Happy New Year!

It was so wonderful to see everyone over the holidays! Here's some of our favorite pictures. Thanks Pete, Tracy and Tim for spending so much quality time with the boys -- they sure had a wonderful time!!! The kids have been in their glory having some quiet days at home playing with their new gifts. We've been playing game after game - tonight it was Monopoly. Isaac is waiting to play Speed Solitare tomorrow. The boys are so excited to be able to stay up as late as they want tonight to ring in the new year.! I'm not sure I'll even make it til midnight! : ) Today we went to Ken and Carol's for the afternoon. Carol made pasties for us -- Yum!
Happy New Year to everyone! Love, Joy

Favorite Christmas Shots

There are a lot more Christmas pictures to come; I have another roll of film to develop and I need to download all of the shots from Dad's camera. Needless-to-say, these are a few of my favorite shots.

Bethany's New Altar

Here are the pictures I took when we visited the church last week.

Using Blogger - How To

Thank you all for giving me some insight into how you have been using the blog. Please find some "how to's" on how to get navigate the blog.

How To Create a Post

1. Go to Blogger
2. Sign in to Old Blogger by entering your username and password and then clicking sign in.
3. You are now at the Dashboard. Just like the dashboard on your car it is where you control the blog.
4. Scroll down until you see the Nadeau Family Blog. Click on this link so that you can create a post.
5. Click on the button that says Create Post.
6. Create a Title in the title box.
7. Write your message (called a post) in the large white space.
8. Add pictures and links, change the font or format using the icons above where you are writing.
9. Scroll down and click the orange button that says Publish Post

If you accidentally navigate away from your post, click the back button on your navigator and then click Recover Post.

How To Make a Comment

1. Go to the Nadeau Family Blog
2. Find the post that you would like to comment.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the post where it says something like, "posted by Joy at 9:35 AM 0 comments"
4. Click on where it says 0 comments to open up the comment box
5. Write your comment in the box that says Leave your comment
6. Scroll down, enter your username and password
7. Scoll down just a bit more and click Preview
8. After your have previewed your comment choose one of two options: (A) edit your comment if you want to make changes or (B) publish this comment

I would like to switch us over to the new and improved blogger which requires a g-mail account (free account from google). It will give us more flexibility, security, and make the process easier for everyone. I am not going to switch over until I know that everyone has had a chance to use the "current" blogger effectively. Here's what the new blogger has to offer: Click Here to See

Great to see you all!!

Hello Everyone - It was so wonderful to see you all. I had a great time visiting with you all. Grandma and Grandpa were such wonderful hosts.

Pete and I left at 4:45 am yesterday. We had a pretty easy ride. We made it to the bridge in no time - stopped in Gaylord for a bite to eat (at the fanciest McDonalds I have EVER been in - it was just like a cafe) and switched drivers. We made it to Royal Oak around noon. Pete's friend Herm met us at my house and they were off to Chicago - they made it safely. I worked at Portable Church Industries in the afternoon. I had a ton of work to do there. Carrie was very sweet and made dinner for me - grilled portabello mushroom and onion sandwiches with a side of edamame. She bought everything at Trader Joes which is one of my favorite grocery stores. It was delicious. Afterwards, I had rehearsal with my band last night in preparation for Sunday's service. All of the band members are really talented. Our drummer played for a Christian Ska group called the insiderz and our bass player with Barbara Payton (who is one of Bob Seeger's singers). It was a great time.

Today I am going to clean my house and buy some healthy food to start the new year off on the right foot.

Linda - I am hoping that you were able to finish the Outlook. The time and effort you put into creating it is really evident! I really enjoyed reading the article you wrote about Grandma and Grandpa.

Carol - Thank you for all of the delicious meals. I had a great time getting the house "ready" with you.

Debbie - As always - you did an amazing job of bringing us all together at the annual pizza party. Everything was splendid! (I like Venice the best!)

Adam - Isaac - and Pete - Congratulations to the Awesomest Skateboarding Team - I think you are all WORLD CHAMPS!!!!

As soon as I get my pictures developed I will post them on the blog.
Love you all - Tracy

Family Pictures

Thanks Debbie - We had a great time last night.

In the U.P.

Hello Everyone - It is so nice to be in the U.P. visiting with all the family. We are looking forward to going to Debbie's tonight for our annual pizza party.
Tracy

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all and isn't it a blessing that we have such a wonderful family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Love from all the Yoopers:-}

Ice Day!

Happy Holidays to all! Today in the UP it was very icy. School was closed because of the icy conditions. The kids missed all their Christmas parties, oh well they will have to have them after the new year. It gave me the chance to make my cookies with the frosting. I was glad to get that done. I am at Mom and Dad's visiting. I t doesn't seem very Christmasy without snow but we might get some tonight. I still have some wrapping to do but otherwise I think I'm set for Christmas. Looking forward to seeing you all. Love, Debbie

Christmas is here

Christmas is Finally Here! I hope all of your shopping is done and that you are able to rest and relax. I am just FINALLY sealing the envelopes on the Christmas cards I am sending out. I hope they make it on time!!

