Getting Ready For Christmas!

The kids had a full week off over Thanksgiving this year.  While I initially didn't like the idea (we don't travel for the holidays and it is usually cold/snowy by that time of the year), I really like the way that it worked out for the family.  Matt took the week off as well (even though he had to go in to work a few times since he was on-call).  The week was very relaxed and refreshing.  We stayed in our jammies and did stuff around the house most days. 

On Thanksgiving Day, Matt ended up driving to Lincoln, IL for work.  He was gone until 2:00 that afternoon.  Becki worked on Christmas decorations all day while the kids played Legos and watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade (2x!).  Once Matt arrived home, we gave each of the kids their new ornament and decorated the rest of the tree.

Maddie was given an ornament to commemorate her artwork which was chosen by the city of Moline last May.  One side of the ornament shows her artwork while the other side shows Moline's Logo

Alex's ornament is Minnie Mouse in her Marching Band uniform and playing the Flute.  A perfect ornament for Alex as she continues to love playing the flute and marched in her first parade in October.

We found this beautiful spider web (and spider) for Kaitee.  It is in honor of her being chosen to be a WEB leader for her school. 

Will's ornament was simple to find this year as it was a new Hallmark ornament.  Here is Snoopy and Woodstock - Woodstock is driving a Pinewood Derby Car - but we figured it was very fitting for Will and his Peanuts Gang Soapbox Car!

Later that weekend, we sat down to take our annual "in front of the tree" family Christmas picture. 

Let the Holiday Season begin!!

Christmas Letter 2015

Merry Christmas Dear Family & Friends!

After having the family (Matt & kids) home this past week for Thanksgiving break, I am enjoying the peace and quiet of the house while listening to Christmas music and enjoying the beautiful lights and ornaments on our tree.  It is that time of year again!

The Hart Family enjoyed another busy year (it seems that the years get busier as the kids get older!). We enjoyed seeing new places and visiting with family as well as trying new things in our “everyday lives”. 

Will & Maddie will be turning 10 next month!  How did my babies get into double digits so quickly? They both played parts in their school musical, Aladdin, and loved it!  They are excited to hear what the next production is going to be – usually announced before Christmas break (♫♫ Hakuna Matata, What a Wonderful Phrase ♫♫)  They are in fourth grade this year and really like school (many thanks to their wonderful teacher).  In May, Maddie was honored for a piece of artwork that she did for the City of Moline. Every year the city chooses one 3^rd grader to represent each school – Maddie was the one chosen for Roosevelt!  Will helped Matt make a Soap Box Car throughout the winter and was thrilled to race the car in May!  He & Matt also camped with friends in June near Oregon, IL for the annual Great Lakes Letterbox Gathering.

Alex is 11 and has adjusted well to Middle School.  She admits that the first few weeks were scary, but it didn’t take her long to find her way around! She ran Cross Country in the fall and did very well. She was honored with the “Most Improved 6^th Grade Girl” at the awards banquet.  She continues to play flute and loves having band/choir every day.  She enjoyed her first marching band experience during the Moline Halloween Parade.  In March, she also participated in the school musical with the twins. Last April, she decided to have her hair cut and ended up donating 10 inches to Locks of Love!

Kaitee has officially become a teenager this year!  She wows us with her knowledge of current day musicians and actors (Now I feel old!).  She decided that Cross Country running wasn’t her thing, but wanted to participate in the sport as a manager. It was a good fit. She keeps us busy – involved in art club, chess club & newspaper as well as ran track last Spring.  Occasionally, you may hear her voice as she does the morning announcements at school! She was selected by her teachers to be a WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) Leader this year as well as a Peer Mediator.  She is loving her final year at the Middle School.

Our family enjoyed some quick trips to Chicago (to see Great Grandma Phyllis while she was in town from Oregon and another time to letterbox and sightsee), Quincy (Looking for Lincoln), a long weekend to Southern Illinois to enjoy the Shawnee Nat’l Forest area and many day trips to explore, hike and letterbox.  In June, Becki’s family celebrated 50 years of marriage for her parents.  It was a wonderful party!  The highlight of our year was our trip to Colorado in July.  We loved getting to experience the area with Matt’s Mom, Dad & Brother.  What wonderful memories to have for years to come!  We ended our Colorado trip with a day at Adventureland (I think it was the hottest day of the year!)

Matt traveled to California for a week in April to say goodbye to his Grandpa Easter.  He was glad to have that time with his parents and extended family.  Becki said goodbye to her Grandma Barman in August.  Our family has lost two wonderful people this year.

Matt & Becki continue to work at Option Health and Chick-fil-A.  Matt will be celebrating 10 years this February while Becki celebrated 5 years this past July. Matt has taken on the study of Hebrew this past year with a friend from church.  He loves how his understanding of the Bible has changed since he started studying Hebrew.  Becki has become a full time taxi for the busy family and volunteers in the twins’ classroom once a week. 

Our hearts are full as we think of all that we have been given.  God has blessed us beyond what we deserve.  We love each of you and pray that this holiday season is a fulfilling time for you. Merry Christmas & Blessings in 2016!

Love,

Matt & Becki Hart

Kaitee, Alex, Will & Maddie

2321 25^th Street, Moline, IL  61265

309-764-2347
www.hartx6.blogspot.com (our blog)

Fall Fun - Horses, Legos, Kindles, HIking & Halloween

It seems that as soon as Fall arrived, it departed!  We were able to enjoy a few more things before our first decent snow fall in Mid-November.

Matt & Alex went on a weekend getaway for a Letterbox gathering.  They got an early start (around 5 am) and stopped in Dixon to see this beautiful sunrise!

To end their weekend, a great friend (and fellow letterboxer) invited Alex to come see her horses.  Alex got to brush them out, lead them to pasture and Chris educated Alex all about horses.  It was a wonderful treat for Alex - something she won't forget anytime soon!

For Veteran's Day, we headed to Iowa City to find a few letterboxes.  We enjoyed the hike along Lake MacBride and found the missing box (last one from a series that Matt had been working on).  We started driving south to the other letterbox but decided to pass on it as the skies opened up. 

The week before the snow hit, I asked Will if he would be willing to learn how to clean out the gutters.  Matt had cleaned out a portion of them earlier, but we needed a small body to fit between the slats for the pergola.  Will did an amazing job!  I think he has a new job come spring and fall!!

Another project on my long "to-do list" was to separate all of our Legos by color.  Not that big a job, you think??  It took all 5 of us working for a few hours every day during their Fall Break - but we did it!! Now to keep it separated...

An early Christmas/Birthday present arrived for each of the kids!  Great Grandma Hart purchased each of the kids a Kindle to play on and use for school.  They were thrilled beyond belief when they received the gifts! Not much was done around the house that weekend - we gave them free reign to play to their heart's delight!

Happy Halloween!