Kettle Lake Concert

Last Thursday evening we were treated to a delightful and joy filled Christmas concert put on by the kindergarten-2nd grade students at Kettle Lake. Grandma and Grandpa Blackmer came down earlier in the day to play with the grand kids, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner and slipped into the Christmas spirit while listening to Ella and her classmates sing songs from the holidays. It was heartwarming. I am so glad to live in a community that celebrates with such a lovely production. I am grateful for all the hard work and thoughtfulness the teachers put into this special family event. Ella (and all the other children) knew all their songs and the motions to the songs. Here are a few pictures of the evening. Ella and a half of the other girls in her class. There is a very high ratio of boys to girls in her class this year.

The three sections of kindergarten from her building all on the risers!

This sort of thing is right up Ella's alley. She loves practicing and performing. She was so precious just singing away and VERY focused. The whole evening was just precious. As we were leaving the concert the ground was covered in snow and everyone had their Christmas lights and decorations on display. We woke up to a surprise on Friday morning: I had a snow day due to all the accumulation. Shockingly, Caledonia was in session. Carter had joyfully traveled home with Grandma and Grandpa for an over night and special one on one time. So I dropped Ella & Christian at daycare and headed out for a 5 mile run at the gym and some much needed Christmas shopping! By the time I picked the kids up at Jan's they were ready for a nap and I got my baking for the rest of the weekend's festivities done. So much fun to be had in the month of December! Many more pictures to come!

Sounds of the season

The dear ladies putting on the Christmas concert at church choose to put Carter CENTER. STAGE. Let me tell you, it was quite a show! If I wasn't keeled over in hysterics I was sucking air through my teeth in nervousness. My he.sure.is. SOMEthing! Many more posts to come, but I had to squeeze this postcard-worthy shot in.

The First Week of Christmas.

Monday-back to the grind, recovery from long holiday break (see previous post)
Tuesday- Laundry catch up, cranky kids, LOTs of grocery shopping, Bible study with small group
Wednesday- Clean house, shop for presents, RUN, swimming lessons for kids
Thursday- put out a few more holiday decorations, ironing, dinner for seven, Ella's Christmas concert (consider the possibility of shoveling snow in the morning)
Friday- Catch up on anything and everything I have missed this week, read more Breaking Dawn, have a glass of wine and get to bed early
Saturday- Kids Christmas Program and celebration at church 11:45-3) Blackmer Christmas Party 4-?. prep food, kids, and gifts=prepare for colossal meltdowns for all 3 children.
Sunday- Church and Birthday celebrations...prep to repeat for Monday.

Nap....could I fit one in anywhere??

Thanksgiving

For those of you who know me well, you know family is hugely important to me. Many people think it's crazy to load up the van and drive 12 plus hours to spend a few days with our family. However, we find it fun and exciting. We are so blessed with such great family. Spending the days and nights hanging out with them laughing and relaxing was a treat. Here are some pictures of our trip. I couldn't wait to get my hands on 4 month old Logan. My WORD, that is possibly the happiest and most content baby I have ever met. I always heard the crazy stories of how aunties loved to smooch their nieces and nephews and well, I am here to tell you, I have joined that club. But hey, look at those gorgeous, chubby cheeks! Who could stay away from them? Look at how alert he is! He is just cooing and bonding and doing all that great stuff that makes parents (and grandparents) tear up as they see these kids bond. Pulling on my heart strings, since we don't live next door. More lovey time with the little chooch!

One really nice thing about going to the grandparents house= we don't need to bring toys. My mother in law (bless your heart Sandy) has meticulously stored and maintained so many of the boys toys from 30 some years ago. The kids are perpetually entertained. WOW! Scott's old transformers. Can you believe it??

The Cousins:

Elle adores being the oldest grandchild for many reasons. Now that there are other little ones around, she loves to dote on them, snuggle them, and do anything she can to "help out" with them. We have always known she has the maternal instinct but this weekend while she had lots of time with Logan, she was able to showcase her abilities. She loved holding him, talking to him, helping with diaper changes, bringing toys, and even just sitting near him. There is a part of me that is sad for her that she won't have another younger sibling. She begs for a sister, but in all honesty I think this family can only handle the two of us! :)

Of course whenever we are at Grandmas we can always expect the following things:

........A beautiful table overflowing with delicious food

.........Lots of love and snuggles

.......Endless laughter and entertainment

.......We are a game oriented family, just look how young we get them started playing cards.

........Lots of love and affection (even a mess or two)

.......male bonding (Ryan- note I didn't use a picture with Carter with his hand down his pants)

........Girl time

Kissy faces

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandma's house we go! The van knows the way (well at least with the help of the GPS) and we love to stay! Thanks for all the great memories, Gram!

It was so much fun this year to have ALL five of the grand kids together for a few days. As you can see from the pics the house was brimming with energy, love, and giggles.

November Fun

I always feel like life after Halloween is a blurr! Weather-wise we have had a very nice November allowing the kids to spend lots of time outside exploring the woods, playset, and their outdoor toys. On the rare years, we are blessed with a prolonged fall, it makes the cold, gray wintery months seem a little less imposing. But now that Thanksgiving is behind us, let it snow! We have all the sleds, tubes, and snow merry making toys all down from the attic-ready for the first hint of snow!
We spent a fun filled 5 days in MN for the Thanksgiving Holiday (many great pics and posts to come) but I thought I would post a few pics of the fun we had before we left.

Making "turkey" cookies:

Christian was so excited for the cookie making. He was running around squealing. "took-eeee, tooo---keee!" But once we set him down he inhaled all the decorations and never actually got the project put together.

Elle and Carter got theirs put together but I could barely snap this picture before they "gobbled" them up!

YUMMY!!!

Watch out, Dad, always LOVES a good cookie!

Making more to share with friends at daycare.The boys enjoying some outdoor time. Carter is trying to get Christian to playbut he was more interested in pointing at the air traffic passing up above. Looks like a recipe for disaster, huh??

Ella had a special Heritage Day at school. Grandpa Blackmer was her guest of honor. They had a morning filled with art projects, a story teller, guest and ended with a delicious Thanksgiving lunch. It was a special day for them. Here Elle is modeling a few of the projects they made for Thanksgiving.

Sitting on her drum and "shaker"

Hi HO!

Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to Minnesota we go. We are scheduled to leave at noon. on. dot. We are hoping for a nice, relaxing and non-eventful drive today. The bags are packed, the kids are excited, and we are anxious to spend some quality time with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! It will be a packed house, brimming with energy, laughter, and of course delicious food.

Look out Grandma- here WE COME! Looking forward to posting wonderful pics of all our fun! Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Many blessings.

Christmas wish- from the 3 1/2 year old

This morning Carter gazed at me with an angelic look on his face and said, "Mom I want an iphone for Christmas. One just like Uncle Evan's!" My eyes wide in amusement I asked, "why is that??" His matter of fact reply: "It has cool games on it and is just like my Leapster."

If our three and half year old is "only" asking for an iphone, what will the 6 year old want?? HMMM!