Mom and Dad are driving towards Michigan as I write. Tim and Pete will make it in sometime tomorrow. Tim is at a conference in Chicago right now. He is staying with Pete - they seem to be having a great time. I am glad that they have some time together.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you - Merry Merry Christmas.
Love, Tracy

New Stove

Hello Everyone - I'm so excited my new stove just arrived in time to make Christmas dinner. I am still figuring out what we are going to make - but I am really excited. My new stove is a ceramic flat top with 4 burners and a warming area on the top. The oven is a convection oven that reduces the cooktime by 30%. But the best part in my opinion is that my new oven actually has a window and an oven light!!!!! Yahoo! Bob the appliance-man at Lowe's helped me pick it out. I never knew buying appliances could be so exciting!!!! Tracy

Nutcracker

Here are a few pictures from the Nutcracker!




Sarah (lead dancer Clara) and JoBeth (Both are my students!!)

Christmas In GA

Hello Everyone
Hello everyone Paul and I are doing just fine. Last night we had 45 people over for a Christmas party. We invited people from Paul’s work and my Thursday Bible study. We had a great time. There was a lot of food and good conversation.

I now am getting ready to leave next week for Christmas. I have to wrap and pack. I don’t know how I am going to put all the stuff in car. We will be pack to the gills! This is the first time I have to take everything with me. I told Paul we will need a U-Haul to take all the presents, food and stuff with us. He just laughs and said he didn’t think so.

I hope all of you take care and we are really looking forward to seeing you soon.

Emily

Weekend Update

Friday: After school I went to my favorite boutique shop called Catching Fireflies. Then I raced home to tidy up the house and to my surprise Carrie cleaned the whole house before I got home so that was a welcome treat. Our small group Bible study met and enjoyed some Christmas festivities. Alli brought us English "cracker gifts". In each of them there was a toy, a riddle, and a great tissue paper hat. I really loved the hat!!! This year instead of giving gifts to each other - we donated to a charity. Alli donated to the UN AIDS fund. Carrie donated to a dozen chicks to needy village through Heifer International. (This was my favorite donation). I donated to a local family at Kensington Community Church who have adopted 8 children all from the same birth family. They are struggling to get the kids gifts for Christmas. Sarah and Kathy have both donated to Samaritan's Purse. Together we also sponsored a senior at the Lighthouse where Mom faithfully served as the Director of Emergency Services! After our group met and took our annual Christmas Picture we headed to Meijers at 10:00 pm to do a little Christmas
Shopping. It was a lot of fun!

Saturday: Today I have a wedding to go to for a colleague. It is all the way out in Redford so I will only be going to the ceremony itself. Later I will be going to the Nutcracker Performance by the Rose Marie Floyd Civic Ballet. One of my students has the lead role of Clara again. It will be her final performance before she graduates.

Sunday: I am going to sleep in and then go to church at 10:30. I imagine that I will finish up my shopping and write the rest of the test that I am giving on Monday and Tuesday!

Ten Days of Christmas!

1 week or so 'till Christmas
2 days of school left!
3 more days until I sleep in!
4 more days until my parents come!
50 degrees outside (where's the snow?)
6 people sleeping at my house
7 days until Pete and Tim Come
8 more gifts to buy
9 days 'till Christmas
10 more days 'till we go Up North

Quiet Time

I have a few minutes of quiet time before the kids get up to get ready for school...it's been a busy week doing all the last minute things getting ready for the holidays. Yes Debbie - Faith is the cutest baby! We look at her many pictures on our fridge every day and we miss her!
The boys each have parts this year in the chuch Christmas progrom this Sunday. They both have a speaking part and Isaac volunteered to play the piano for 2 songs during the prelude -- I can't wait! We're looking forward to my brother and his family flying in from San Diego on Sunday. The boys can't wait to see their cousins! And we can't wait to see all of you!! Adam and Isaac haven't forgotten all the games that Tracy, Tim and Pete played with them last year and all the fun they had! They might be bringing a few new games along -- get ready!
Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas -- see you soon!
Love, Joy

Christmas Stove??

Hey there Family,
What a crazy time of year it is. I am eagerly anticipating the break from school. We have three more days! Hooray. How is everyone's Christmas shopping going? I am about 2/3 done. (Mom has been done forever - uggh - she is so efficient) I have a list with all of my ideas - but I just need to pick the rest of everything up. It's fun - especially when I am out of school!! I also have to pick up a "Christmas Stove" - yes my stove went kaput last Friday (Yes - I found out while I was boiling 15 pounds of potatoes for the SOS shelter!) and so I am buying myself (and my best friend Carrie - she lives with me - a new stove). Isn't it exciting???!!!

Gotta' Run - Off to Sears.
Love you All - Tracy

Trip to Walmart & Pasties

Hi All, Dad wanted me to write and tell that they went to Wal-mart on MOnday. Mom just got back from Social Ministry meeting at church. I brought everyone pasties from the Elks today. Boy do they smell good. We get them once a month. Mom and Dad are looking forward to seeing everyone at Christmas. Love from all of us!

