Wonderful Christmas and New Year's Celebrations!

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration with my family in Gladwin last week. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we also celebrated the holidays with Aron's family. We returned Monday and I ended up laying in bed for the next 3 days due to Strep Throat...ugh! I was finally up to getting out of the house today so we joined our neighborhood clan for a new year's celebration at a local bowling alley. The kids had a ball. I have put together a slide show to show off all the fun the kids have been having! Tonight Aron and I will celebrate quietly by sipping champagne and feeling thankful for another blessed year! Happy 2011 everyone!!!

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The Best Christmas Pageant EVER!

I promised pictures of Russell from his Christmas play tonight. His part was that of a sheep. His job was to keep baby Jesus warm. So precious. Nothing melts my heart more than children singing. Russell did not miss a beat. He knew every word of No Room At the Inn and every hand sign to go along. The best part was when he got his boogy on to Hark the Harald Angels Sing! What a riot!!!

No Room At the Inn

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Happy Birthday Jesus

It's a SNOW DAY!!! Hurray!!!

We got hit hard yesterday with some beautiful winter weather! Once the snow began it didn't stop. By mid-morning the kids were itching to get outside so we set off down the street to our neighborhood park for snowman making fun! As the day went on, the weather got colder and windier causing the roads to be a disaster. I woke up early this morning to a phone call that school was cancelled for the day. Yippee! After an early morning and freezing cold jog, I decided to be lazy and put back on pajamas. The kids are busy playing Chutes and Ladders while I take care of gift wrapping. It feels nice to actually be ahead of the game for once! We will end our day with Russell's school Christmas play tonight (he has the role of a sheep). Hopefully I will have pictures of his dramatic debut to post later.

The first thing Sloane wanted to do was eat the snow!

Both kids were busy trying to make the perfect snow angels.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

A family effort in making a snowman. Even Mac tried to help.

We need some eyes, Mom!

A Darling Christmas Musical

Last night we had a wonderful evening watching Sloane at her first school musical. These pre-schoolers had to be the MOST adorable little beings I have ever seen!!! As they sang about the miracle of our Lord's birth, I couldn't help but tear up. Nothing is sweeter than children singing J-E-S-U-S, J-E-S-U-S, J-E-S-U-S, Jesus is his name Oh! Sloane was just an angel as she sat up front with her friends singing her little heart out! Up next, Russell's Christmas play Monday night. Way too precious!!!

Here she is! Our beautiful baby girl!

Singing about the miracle of Jesus.
Here she is singing "Virgin Mary had a baby boy. The shepards came and the baby was born."

Grammy and Papa made the trip down to see Sloane's performance.

All done and ready for food! Sloane and Gracie in line for treats.

All tuckered out and ready to go home.

After a warm bath, the kids had fun decorating our windows with holiday window gels from Grammy and Papa.

My two angels!

We like to PARTY!!!

We have been busy over the last week with lots of celebrations including an early Christmas party and 2 birthday parties! It all began last Saturday with a visit from Aron's dad and Bev. They are heading to Florida on Monday and won't be home for Christmas so they brought Christmas to us! Bev brought all the supplies for holiday crafting and cookie decorating. The kids had a blast!!! We were spoiled with a delicious ham dinner and lots of presents.

Following this celebration, the kids headed off to daycare for a Candyland Christmas party. For a small fee, we were able to take the kids to daycare on Saturday evening. The entire facility was transformed into Candyland. It was amazing! While the kids partied at school with their friends and teachers, the parents had 6 hours of alone time on a Saturday night!!! The best part was 100% of the proceeds went to Promise Village, an organization for abused and neglected children. Aron and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner out and even got some shopping done.

Sloane did more finger licking than cookie decorating!

As did Russell!

Yeah! Hello Kitty!!!
We worked hard putting together Sloane's new floor puzzle.

A new game...Twister!

Trying it out. I think we need to practice right/left.

Mac was equally exhausted after our busy weekend.

Tis the Season to be JOLLY!

