Another busy weekend

This weekend was a blast! Busy but a blast. Yesterday we went to the play "The Best Christmas Pagent Ever" It is such a good show and the kids did a wonderful job. Today we had church and then the kids got a couple of their presents early. Brandi got a pair of cross country skis from Grandpa Jim and Grandma Becca. I said to her "Pretty cool Christmas present huh?" Her reply was "Better than your regular Christmas present" with a big smile. She and Rebecca skied all over the place this afternoon.
We also went sledding. Kaj's hands got cold so he was wearing Dad's mittens.

Everyone hiking up the hill after having just gone down. The hill was wonderful today.

The inner tube is loads of fun. This was the picture before. I should have taken one after. Rebecca I think was quite certain that she had used up one of her nine lives. I heard her and Brandi talking after they went on the tube the first time. They were describing their journey and Rebecca was trying to say Brandi was doing all the screaming but Brandi wouldn't let her get away with it.

First run for Grandma and Grandpa. They had some pretty big smiles on their faces.

Kaj also got some skis for Christmas. He is pretty good on them.

Kaj also got a digger from his Grandma Gert, which other than a short stint outside, he has been on for most of the day. You have a laugh a little when he is running a back hoe in the livingroom, wearing his mickey mouse underwear (backwards) declaring "I am not a toddlar, toddlars are two, I am a big boy"

The day started off with church though which was a busy start. The kids had their program and then we also got to light the advent wreath.

Brandi did the reading while I lite the candles. I think my job was harder. She did amazing. She just went right up and did the deal. Everyone loved her and told her so afterwards.

During the program our kids were angels, literally and figuratively but this kid stole the show. I couldn't quite tell if he wanted to be up there or not. He didn't want to sit with his parents either.

The angel choir. How cute are they.

One more story from this last week. I was making supper(rice a roni and chicken). Kaj says to me "Mommy I am eating rice but no chicken because I am allergic that's the plan" I started to say something and he interrupts me with "I am not arguing with you" and turns around and starts eating his rice! I am in such big trouble.

Bentlyville

This last weekend we went to Bentlyville. We took the train from the Edge which was very cool.
The lights

The Bentlyville castle. It is quite fun to go if you get a chance. Dress very warm though because it is not warm there even if they do have fires going all over the place to warm you up.

We took the doubledecker train over. It was Skinner's first time on the train. Not nearly long enough of a ride to really enjoy but it was very cool.

Kaj and Brandi on the train.

The weekend before we went to Santa's workshop put on by the Girl Scouts. They have crafts, food, face painting(Sophie has a fish bowl on her face), gifts to buy and then a special room that the kids can go into to get presents for their parents. The girl scouts wrap up the presents for you so the parents don't know what it is.

Kaj got his face painted like a dog.

Brandi got a heart and something else on the other cheek, I don't remember what it was.

Kaj got an early Christmas present. About 16 years early but what do you do. He does have to share it with his Dad right now.

Anything but Quiet

My child continues on his roll of going to bed at 10 or later and getting up at 7. Three year olds must require more sleep than that. At least I thought they did until Kaj. This weekend Brandi came again and we went shopping yesterday morning and then did the Santa's workshop that the girl scouts put on. Then we picked up her friend Sophie and she stayed until Sunday. Yesterday they went sledding, played house, decorated cookies and tore apart the house. They and Kaj finally went to bed at 11:15. I should say fell asleep then.

Grandpa called last night and asked if Kaj would like to go to the Messiah. Kaj said "No, we actually if it is a Rock n' Roll concert I'll go". So I decided he would go. We will see if he thinks it is Rock n' Roll enough for him.

We did church this morning and dropped off Sophie. Then headed home at lunch and went sledding again. It is a pretty sweet hill. Kaj has figured out though that he is small enough that he can still get a ride back up the hill and doesn't have to walk.

Happy belated Birthday to Auntie Karen! We miss you.