Message from Dad

Hi All, This is Debbie writing from Dad's computer. It is a dreary rainy day here and the snow is almost all gone. Mom and Dad received their chocolate boxes. YUMMY! It is a busy time getting ready for Christmas. You will all be so surprised how big Faith is now and of course she is the cutest baby. She will be fun to have around this Christmas. She likes all of the lights. Hope you all are doing well. Love from the UP!

Hello Everyone

Hello
I have been busy all weekend cooking for a Christmas Party at our house next Saturday. Paul is having a few people over from his work and I am having a few from my bible study. There will be around 25 people. A lot less then usual and I am having a hard time cooking just a little I keep thinking I need more.

I am leaving tomorrow to visit Tracy for a few days. I come in on Monday and leave on Wednesday. I have a party for my sorority it is our secret sister party. It will be fast but I am looking forward to seeing Tracy. Paul is going to work in Southfield and will be there Tuesday through Thursday.

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at Christmas time. take care
Love
Emily

Vanishing Posts

Hello Everyone -
A couple of you have asked about vanishing posts - I am glad you asked. If you accidentally use the "back" button on your browser before you have saved your post as a draft or pulished your post - you will lose what you have written. So - before you hit the back button - make sure to SAVE as DRAFT (blue button at bottom) or PUBLISH POST (orange button at bottom).
Please let me know if you are having any other questions/troubles - I will find out the answers!

Dinner and a Show

What a wonderful weekend. Somehow I managed to not have papers to grade this weekend. As many of you know - this is always a glorious moment for a teacher. So Friday night I helped out at church with the SOS homeless shelter. Each of the volunteers made part of the meal we were serving and then when served and ate with the SOS guests. Yesterday, Carrie and I worked on cleaning the house. We spent most of the day tidying - vacuuming - and finishing up the Christmas decorations. It was fun. We then met up with some staff at students at the Peking House in Royal Oak to have Chinese Food. We followed that up with the school Musical: Pippin - it was a great success. Today I am going to go Christmas shopping - and try to make a big dent in my list!! If only it would snow it would be a perfect weekend.

Tracy

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone! Last night we made our annual visit to see Santa Claus! We drive an hour to Appleton to go see him each year. The kids know that he is the REAL Santa as we've been seeing him since Isaac was a year old. The cool thing is he remembers our family each year -- how could he forget us after the year Adam was 2 and was terrified so Santa had Ryan and I sit on his lap so we could get a picture with Adam in it! It's a great family tradition we look forward to each year.
Looking forward to seeing everyone over the holidays!!!
Love, Joy

White Christmas

I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas.

a.k.a. Praying for Snow!!

Nadeau Family Blog

I am having trouble publishing my post. I have written two that have dissappeared into cyber space. Wow is me. I'm trying something new hope it works. Love to all, Debbie

Trip to Japan

Hi everyone I just returned from a week in Japan. The picture I attached is of Mount Fuji which I could see from my hotel.

I landed in Japan at Narita airport and took the train to Tokyo. From there I took the Bullet Train to Shin Yokohama.

I worked for three days at one of the major Panasonic areas in Saito.

I had a variety of foods including eel, sharkfin soup and whale.

I returned on Saturday. The flight over was 14 hours and returning was 12. The two hour difference is due to the 100 mph winds of the jet stream.

I am glad to be back and am adjusting to the 13 hour time change

Bye for now

Paul

Happy Birthday Tim

Hi Tim - Happy Birthday - I am so glad that God made you just the way He did. You are incredibly special to me. I love your thoughtfullness, your attention to details, your fun ways, your unconditional love, and even your little quirks! (I know I have quirks too). I still remember going to see you in the hospital when you were born. I peered through the nursery glass, standing on a step stool, singing Jesus Loves You. I still know that that is true! I love you too!!
Love, CC

Hello and Happy B'day Tim

Happy B'day Tim!
It is hard to believe you are going to be 29. It seems like only yesterday you were "being superman" and going off to school. We are very proud of you son and think you are a wonderful man!

Well everyone, the weather here is warm but they say it will become chilly soon. I have the house done for Christmas and when Paul gets home from Japan with the camera I will take a picture or two to post. Paul is due back tomorrow at 2:40pm. I talked to him just a few minutes ago and it was in the morning there. I love when he calls from Japan later in the day because I get to talk to tomorrow. I don't know why but it just makes me feel like a wonderment thing.

Today was a great day I went to Community Bible study I love the new friends and the great study. The program is really nice. I went to the study before a long time ago in Michigan when the kids were small. They have classes all over the United States. (Tracy you will be proud I used the link tool)! We are doing 1 Corinthians. then I had lunch with all the Panasonic Ladies. We went to a new place for me in Fayettville.

Well thats is about all that is going on with me I hope to hear and see from the rest of you. I look at the blog at least once a day hoping there will be new short news updates from everyone. take care
love
Emily