The Little Elves have been busy

Today the temps finally rose above 25 degrees in Central MN, so we ventured to the park with the neighborhood kids.  I failed to get a video of the kids going down the covered slide.  It had ice at the end so the kids shot right out of it into a soft pile of snow.  So much fun!

On our way home, we found this great-big pile of snow to climb and have snowball fights!

The elves love all the snow we've had these past two months!  Have you been playing outside?

The week before Christmas

 Eme found JOY in un-decorating and re-decorating the Christmas tree.

 Griffin had a chat with Santa.

The kids had Santa on the brain.

My cup runneth over.... Psalm 23:5

Our Holidays have been very full this year.

Full of PEACE

Full of JOY

Full of LOVE

Hope your has been too!

Our 2010 Christmas Letter

Christmas Greetings!  We have enjoyed getting your Christmas greetings in the mail.  Going to the mailbox is the motivation Eme needs to go outside these bitterly cold days.  Your pictures and cards are well studied and throughly enjoyed.  Thanks!  As for us, this is our Christmas letter while we try to save a few resources this year.  Thanks for tuning in!  This is what 2010 brought for us:

Griffin turned 3 (he'll officially be 4 January 1011).

He's our energetic boy who loves playing outside.
He learned to ride a two-wheeler this summer, 
took ice skating lessons, goes to Sunday School and has preschool two mornings a week. He changes into a new superhero by the hour and loves to play cars.

Eme turned 2 in August.

 She keeps us laughing with her pronunciation and exploration of words ("This is calicious!" (delicious)

Emerson loves reading, animals, playing dollies, having tea time and any new adventure (camping, hiking, parks & zoo). 
She loves being around babies (luckily she'll have a new cousin come March).  You'll find her pushing around a doll stroller and being a very attentive Mama.    

Going to our first Twins game at Target Stadium was a hit!

  We went with a group of 16 and sported Pavano mustaches.  

One of my favorite moments of the year was having a few date nights with my husband.   

I took on a new adventure this fall with starting my own Norwex business.  It's the perfect compliment to being home with the kids.  I also got back on the volleyball court in the Lanesboro Tournament this summer and play league this winter. I continue to enjoy gardening, sewing, walking and now knitting!

Keir continues work at Brown Printing as a Technical Analyst.  He plays hockey during the week and continued showcasing his handy-man skills (and building his tool collection) while building a shed in the backyard this summer.  Recently he raised funds & awareness for cancers affecting men by participating in Movember.

Our Christmas card gives you a shot of our family favorite event of the year- vacationing for two weeks up North.  We spent time with both sides of the family, camped, swam, walked across the Mississippi, 

hiked, and played on the beach.  It was ideal and we cherished our time as a family.  

Our Christmas wish is that you, our friends and family, to be happy, healthy and enjoy life.  We feel blessed to have you in our lives and hope we can find special moments to spend with you in 2011.

You can always find us here on our blog to keep an eye on what we're up to.  Don't forget to leave a post so we know you are visiting us!

Preparing for Christmas- day 5

Oh, oh making Gingerbread Cookies is fun!

We used the recipe from our Gingerbread Mouse book.  It's yummier than I expected!

2 2/3 cups of flour

1/2 t. baking soda

2 1/2 t ground ginger

1 1/2t cinnamon

1 3/4 c packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

Sift dry ing. in large bowl

Beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add egg and vanilla, beat until bleanded.

Stir in flour mixture, blending well.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 9ish minutes.  

Prepping for Christmas- Day 4

We merrily went to pick out a tree at the Y's Club.  The proceeds go to scholarships at the YMCA for children. What a great cause!  We easily picked out a tree while the kids had fun skidding on the ice.  We were able to decorate the next day.  First I thought we had to trim the bottom branch as it hung to low, then I realized it was because it's the only place Eme and Griffin were hanging ornaments!

Preparing for Christmas- day 3

 Today brought the trimming of Grandma's tree.  Griffin loved "decorating" and Eme loves to look.  When she went into Grandma's house and saw all the Christmas decorations, she took her time and studied each one intensly.

Here, Grandma and Eme went outside to see the Christmas lights once it was dark.  Notice, no snow.  Now, 24 hours later (11/29/10 @ 7pm), a blizzard.

Preparing for Christmas- day 2

Baking with Grandma & cousins is extra special