Thankful

It was a beautiful day today in the Northwoods. Skinner and Kaj set up the slidding hill yesterday so today it was good to go.

Kaj and Brandi down by the Devil Track River at the bottom of the hill.

Kaj started out walking up and down the hill but he just couldn't take it anymore and Brandi had to pull him up the hill the last two times and then all the way home.

This was on our way to go sledding.

We visited Grandpa Bill last night and then had dinner with Gert. It had been a few weeks since the kids and I had seen Bill and even longer for Skinner. Last time we saw him he just sat there and didn't say anything or do anything. He wasn't walking to meals anymore and as the care center put it "failing". Last night as we went up to him he knew who everyone was and was talking and shaking hands and he wanted his cane so that he could get around. Skinner was like "yah sure Dad what ever you want" but one of the assistants there told us that he has decided he is going to start walking again. He of course decided to do it the first time when no one was around. Luckily he didn't fall, but I guess he has been walking all over the place and eating very well. It was a great visit.

On the way back from Thanksgiving.

Some of us had a little too much fun.

Dinner at Blackwoods.

The Aunts. The kids had a great first overnight with them. Kaj kept them up until 10:30 and decided to skid poop across the toilet seat at Doris' when Mom wasn't there. Doris cleaned it up all by herself and I only heard about it a few times and only really got one good look from Doris that said "I said he could stay over when he was potty trained". I have been waiting to get some pictures of the overnight which I will post later. Doris had a puzzle out and we just about finished that for her. Brandi and Doris were playing duets on the piano and Bette was pretty much trying to make sure dogs and children all got along. Kaj had her busy for a long time when we got there and I am still not sure what all they were doing. Skinner and I stayed at the hunting shack which was great. The outhouse could use a feminine touch though and a can of lysol.

Grandpa and Auntie at Thanksgiving. We are just so thankful that the weather turned out great and we were all able to be together.

Kicked back

Spa Weekend! Karli, Brandi and myself went to the waves of Superior Spa for the day saturday. Brandi had a mani/pedi and massage, Karli had a pedi, massage and facial and I had the same as Karli. We spent the whole day just getting pampered and had a wonderful time. Brandi said she wants to do it every time she is here. I told her she can get a job. But I think it is something that us girls will have to do again from time to time. Anyone is welcome to join in when they are in the neighborhood!

One kicked back Cowboy

Grandma and Grandpa came over for awhile tonight. Brandi got her first bible today in church so they brought over some of their favorite bible verses for her to be able look up. If anyone else has any they would like to pass on I would appreciate it.

The cowgirl out for a stroll

Brandi figuring out the self timer on the camera.

Batman!

Happy Halloween!
Kaj is cleaning up after we took out the windwo

Getting ready!

We got our pumkins all ready for Halloween!
Kaj took a picture of me. I couldn't figure out which ones he had taken because he is getting pretty good at taking pictures

Grandpa helping Kaj draw his design and carve his pumkin. This was after dinner which was also after Brandi took him down to the river to go and look at the caves.

Kaj posing before we got started.

Ol'punkin head!

Odds and Ends

Squirrel hunting
Kaj and Brandi cleaning up the yard

Picnic at Divide Lake

Kaj in his new sweatshirt from Great Grandma Jackie.

We took a drive a couple of weeks ago when we dropped off Brandi. This was one of our pit stops at Divide Lake

Skinner and the kids picking railroad ties on the range.

Back at Divide Lake inspecting the shore.

Brandi and Kaj passed out.

Picnic at Divide Lake.

A couple of cute stories. Kaj calls M&Ms either lemonades or lemon m's. I think he thinks the yellow ones are lemon not sure why they all have that name. Also tonight he pretty much read me a book called Dooby Dooby Moo. He actually had it pretty close to exactly what the actual words are. I was floored. The other thing he did tonight which was a first at home was he drew a picture of a face (Brandi). It was a circle with eyes a nose and mouth. She then was given legs like a spider. It was pretty cool and amazing because normally he does scribbles or trees.