Susan's Here!

These past few weeks have been fun and busy. My 21 year-old stepdaughter, Susan, is staying with us for most of December, and we just got done meeting and spending five days with her fiance-- Jeremiah (Jay) Johnston.

As you can imagine, all the excitement has kept me from blogging lately... but there are so many good pictures to share-! I'm going to hurry up and post a few before Christmas comes and I fall hopelessly behind.

This was Jay's first trip to Wisconsin... and my first chance to meet him.


We had heard about Jay last Christmas... when he was still "just" Susan's boyfriend. We suspected it was serious, because we'd never really heard about one of Susan's boyfriends before.

Then Jon met Jay a few months ago, when he drove out to West Virginia for an impromptu visit with Susan and David. It was at that time we learned that Susan and Jay are engaged.

Still, the kids and I hadn't met him yet. So there was a lot of excitement when we heard he'd be with Susan during her Christmas visit this year.

And we weren't disappointed. We found Jay funny, friendly, and interesting. He seemed comfortable with the kids and very honest and open.

Above, Jon and Jay finish the winter chicken coop.

Besides the fact that he and Susan obviously love and respect each other, it was nice to see that they also seem to bring out good qualities in one another. Susan was like she always is-- except perhaps more confident and determined than I have seen before. She has found a supportive partner with many of her same values. And she is planning the rest of her life.

We're happy for her.

I must admit that one year-old Leila wasn't sure what to make of Jay, at first. She's going through a definite shy phase right now, so the first night that SCARY Jay was here she hardly lifted her face up off the floor, to look at him.

Leila may be cautious at first, but if you work at it you can win her over... and that's what Jay did. He smiled and talked and read her books. He was a big friendly teddy bear in a baseball cap. And by Day 2 Leila and "JJ" were best friends.

Here are Susan and Jay spending time with our horse, Macy.

Jay stayed with us five days, then flew back to West Virginia because of his work obligations. Since Susan has a chunk of time off from school, she will stay with us through Christmas.

We've gotten to do some fun things with Susan. Leila enjoyed getting pulled around the yard on a sled while the rest of us piled firewood.

We've been baking cookies all month, but for some reason the cookie jars don't stay full...

I made a special "J" cookie for Susan, but she's so sentimental she won't go ahead and eat it.


Jonathan's been over a few times to visit with Susan. One night the two of them went out in Eau Claire, then stayed overnight at Jonathan's (he's living in the basement apartment of our old house in Eau Claire).

It was a lot of fun watching Jonathan and Susan interact with their younger brother and sisters. Now we just need David here-!

We've had a couple of visits with the grandparents. Mom and Dad came by for a visit on Jay's second day here. After they left we loaded up our two vehicles and drove to Cornell, so Jay could meet Bud and Jane.

A couple of days ago we picked up Grandma Jane and brought her to Colfax, so she could accompany us to the kids' Christmas concert at school. This was a big event for both kids, but Michael in particular was excited because it was his first time playing the bassoon with his band.

Both kids did great.

Can you spot a beaming Emma at right? She's wearing a pink shirt with a short white lace sweater.

Michael was a little annoyed with me for getting close enough to take this photo, but in my defense the concert hadn't started yet.

Susan brought Guitar Hero with her, so we've been having fun with that. Turns out I'm an incredibly talented guitar player.

Really.

Well, that's enough pictures for now. I'll try and post more next week. Merry Christmas everyone!!