Santa

We took the kids to see Santa at the mall again this year...and we were not impressed.  Here's a pic we got.

Santa kinda creeped me out and the kids were a little skittish as well.  Maybe next year we'll go up to the twin cities in search of a Santa that doesn't give me the heebie-jeebies.  Oh well...

Our Rising Stars

 Kaylee was a narrator in the fifth grade production of "A Christmas Carol."  Here is a picture of her during final bows.

Kaylee looks like she popped out of a Dicken's book

The kids also did very well in their Christmas program (I wonder how long our school district can get away with the Christian celebration - though there was one Kwanzaa song and one Hanukkah song.)

 

Tanner's Preschool Program

Tanner's preschool at the YMCA had their Christmas Program last week.  He did a great job and even threw in a little James Brown towards the end.  I've posted all the videos for the benefit of Grandparents who live too far away to see it live. (Sorry to the rest of you...though I think he's dang cute in all of them if you wanna watch 'em.)

Merry Christmas!

Halloween 2010

We had a great time carving pumpkins this year.  (Don't know why Dallin is shirtless - he has a thing against clothing lately...)

Kaylee getting squishy with the seeds

Handsome Tanner and his pumpkin

 

Emma concentrating on the perfect pumpkin

Since Halloween fell on a Sunday this year, our festivities centered around our church's Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday night.  Aaron and the kids had the great idea of attaching Mormon.org cards to all our candy and setting it out for trick-or-treaters Sunday night.

Pretty Scary!

What a cute dragon!

Kaylee was Hermione and Katelyn was Ginny

Tanner and the Storm pirates

Emma, some Stewarts and a Storm

Lookie what I found!

I found this pic on our camera and laughed so hard.  I don't know who it is (though I'm pretty sure it's one of the boys).

Okay...Emma just informed me it's Tanner since she was the photographer on this one.

Watch out Kristi Yamaguchi...

 Both of our girls tried ice skating this fall.  They had tons of fun and I was pleasantly surprised how well they caught on for only being on ice once before. 

Emma and her friend Avery

Kaylee

Goodbye Roxie...Hello Ron & Harry (for a little while anyway...)

Well, we had to find a new home for our sweet Roxie.  Back in October, I had been getting really busy in the middle of the semester when one day I realized that she spent more time in her kennel than out of it.  She was getting really cranky (I'll admit we all were) and so we found a wonderful retired couple in Lake Crystal with a large fenced in backyard and another dog about Roxie's age.  We just got pictures and an update from them and she looks very happy and healthy.

So...to help the kids deal with saying goodbye to Roxie, we got two adorable Roborovski hamster - which the kids promptly named Harry & Ron.  They are about the size of two furry golf balls and are really friendly with the kids - well, they were really friendly with the kids.  Unfortunately, after 2 months of no incidents, Ron killed Harry (I don't think he read the books...)

My baby in preschool? Really?

Well, I didn't cry.  I didn't even get teary.  But I think it's hitting me now as I reflect.  Great.

Here are some pics that I got, though I must have been really distracted because none of them came out really great.  It was a madhouse dropping him off - kids crying, parents crying, a million cameras going.  Poor kids.  They'll all be traumatized.  Tanner had fun though.  Didn't even give us a second thought as he jumped right in.

Handsome man all ready for school!!

He insisted on a picture of his backpack.  Poor boy doesn't realize the stigma that comes with secondhand stuff.

Hanging up the backpack in his cubby.  Yes, I realize it says Steven.  It really is his cubby though.  I promise.

I had to get one more pic in - taken through the window.  I'm so proud of Tanner getting right to work on his puzzle.  No crying fits or jumping on chairs, like some other kids...

Our little running back...

Dallin has been so excited to play flag football and he finally had his first game on Saturday.  We weren't sure what to expect, maybe some first graders running after the ball and tackling each other even though it's FLAG football.  We were pleasantly surprised.  About half the team was in lala land, but some of the boys were really good and looked like they knew what they were doing.  Dallin really surprised us, as we are not a football watching family and the most we've done is toss the pigskin around the yard with him a little.  He did great and had 3 really great runs.  (He thinks he got a touchdown, but he went out of bounds at like 2 feet from the end zone - we'll just let him keep thinking he scored...)  He's just about the littlest guy on the team, but he's one of the fastest kids they have (ok, now I'm bragging.)  We'll have to see how the rest of the season pans out.  We also made some great friends with another family who has a boy on the team (and is also in Dallin's first grade class) and a girl who is in Emma's third grade class.  Should be fun!

Ready for the play!

Back to School

As most of you know, I have been waiting for this day for (it seems) forever!  I do love my children, and I love to spend time with them, but this summer was about 3 weeks too long.  Now we can move forward with our new routine and we will all be happy!  Well, I'll be happy anyway...