The Christmas spirit is filling up our house! We found our perfect Christmas tree Saturday night and spent all day Sunday decorating, decorating, decorating! Russell was totally into trimming the tree and did not stop until every last ornament was out of the boxes and on the tree. We only broke two during the process. Sloane enjoyed listening to Christmas music more than decorating. She danced around the house while wearing her new pajamas that state dancing makes me happy! Tonight the kids helped me hang their advent calendars in preparation for December 1st. They look forward to this tradition every year. It amazes me how much they remember from previous years. We have 25 FUN days ahead of us!!!

Getting out the Christmas lights and checking to see if they work.

One of Russell's handmade ornaments.
A fun tradition of counting the days to Christmas!

"Cool Mom! I appreciate this chart!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

This time of year always brings so many emotions. I am feeling overly thankful these days for so many things, too many to write about in a short blog message. However, I am sure you can figure most of them out...just look at my beautiful children, devoted husband, and caring family and friends. I will stop there before I begin shedding tears as I type. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL! I hope your "turkey day" was as fun and blessed as mine!

During our Thanksgiving festivities at my brother Keith's house, Sloane led the women in a game of Mickey Mouse BINGO. She also was busy playing Memory and Checkers. We have a game lover on our hands! Hopefully Santa follows through with her wish for a "Princess Game."

Katie and Travis' puppies were the hit of another family gathering. Russell and Sloane kept busy following them around and trying to hold them. As fast as these pups are growing, it won't be long before they are chasing the kids around!
Russell was sure to wear his Detroit Lions shirt in order to tease Uncle Keith - the Packer fan! Keith wasted no time torturing the kids with tickles and tackles until they surrendered yelling "GO PACKERS!"
Russell got just far enough away before yelling, "GO LIONS! PACKERS STINK!" He followed this up with a tackle of his own!

One final picture that I couldn't resist posting. My mom, my hero! Her courage, strength, love, and faith is overwhelming! I love you Mom!!! KEEP FIGHTING!!!

Lots to do in November!

For my side of the family November means ONE thing... DEER HUNTING! We headed to my grandparents' house last Sunday for a big family meal. The kids and I spent just the day there. Russell was busy hanging with the men preparing for the opening day of deer hunting. He checked out all the blinds and practiced shooting with his cross bow. Sloane spent the day playing and chatting with the women of the family. She spent time describing to Kelly her ideas of a perfect flower girl dress and then insisted that Katie and Kelly sit on either side of her for dinner. Russell on the other hand, insisted on sitting with the men while eating and watching football! This week we enjoyed a quick visit with my parents and then today we headed downtown Royal Oak for the annual holiday parade. The kids loved the music, dancers, dressed-up dogs, and of course SANTA CLAUS! We are looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving filled with lots of time for rest and relaxation!!!

Russell hanging with the men during dinner.

He is typically Papa's little shadow!

Both kids loved petting Katie and Travis' new puppies!
Checking out the Royal Oak Holiday Parade.
Russell with his buddy Antonio. Is Santa on his way?
Santa lead the crowd in a contest to see which side of the street could say the loudest "HO, HO, HO!"
Sloane and Alejandro found front row seats.

Birthday #5

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It's raking time in Royal Oak! The oak trees are quickly decorating the yards and streets all around us. Last night we had family raking night in preparation for the street sweeping truck that comes by on Friday. The kids each helped out and then once our leaf pile was high enough for Russell's standards, they dropped their rakes and took off for a flying leap into the pile! Oh, to be a kid again...

Happy Halloween!

Another busy October weekend has come to an end. Aron's mom came for a visit to celebrate Halloween with us (and to spoil the kids)! Russell had a friend's birthday party on Saturday and we hosted our annual neighborhood Halloween party today. I hope everyone had as much fun as Russell and Sloane did this Halloween! Let's pray for a blessed November filled with LOTS of good news!

Sloane, Anna, and Casey The gang on Altadena! Even Mac was trying to get into all the shots.
Russell, Alejandro, Zeke, and Antonio
Hot dogs and candy...what a night!
Lined up and ready for trick-or-treating excitement!
Grammy Carlson gave Russell early birthday presents! Is my baby boy really going to be 5?!?!
Russell celebrated his buddy William's birthday on Saturday.
Sloane had a Halloween party at dance class this week. Here she is with her good pal Sadie.