A Blog Full of CharColl

2009-06-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

JR. CAMP AT CIRCLE J RANCH

This week Isabel, Frankie and Maddie were at Jr. camp. On Thursday night they gave a rodeo for all the parents and family. they started the night with the pledges to the flags. Then the girls chased cows to try and take the ribbons off of their tails and they all tried to catch chickens which our three were all unsuccessful at. Adrianna did not care for the clowns at all which you can see by her picture. Then they raced to see who could fill a cup up with water by milking a fake cow. Bro. Mitchell preached the wordless book. Frankie baptized a girl and her dad who both were saved this week. To say the least we spent a beautiful night at the rodeo.

Kindergarten Graduation (Givonna and my class!)

2009-05-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday we had a wonderful Graduation for our Kindergarten classes here at South Haven.
Our theme for Graduation this year was "The Army of the Lord".
We honored all military in attendance and sang "Proud to be an American"
We listened while Ashlea read about David and Goliath and then the entire class quoted Ephesians 6:10-17. We sang about 7 songs and quoted some other verses and each of the kids were able to come up to the mic and recite something. Then while we were putting on our gowns the parents were able to watch a slideshow of our year. We ended the night singing "God Bless America"with the K-4 class. The kids did an awesome job and I am so proud of them.

Givonna was in my class this year and we had a fun time. She is such a silly girl and brought a lot of life to our class.
I really had a great time with these kids and will miss seeing them everyday throughout this summer. I am happy to say that they will all be returning next year for First Grade.

Happy Belated Spring!

2009-05-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some Spring Pictures that I took back in March, around Mom's Birthday.

It was so nice out and I was dying to get out and plant but it was still a little early so I made this wreath for our front door.

On Mom's birthday we went to Lowe's and bought some different plants to put in our yard.

The Lilac Bush we planted in Mom's memory.

Our winter blooming Camellias.

My pot of Ranunculas. One of my favorites along with Peonies.
Hopefully this summer or next I can get some Peonies planted.

I planted some Lily of the Valley last year and one plant came back, but no blooms.
I will just keep at it a little at a time and maybe one day our yard will look as nice as Mom always kept hers!

2009-03-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

On Saturday it would have been mom's 53rd birthday. It is kind of funny to me that mom did not like her middle name, Spring, because to me that is exactly what she was. She was Spring. Her smile and laugh were like the first flowers that you see at spring. For me, her presence was just as anticipated as the first warm day of spring that you just could'nt wait for. Every time spring comes around I just can't help but think of my mom. Thank you Lord for the beautiful reminders of mom that are always around me.

I thought some of you might like to see what you got mom on her birthday a few years back (1968 & 1969 to be exact) . I was reading through her diary that Uncle Scott got her for her birthday one year, and here is what she wrote on the date of her birthday.

What a great family!

(little) Girls night!

2009-03-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from when we had Isabel, Maddie, Givonna, and Adrianna over last Friday night.
I took the girls to a place called Monkey Joes. It is a large storefront filled with inflatables. The girls had a blast and ran around without stopping for about and hour and a half.

By that time it was time to head home and make Pizza!

Trevor Drew

2009-03-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Just had to stick in this adorable piture of Trevor at work with Noel and Colleen.
He got into the Post-It notes!
You are seeing correctly! They are stuck to his bottom!

Mission's Parade

2009-03-07T15:45:00.001-08:00

(Me instructing the Kindergarten boys how to throw their confetti!
Up, not out!)

Every year our church hosts a week long Mission's Conference. It is a time to get to know more about Mission's and make decisions about our personal Faith Promise Giving (for missions). There are different activities that take place throughout the week and it is capped off by a huge Mission's Parade that our school sponsors.

Throughout the year each class raises money for a missionary family that will be attending our conference. This year the Kindergarten, along with a few other High school grades were raising money for the Gross Family to Muldova. They were a very sweet family with two small children and at about %50 of their support.

Gross Family

Our 25 Kindergarten kids were able to raise over $1,800 dollars for this family. Each missionary family received a total of around $5,000. It is so neat to see five year olds bring in money and know that they are helping missionaries go and tell others about Jesus and buy Bibles for people who don't have any.

Here are the kindergarten girls...the boys are hidden behind them.
You can see Givonna she is the 2nd from the left.

