Aunt Tuppy

Our last visit to see the kids and grandkids allowed us the opportunity to visit my dad's sister Aunt Tuppy (Darlene is her given name but she has been Tuppy to me all my life) We spent an afternoon visiting with her at her home and it was absolutely delightful. We are hoping to see her more now that our kids live near her and are looking forward to meeting some of her kids and grandkids. A very special time! Thanks Tuppy!!

Celebrating November birthdays!

Rainforest Cafe fun-volcano dessert birthday treat-yummy!

Running laps on campus-such cooperation and fun!

Baseball with Grandpa Steve-Who's on first?!?!

Lizzy having fun with new birthday scooter!


Crazy fun at the museum-who's really the kid?!?

One birthday cake for 4 people-lots of candles!!

Recently we had the great joy of visiting our daughter Jaci and her family in November to help them celebrate 4 birthdays (Jaci (31), Brent (36), Sam (6) and Lizzy (3)) which all happen in November. Jaci and Brent also celebrated their 12th anniverasary Nov 2. Steve and I had tons of fun with them. We went to a museum, an aboretum and played in the pumpkins, played yahtzee, pool, baseball, went shopping, ate cake(of course!!!) had a birthday celebration for all at the Rainforest Cafe(a favorite Drew and Sam's) ,read books, etc, etc. We are in constant motion when we are there and the time goes sooooooooooooo fast. Anyway, we sure do miss them but do look forward to the next visit. Thanks Jaci and Brent for a fun time with your family!!!

Packer's VS. Vikings

The Zirbel's-die hard Packer fans!!!

Daughter Annie and college friends-the challenge-

sitting next to a die hard Viking fan.

Sister Kathy and me-friendly rivals-after all
family is more important than a game-right?!?

Recently we had a fun weekend with our son John, his wife Jessica,

daughter Annie and her friends and a meet up with my sister at the

metrodome before the game. It was a fun weekend-lots of laughter,

good food, good people! Even the game was exciting to watch-however

the outcome could have been better for some of us!!!

Long time no post!!!

Wow it has been a looooong time since I posted. Life has been busy but good. Somehow at this time in my life I find that spending time with the geriatric crew takes up much of my off time. Here are some pictures of these very special people. The top picture is of Ardy(85), Aunt Mim(89) and the "kid" who is Mim's special friend (79) and the bottom picture is Aunt Tom (94) and Steve (58-ha!)

We also have been enjoying some hunting this fall-I do not have any pictures of our duck hunts(the ducks have been few and hard to find this year-we do have maybe 6 in our freezer) but I

did want to share some of our opening weekend pheasant hunt pictures with you. Son John and

wife Jessica were here for the hunt as was Uncle Dean and his son Aaron. We took Ardy and

Tom for breakfast one morning before the hunt. We also had supper with Ardy, Mim, Tom, along with Jessica's mom and dad and our daughter Annie at Guadalajara's on Monday evening.
Below are pics from the hunt and the dinner-it was quite a crew!!!

Annie and I also went to the Women of Faith conference in St. Paul, Mn. with her friend Megan and Megan's mom Joan. It was an awesome time-very good speakers and wonderful fellowship with Megan and Joan. I highly recommend it to anyone. I also got to see Julie Hample's (Kaatz) baby Holden as they came to Saturday's conference with Joyce. Here are some pictures of the

"girls".

John's birthday visit over labor day weekend

Grandpuppies Gertrude and Lucy

John and Jessica's new apartment and John with BD pie

Church founded

by Steve's great

grandfather and

Zirbel grave sight

at church.

Steve and John visiting at the dog park.

