~~ We are Back~~

After a one year vacation from blogging, WE ARE BACK!!!!! Many Many things have happnened since our last blog entry in November 2011. For starters, my neck/protruding disks did improve and I was able to start living life again. There are moments when they act up, but for now things are quiet. In April the kids and I took a Disney World Vacation. Priceless memories, and great times. I have to give myself credit as a single mother of 3 taking on such a big adventure. Things went great, and I can see us going on other trips in the future. :) In May Ralph and I found out we were expecting a baby. I think back to May, and January seemed so far off for a baby. With less than 8 sleeps to go, all I can say is time has gone REALLY FAST.. Baby is due January 23rd via c-section. Oh, and yes, we are HAVING A BOY!!!!! We had a great summer, filled with fun in the sun at the cabin, and our usual trips to water parks etc. Of course, summer went fast and that lead us right into the fun of school and activities. We are still a RUN RUN RUN, GO GO GO family, so it will be interesting to see just much this baby slows us down, or slows me down. I have continued to teach preschool and am almost to the end. Has it been easy? No, but with one last week of teaching, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The kids have been so intrigued with my growing belly, and the fact that there is a baby in my tummy. I know I am going to have 26 very excited preschoolers when the baby comes.. The plan for now is to take 6-8 weeks off, and then I have a sitter lined up to watch the baby March, April and May. Never had to work, nor worry about babysitters/day care with my other three kids, so this is a whole new experience. With as happy as I am about having a sitter to end the school year, having a sitter next fall could prove to be tricky. I guess we will just wait and see what happens. It is my goal to update the blog alot more frequently, so please be checking back.. Next post will be after the baby is born... Can't wait to share pictures/stories etc. Until then... Anjelika & Family

Our Family at Christmas TIME

Wanted to post my Christmas letter for those of you, whom may have not read it. This was a very MAGICAL year for all of us. The MAGIC started in April when the kids & I embarked on our first Disney Vacation. 7 days of beautiful sunshine, all intertwined with Disney, Sea World, and endless fun in Orlando. The kids are already asking when we can go back.. J May brought us MAGICAL news that Ralph & I were expecting a baby due late January. We are happy to announce that IT’S A BOY. We are anxiously awaiting his arrival. The summer was spent trying to fill in as much fun as we could in between baseball games. Yes, the Kocher kids are quite the ball players. Some of our MAGICAL moments include: going to the fair, camping in MT, trips to the water park, fun at the splash pad, & of course weekends at the cabin. Ralph & I were also able to spend some time with his son Kolden at the MAGIC of his sister Martha’s wedding in June. Good time spent with his family… Summer soon ended and it was back to the MAGIC of school. Grant (10) is now in the 4th grade. He is involved in Boy Scouts, 4H, Hockey, Youth Group, and is now in his 2nd year of Piano. The one thing that really MAGICALLY shines is his ability to dance. This is his 7th year dancing at Drewitz School of Dance in Estevan. He has completed his first exam in Jazz & has moved up to Level 2. We are very proud of him. Micaela (8.5) is now in the 3rd grade. She is involved in Girl Scouts, 4H, Youth Group, and has just started Piano. She too MAGICALLY shines in dance and is taking both Jazz and Tap this year. Really is hard to believe that she too has been dancing for over 5 years. J Bethany “Little Red” (7) is now in the 1st grade. She is involved in Girls Scouts, 4H, Kid’s Club, Gymnastics and is in her 3rd year of dancing. The MAGIC in her revolves around that RED hair. You just never know what you are going to get with her. She is a true Spit Fire! Kolden, Ralph’s son, (6) lives in Valley City with his mother and 3 brothers. We don’t get to see him as often as we like, but he is a bright, funny, and adorable 6yr old that you cant help but fall in love with. He is in boy scouts. The MAGIC in him lies in his heart. He is SOOOOO sweet. Baby Kocher Hoversten is due to MAGICALLY enter the world via c-section January 22nd. We are so excited to be welcoming a new baby into this family. The kids are already fighting over who is going to change, and feed him. The nursery is about done, and things are all coming together. J Ralph and I have now been together 2 MAGICAL years. While I am not ready to throw any MAGIC I do’s out in the air, we are still very happy and that is all that matters. He works as the Manager for American Welding & Gas and seems to work about anyplace they need him. His home fort is Williston, but he also has worked in Sidney, Mt, and Minot. Just never know where he is going to be one week to the next. So thankful his company has provided him with housing. Anjelika.. Well, this is my 7th year of teaching preschool. Always such a MAGICAL reward to know I taught these kids the primary foundations they need to know to progress in school. Some days can prove a challenge, but in the end, the reward is always greater than the struggle. J I also am still employed with Easter Seals, and enjoy the MAGIC of helping my clients. That about wraps up our year of MAGIC. We hope this letter finds you all in good health & happy spirits for the New Year. J Facebook: Anjelika Berg Kocher, Anjelika.Kocher@sendit.nodak.edu