winter wonderland

I took the camera with me this morning when I went to get the mail.  It is so gorgeous this morning!  I have no idea how much snow we got yesterday but more is on the way. 

The huge beehive from last summer is still hanging on.

This is our driveway and yes, it is treacherous in the winter.

But it makes a great sledding hill!

christmas 2010

This year we did not travel back to Nebraska for Christmas. We had a cozy Christmas at home, just the 5 of us.
Christmas Eve we went to church and then came home and ate soup, salad and cheese and crackers.

Elle worked on her letter to Santa while I got the table set.

It's fun to make it fancy and eat by candlelight!

Ava did her favorite pose for the camera.

After dinner, we kept with our tradition of letting the kids open one gift - pajamas.  Then we played games, ate cookies and drank egg nog until bedtime. 

Look at those excited faces on Christmas morning!

Santa brought the Bitty Baby doctor kit she had hoped for.

A mask to go with the new sled.

A model airplane to put together.

Kit!

I couldn't pick a favorite between these.  Love that smile!

A Bitty Baby with hair!  The part about her baby having hair was really important to her.  She named her Alice and has cut her hair once already.  Thankfully not too much so you can't even tell.  I asked her why she did it and her exact words were, 'She wants to look trendy.'  She promises she won't do it again.  We shall see.

Webkinz and fluffy pillows from Grandpa Dale and Grandma Jan!

Loving this fun gift from Uncle Scott and Aunt Terri.  No, I don't serve like this....I just can't take normal pictures, if you can't tell.  :)

So thankful for this family that I've been blessed with.

merry christmas

Is anyone else wondering how Christmas is already over and the New Year is almost here?!  Time sure does fly by.  It was a rainy morning here and now it is snowing.  The forcast says that we could get up to a foot of snow!  I was sitting here at the computer looking through all of our Christmas pictures and thought of the blog.  I had to check in to even see what my last post had been about.  It's been awhile. 

My parents and sisters came up for a visit the weekend before Christmas.  Elle and Ava had their Christmas dance show that Saturday and were so excited to have them here to watch.  Dad and Scott were able to get some ice fishing in, we went tubing at the ski hill by our house, stayed up late watching movies, played games and opened gifts.  It was a fun weekend.  Here are some of the pictures, several of which were taken by my mom. 

Ava and I riding to the top of the tubing hill.

Riding down as a group.  So fun!

Elle zooming down. 

Thomas at the top of the skiing hill.  He had to show off a little for Grandma.

Ice fishing with Grandpa. 

Dad was happy to catch a walleye.

Opening presents.  Polly Pockets!

Do you think he looks happy with his gift?!  He has wanted Monopoly for a long time.

Mall Madness!

Ava and Hailee

Me, my sister Nicole, and her boyfriend Mitch.

I have to do these next pictures as a little story.  I crack up everytime I look at them!  My parents gave us a cooler of meat to stock our freezer.  A gift we love but not one that exactly makes a great picture.  Scott insisted though -

'Scott, I do not want to take a picture with the meat.'

'Ok, fine.'

'Oh my, get the chicken out of here.'

'This has got to be the dumbest gift opening picture ever.'

'You are so crazy, but  I love you.' 

naptime prayer

Ava's prayer at naptime today -

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this beautiful day.  Thank you that I got to have one piece of candy.  Teach me how to like olives. 

Amen

Lunch today was leftover hamburger and black olive pizza.  I was a mean mom and said everyone had to eat the olives if they wanted Halloween candy for dessert, even the two kids who think they don't like them.  I smiled at her prayer after lunch.

halloween 2010

This year we had two adorable dancing bumblebees.

And one super cool snowboarder.

Ava and Elle led the way most of the time as we went from house to house.  It wasn't until the last house that she had Dad carry her. 

the many faces of ava

This afternoon it was almost 70 degrees.  So nice.  I laid a blanket on the porch with some pillows to soak up some sunshine with the girls.  Ava wanted her picture taken so these are a few of her little photoshoot.  This is her sweet face. 

This is her serious face.  The scar on her chin is from jamming out to Justin Bieber.  She's got Bieber Fever.  She was really getting into her dance moves.  She did a big spin, fell and hit her chin on the window trim. Poor girl!

Crazy face.  Crazy Hair.  Crazy Girl!

Love her!

leaf raking time

This morning it was leaf raking time.  It's so nice to have good helpers!

You gotta take a little time to have Dad toss you into the big leaf pile.  I like how she's plugging her nose like she's getting thrown in the lake.  :)

Ava's turn!

This just might be his last time to mow the yard for the year. 

Hope you are having a great weekend!  I need to cheer on the Huskers now!