouri.

He then began a long career as a teacher at Indiana State University.

He was a member of the Brazil First United Methodist Church.

He married Gretchen Lancett in 1936.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jim Winn and two sisters, Marie Bennett and Mary Beaman.

He is survived by his wife Gretchen; one daughter, Karolyn. M. Wegner; one son, Richard E. Winn, Jr.; grandchildren, Cindy Stiffler, Candy Clerk, Dan Wegner and wife Linda, all of Brazil, Christy Prulhiere and husband Paul, Camby, Cathy Short and husband Shawn, Beaver Creek, Ohio, and Sally Ann Winn of Helena, Mon.; great grandchildren, Troy Stiffler and wife Rachel, Indianapolis, Amanda Sebastian and husband Andy, Coal City, Trent Clerk, Tiara Clerk and Tressa Clerk, all of Brazil, Danny Wegner and wife Allyson, Terre Haute, Amos Wegner, Brazil, Natasha Wegner and Aaron Prulhiere both of Camby, and Emily and Hannah Winn both of Helena, Mont.; great great-grandson, Brian Sebastian, Coal City, and two brothers, Harry Winn, Indianapolis and Don Winn of San Antonio, Texas.

Moore Funeral Home was chosen to provide cremation services. A memorial service will conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 at Moore Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Alstott officiating.

Should friends so desire, expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Alzheimer’s Association, 9135 N. Meridian St., Ste. B-4, Indianapolis, 46209.

Visit www.moore-funeral-homes.com to send condolences to the family or for more information.

Babysitting Grant

Rachel and I had the privilege of baby sitting our nephew Grant last week. He behaved great, although he was reluctant to go to bed on time (probably because he was having so much fun with Aunt Rachel and Uncle Troy!). We had a good time and, of course, took some pictures to share.

Like all great musicians, Grant prefers to work without people taking pictures.


Rachel gets to play with Grant.


Rachel poses with Grant while Grant wonders when he can get back to his toys.


"How sweet are your words to my taste." Grant has an interesting take on Psalm 119.


Maybe Grant's refusal to go to sleep had something to do with the someone taking all these pictures!

Indians Game

My company had it's annual picnic at an Indianapolis Indians game this past weekend. The weather was perfect, the food was good (and free!), unfortunately the Indians have one of the worst fielding teams I've ever seen. That combined with a horrendous outing from the pitcher (he had a 47.25 ERA for the game. Seriously!) combined for a 12-0 lead by the Durham Bulls in the second inning. We left shortly thereafter not needing to see any more of the beatdown. I almost forgot: we did get free hats as one of the first 4,000 fans. Always nice to get free stuff!

Pictures from Dad's birthday

Here are some pictures from my Dad's birthday back on July 3. I won't give away his age; let's just say he's over 18. Happy birthday dad!

Brian Turns Three

Yes, it's hard to believe that my baby sister now has a three year old. Brian, my wonderful nephew, turned three a few weeks ago. Since he's such a good boy, he got spoiled by not one, but two celebrations.

Brian, my sister Amanda, brother-in-law Andy, and my mom joined Rachel and I on June 9 at Chuck-E-Cheese. Neither Rachel nor I had been to Chuck-E-Cheese since it was changed from Show Biz Pizza Place. The only things I had remembered from Show Biz was a animatronic monkey in a sparkly jacket playing piano, lots of pizza, and ski-ball. Well, the monkey is gone (replaced by a mouse, Chuck-E), but the pizza and ski-ball remain. Brian wasn't too interested in the ski-ball (don't worry, us adults made up for him). He wasn't too interested in Chuck-E either, but his mother used to be scared of Santa Claus, so I'm sure he'll come around. Brian had a lot of fun climbing through this tube jungle gym they had set up and playing some of the more three year old sized games.



The next day, we met the nearly the entire extended family at Deming Park in Terre Haute. They had just constructed a new playground. The entire thing is a set of walkways that you climb or walk up on and from there are various slides, poles, "rock" walls, etc. to go on. Oh, and the entire thing is surrounded by ground-up rubber chips to prevent any harsh injuries. When I was growing up, we had rocks with razor sharp edges to gash open our legs when we would fall. The rubber chips seemed much safer, but where's the fun in staying safe on the playground? Brian got a ton of gifts as expected. He's into Diego now. I'm not quite sure what Diego does, only that he speaks Spanish and seems to rescue animals in the jungle or something. I'm a little behind on my knowledge of current toys. If Brian ever gets into Star Wars or G.I. Joes, I'm all of that. Last year, Brian would rip open presents, push them aside (throw them aside if they were clothes or something else that you couldn't play with), and move on to the next gift. This year, he would open a present, and then run to the middle of the group and proudly show off his new gift. The highlight of the day was playing with Brian on the playground. Rachel and my cousin Tressa had a great time running around with him. They may have had more fun than Brian! Brian can't quite get our names out. Rachel is "Ray-Ray" and Tressa was "T". That last one is particularly confusing since there are four of us in the family with names starting with T's. Anyway, we had fun, Brian had fun, and we'll get ready for the next birthday. (Speaking of which, my birthday is coming up. PS3's are only $599 at Wal-Mart!)