Everyone got the teacher they wanted and I think they're all wonderful.  We have several pictures that Tanner snuck into on the first day of school, but I will spare you those because he was in his skivvies.  

Dallin and Mrs. Corcoran

Dallin lookin' handsome on the first day of school

Emma & Mrs. Studier

Emma ready for the first day

Kaylee & Mrs. Dikau

Kaylee so cute for the first day

 My gorgeous kids - ready to conquer the world!

Double Digits!!

So, the Kaylee-girl turned 10!  Though I am feeling very old because of this, Kaylee is feeling tweeny and fabulous!  She is growing up into a responsible, passionate, beautiful young lady.  I'm so grateful she's ours!

Kaylee at about 1 month

One of my favorites!

Kaylee & Katelyn

Kaylee getting ready to blow those babies out

Kids!

The kids have been driving me CRAZY this week!!!  They are getting so bored and I'm getting worn out.  School starts 3 weeks from today and I'm running out of things for them to do.  Today we cleaned (like we do everyday - according to my kids I'm a very mean mom), went to the YMCA (I had training for my new class), we had lunch and quiet time (again with the mean mom comments), then Kaylee wanted to make sugar cookies.  So I backed off and let her make the dough all by herself and then the kids cut the cookies out using ALL of our cookie cutters - Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc.  Now they're all downstairs playing the Wii (it's been raining on and off today) and I need to get dinner going.  I hope it's nice enough to go to the pool tomorrow!  I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel on ideas to keep them busy.  I did get a cute video of Tanner playing with cookie dough.  And I found a picture of Kaylee with Roxie on my camera - though I'm pretty sure I did not take that one.  Judging by the mischievous smile on Kaylee's face, I would bet she got Emma to take the picture, even though they're not allowed to lay a finger on my camera...hmmm...

Kaylee and the pooch

I did it!!

Yay!  The blog is completely updated!  Now, to keep up...

Aaron is home after a week with the young men.  He went with them on their High Adventure trip - kayaking in the Apostle Islands.  Next time it'll have to be just me and him.  They came home a day early because of wet everything (sleeping bags, tents, clothes, etc.)  He's getting ready to start teaching Seminary (an early morning scripture study class for the high school kids in our church).  Aaron starts duty days tomorrow and then classes start at MSU next Monday, so I have one more week to get the house, YMCA and Primary (was just called as President a month ago) settled before I add studying to the pile.  I'm taking Microbiology, a Marriage and Family class (hoping it'll be easy-peasy) and a Nursing Perspectives class.  Shouldn't be too bad this semester.  I'm only teaching water aerobics on Saturday once every 6 weeks, but I am going to be teaching an Express Body Sculpting class on Tues/Thurs at the YMCA.  My knee is still bugging me, so I have to bow out of the Mankato half-marathon.  I'm finally OK with that.  I will be overhauling my long term training goals, so we'll see how that pans out. 

The kids are bored out of their minds.  Mankato schools don't start until Sept. 9, so we still have about 4 weeks.  And the pool closes this Saturday - aaagh!!!  The girls are still trying to decide what extracurricular stuff to do, though it sounds like ice skating lessons might be it.  Emma doesn't want to do Girls on the Run.  *sniff*  Oh well.  Dallin will be doing flag football and floor hockey this fall.  Tanner is starting preschool...my baby!!!

That's what's been going on with us.  Stay tuned for more...

Wisconsin Dells

On the way back from Chicago, we stopped in Wisconsin Dells and stayed 3 days at The Polynesian water resort.  The kids had a blast and I even got some poolside reading in. 

Cute kids!

Emma chillin' in the lazy river

Kaylee after a big slide

Dallin (I'm sure he's having fun despite the face...)

Daring Tanner

Dallin thought going headfirst was funner than feet first

Tanner having too much fun

All tuckered out

My favorite time of the day!

Trip to Chicago

After a crazy, busy, non-relaxing summer, we finally got a chance to take a short vacation.  We drove down to Chicago to visit our good friends, the McPheters.  We had so much fun!

Millie & Tanner

Averie & Kaylee

waiting for breakfast at the Bongo Room

got this pic of Averie without her knowing

Tanner showing off his towers of cream and butter

This was the favorite out of all the dishes - Brioche french toast

Red velvet pancakes

Lemon blueberry pancakes with mascarpone something-or-other on top - mmmmmmm

The Jeffrey & McPheters broods

snuggling up in the basement

I love this pic of the guys - this is outside of Frontera Grill (a restaurant owned by Rick Bayless)

At the splash park

hanging out with the McPheters

Kaela & Emma

Millie

Tanner gettin' crazy

cute Isabel

Kaylee & Emma having more water fun

cute pic of Isabel & Kaylee

Dallin trying to outsmart the fountain

good lookin' kids after church

Emma & Isabel

Kaela, Isabel, & Kaylee