My class sang "Missionary Echo" and quoted Matthew 24:14 - And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.

Here is a couple of photos of the beginning of the parade when the missionaries get wheeled around the gym and pummeled with confetti. Needless to say this whole event is very "Hush,Hush" throughout the week.

Gross Family in the midst of confetti. Now you know why they are supposed to throw up not out!

Trevor enjoyed the aftermath of the confetti.

Some of my girls waiting for the parade to begin.

Trip to Rockford

2009-02-12T19:40:00.001-08:00

William's Tree Farm

Grandma and her favorite grandkids :)
Just kidding Ann-Marie she loves you too.

All of us at the tree farm
(Isabel stood in for Candice.)

We were able to spend two weeks in Rockford at Christmas time. We loved being able to see everyone and spending time with our family and getting to know Brielle even more.

The Gaglianos were able to come up to Rockford for a quick trip. Frank and Laurie were at the Christmas party so they were able to see everyone and spend time with Grandma. Frankie and Sarah and their four were in Rockford for a couple of days and were able to enjoy the snow at Dad's house.

The kids had a blast!

Aunt Laurie loved the snow...Uncle Frank not so much!

Frankie and his Dad threw the ball around and lost it a few times in the snow.

Aliya loved the snow... for a while.

UPDATE!!!

2009-02-08T09:31:00.001-08:00

Hey all,
It is Charity again. Sorry it has been soooooo long! But I am going to try and do a couple of posts to get you updated on some of what has happened here in the last few months.
We took Isabel and Maddie out to the pumpkin patch in the fall. Here are a few pictures.

I will do some more posting this week!

New Baby

2008-10-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome little Maylen Collette Gagliano to our world!! Maylen was born on Friday, October 10, 2008. She weighed in at 8lbs. and 2oz.

Trevor Drew CRAWLS over to
see what the fuss is all about.

Momma and baby are doing fine.

Givonna says she already feels like an old woman
with a little one around! Just Kidding! I just had to
put this picture in it was too cute!

Grandma Rehfeldt's Orange Cookies

2008-10-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Since Ann-Marie's mention of orange cookies in her reading about Grandma some people have asked for the recipe. So here it is as given to me by Aunt Louise.

Cookies:
1 Cup Shortening
1 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp Grated Orange Rind
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
3 Cups Flour
Bake at 325 degrees 12-15 minutes

Frosting:
2 tsp. Butter
2 Cups Confectionery Sugar
3 tsp. Orange Juice
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Grated Orange Rind

Hope you all enjoy!

2008-09-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
Sorry it has been so long since I (we) have posted anything. School has gotten off to a great start and I am really enjoying this class of mine. Colleen is staying busy in the office and in the infant room at daycare. We just started a new singles class at church and Colleen and I are charter members (JOY). We had to write down goals for the future and I put MARRIAGE and MOTHERHOOD!!! Might as well be honest because really... GOALS!... I mean it's not like I am going to go back to college and get a degree. 1. Because I have no desire to do that and 2. It is too much work.
AuntJuliet tagged me in her last post on her blog so I thought that if I want to get a Christmas present from her I better respond!! So here goes.
- Four places that I go over and over: 1- South Haven Christian School 2-South Haven Baptist Church 3-Kroger 4-Big Lots - I know it's pathetic :)
- Four people that e-mail me: 1- Grandpa Boehm 2-Toinette Smith 3- Aaron Sturgill( not very often but he just did and it made my day! 4- E-Harmony ( Funny, I'm not sure why! or maybe it'sjust pathetic again. Oh, well.)
- Four favorite places to eat: 1-Aunt Lauries (cheap and good) 2- Rafferty's (Love. Love. Pricey. Pricey.) 3- Taco Bell(I can tell myself it's healthy, if I eat the taco SALAD) 4- Subway ( It really is healthy and good!)
- Four places I would rather be: 1-Rockford,IL 2-Bed 3- In my childhood again(I hope that makes sense) 4- Any place with fall colors and crisp air ( I am going to Gatlinburg this week for Teacher's Convention, maybe I'll get lucky)
-Four T.V. shows I love to watch: 1-Project Runway 2-Ugly Betty 3- Gilmore Girls(Re-runs) 4- Cosby Show(Re-runs)
I am suppose to choose four people to tag but I choose to end the madness!!
Gotta get to bed! I will try to blog again soon!