Over labor day weekend we visited son John and his wife Jessica. It was a fun weekend as we also celebrated John's 27th birthday. We packed alot into the weekend! Fri we ate at a Japanese habachi grill restaurant(good stuff). Sat we went ancestor exploring and found the church that Steve's great grandfather founded and also had the pleasure of hunting down a 97 year old wife of Steve's grandpa's cousin. We then attended the taste of Madison-lots of good food to be had there. Sun we attended church in a movie cinema which was a new experience for us(a friend of our daughter is worship leader there) but a great worship experience, and then had a birthday breakfast at Perkins(hence the pie with candle), had a fun afternoon at the dog park playing 4 handed pinochle(Jessica is a new but formidable player of the game), swam at the hotel pool which had a basketball hoop so that we could play HORSE(fun times), and Chili's rounded out the day. Mon we had a great breakfast cooked by John and Jessica(the jalapenos are still burning my nostrils!) and then we headed home. We had a fun, fun weekend-thanks John and Jessica for your hospitality-we love you, Mom and Dad

Abby's 1st Birthday

Mom and birthday girl at the cheesecake factory and fun with grandma Monica at the aboreum covered wagons and,

water frog fun and,

dad joining in the water frog fun and,

enjoying the one year old birthday cake and, more water frog fun and,
picture of grandkids with me above and Grandma Marge below and,

fun at the ballpark!!!!!

Grandma Marge and I traveled to our kids to help celebrate Abby's 1st birthday. It was the first time that Grandma Marge had seen the kids in almost a year as they moved just 10 days after Abby was born. We had a great time with the kids and grandkids as you can see and hopefully we can go visit them together again soon!! The grandkids are so fun to visit and I feel so blessed to have these 4 beautiful grandkids to share life with-thanks God for these precious gifts of love.

Eldomar Zirbel's Family Reunion

During the first weekend in August the my husband's only sibling Fran hosted us at her house for an Eldomar Zirbel family reunion. Fran's 2 children and spouses and her 4 grandchildren, and Steve and my 3 children and spouses and our 4 grandchildren managed to gather all at the same time to celebrate family. We ate all weekend, played baseball, swam, and had fun outside. Eldomar died in 1973 but Steve and Fran's mother Ardy is still with us. She turned 85 this August so we celebrated her birthday while we were all together. It was a wonderful blessing and we are so thankful that it actually happened. I have more pictures to follow of the whole group. Celebrate God's gift of family and don't take it for granted!

4th of July

We love the 4th of July celebration and this year we enjoyed fireworks thanks to Terry and Kathy and son John and wife Jessica. It was a spectacular show all around our house this year. We are thankful for the men and women who serve in the armed forces for our freedoms that we often take for granted. Take a moment to thank God for these people and all they have sacrificed for these freedoms.

We also had a wonderful family reunion over the 4th weekend and this a picture of my uncle,cousin, and sister with a birthday cake as they all celebrate birthdays close to the July 4th holiday. We are thankful for each one of you!

Here is Annie with the newest member of the family Lucy. Aren't they cute!
We took a picture of all my siblings attending this year. Two are missing but hopefully next year we can all be there. I love you all-thanks for being my family.
We finally got a picture of son John, wife Jessica and daughter Annie with me. I do so love spending time with them-we don't look too bad if I do say so myself. The only thing missing is Steve and Jaci's family-maybe next year!!!!

Unfortunately we can only be serious for so long-I'm glad we have the other picture just so you know we aren't completely goofy. It is fun to have fun-thanks God for humor!

Fish Fry Fellowship

The geriatric crew-ages 84-94!
The young crew-thanks for bringing the average age down Grace and Ashton!
Dean and Fran wishing a happy 50th anniversary to Uncle Wes and Aunt Leats on video!
The oldest at almost 94-you are young at heart Tom!
The 2nd oldest at 93-guess which one!!!!





We recently had a delightful night entertaining the "old people" and feeding them fish caught right off our dock (walleye no less). It was a magnificent feast and really fun to have Steve's sister and brother-in-law here along with their daughter and 2 grandchildren(aren't they adorable) We had the added bonus of having Steve's cousin call and ask us to film a video for Steve's Uncle Wes and Aunt Leats for their 50th wedding anniversary- we said sure come and eat fish and catch a whole bunch of people to put on your video! It was so nice that Steve's sister was here so that she could be a part of it too. We hope that God keeps providing the fish so that we can have another fish fry. We are thankful that He has provided us with such special people!