Disney World

2008-08-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

Disney World
( Magic Kingdom)

On Monday we went to Disney World's Magic Kingdom. There were so many things to do and see that we were there from 10:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night.

Allen (Angela's "friend") Angela, Amy, and Colleen
On this day we spent some time with Angela, Allen and Amy but then we abandoned Amy and left her to chaperone while we went SHOPPING!!! Everyone met up again about 8:30 to wait for the 9:00 parade and fireworks.
It was a very nice day outside the weather was in the upper 80's and it didn't seem too humid.

When you are at Disney it is like you are on another planet. It is as if all of humanity has come together. There were so many different languages being spoken and thousands upon thousands of people there. It was a really neat experience.

Givonna watching the parade with her Dad.

All of us "single" girls!

Isabel and I pose for a picture.
You can tell Aunt Laurie has had along day!

Noel finds a comfy seat to watch
the parade from.

Sea World

2008-08-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

( Shamu Show)

Hey, Everybody
This is Charity! We are just back from a great time in Orlando, FL.
We were able to go on vacation with the Gagliano Family and I wanted to post some pictures of everybody having a great time.

(Dolphin Show)

We went to Sea World on Friday and it was a hot and muggy day, but after the Shamu Show we were all wet and still muggy but also sticky! I guess when the sign says SOAK AREA they mean it! uncle Frank and Aunt Laurie spent most of their day with the little ones in the kiddie area while us young, single and free folk roamed around and saw all of the sights. We really enjoyed the Dolphin Show( we knew to avoid the SOAK AREA this time!) and the sharks and penguins.

(Trevor Drew Steinbrook)
All of the kids did very well and were overjoyed when Frankie and Drew
won them all giant (5ft) whales. You should have seen us all leaving the park with 4 huge stuffed animals on our backs! As you can tell we had a lot of fun.

Aliya, Isabel, and Amy!

Sea World

Independence Day!

2008-07-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

The little kids decorated cupcakes with Sarah. While the Big Kids played Playstation!

We went to Moss Wright Park in Goodlettsville, TN. for 4th of July Fireworks.

Isabel and Maddie enjoyed playing in the
foam that the firemen sprayed from their hose.
They were covered from head to toe!

Fireworks were enjoyed by all,
except Adrianna, who was extremely
tired.

Birthday Girls

2008-06-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hey All, This is Charity blogging!
I just want to say thank you for all of the birthday gifts and wishes.
Aunt Juliet, Aunt Louise and Colleen thank you sooo much for the purse.
It was even better than I remembered!

Aunt Laurie threw a little get together for all of the June Birthday Girls along with all of the Dad's for Father's Day.

Everyone had a blast! I hope that you enjoy this post. Here are some pictures from that day!

South Haven Mother/Daughter Banquet

2008-06-23T17:00:00.001-07:00

Last week South Haven held its annual Mother/Daughter Banquet. You will notice that the Gagliano Family was a little sparse. Naomi and family were out of town as well as Sarah(her girls were with Aunt Laurie).
Our Speaker for the night was Mrs. Debbie Woodard.
She and her husband are missionaries to England and are sent out from our church. She is a grandmother of four and spoke about dealing with being away from her children and grandchildren and still being a good and godly influence on her family. Her mother, a faithful member of our church was named Mother of the Year. If you can't tell by the pictures we had a Hawaiian themed night :)

2008-06-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

I thank the Lord for the Father He has given me. To be able to grow up with one of the greatest examples of a hard worker of someone with so much good character and integrity, I am truly blessed. Someone once told us that our parents were the exception, that they went far beyond what was expected of them. Dad, just wanted to let you know that I love you and think your the greatest.

My Hero
Playing games and laughing
Flying through the air
Always knowing he was there
Never tired of listening
Showing he always cared
Pushing me, but only for my good
Always knowing that I could
Cheering for me and making me glad
Thankful that I'll always have
The Best and Greatest Dad!

Love ya,
Colleen

And we're off...

2008-05-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

All right Aunt Juliet here you are. I don't know how much you will actually hear from us but we'll give it a try. We have spent most of this week with our family in Rockford. Running around to graduations and celebrations and best of all spent time with our niece Brielle.