update of our lives

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted an update. It has been a fun, but VERY long, winter so far. We spent New Year's Eve at Jamie's cousin's house, our girls had fun playing with their girls and even managed to stay up until midnight. They even had an apple juice cheers at midnight! Jamie and I enjoyed playing board games and visiting with his cousin and wife. It was a fun and relaxing way to ring in the new year!

Apple juice cheers!

The girls decided to take another tennis class in January. It was the same class they took this past fall, and they loved it again. It has been their favorite sport so far! Although, now that tennis is over, they decided to try a volleyball class. They've only had one week, but they really enjoyed volleyball too.

Tennis Class 1/26/14

This year's Minnesota winter has been very long. There were five days in January where school was cancelled due to the subzero temperatures. Plus, we've had several snowstorms. Olivia and Violet love playing in the snow every morning at the bus stop. They usually ski, slide or roll down the pile of snow at the bus stop corner. Sometimes it's difficult to get them to leave the snow behind and get on the bus when it arrives!

On Valentine's Day, I went to school with the girls to help with their class party. They were so excited to have me there. Olivia especially was glued to my side and wanted me to follow her wherever she went. They introduced me to their friends, showed me where they hang their coats, where they sit, and what they do in class every morning. All of the kids sit on mats in the front of the room, and they recite the date, basic word sounds and vowels, and count by 10's, all in Spanish. After that, we started the party. There were four different stations that the kids rotated around: passing out valentines, snack, craft and Bingo. I helped at the snack table, which the girls were happy to attend on the second rotation. Each child had decorated a bag with their name on it, which the valentines were put into, so after the rotations were completed the kids got to peek into their bags and see their valentines. After class was over, the girls showed me how they gather their stuff and wait in line to walk down the hall to Adventure Club (the onsite child care program). We played a game there, then went to the cafeteria for school lunch. I haven't had a school lunch in many, many years, so it was kind of fun to be a kid again. Olivia and Violet showed me where to get a tray, how to pick out my food, and how to enter their code to pay. We had grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup, with salad and fruit, which was good on a winter day. After lunch, I gave the girls a choice of staying at Adventure Club or coming home with me, and they decided to come home with me. It was neat to see how they spend their school day!

Beginning of class

Station 1: Passing out valentines

Station 2: Snack for Olivia & Travon

Station 2: Snack for Violet & Lucy

Station 3: Craft time, Violet weaving hearts

Station 3: Craft time, Olivia weaving hearts

Station 4: Spanish Bingo

Looking at valentines

When we got home, I set up a special Valentine's Day scavenger hunt for the girls. They had fun following the clues and finding little treats! We had heart pizza for supper, which was a fun way to end the day.

The next day, Saturday, February 15, the girls were playing in the house and asked if they could build a fort. We said sure, so they turned the dining room table into this. I remember making forts like this with my sisters when I was little, so it was fun to see them do the same. They played in it most of the day and actually slept in there for two nights.

Outside of the fort

Getting ready to sleep in the fort

Violet & Olivia (and Mickey)

On Sunday, February 16, my parents stayed in a hotel close to us. We visited them most of the day, and the girls had a blast swimming in the pool. There was a smaller splash pool, but they spent most of their time swimming in the deep pool. They did a great job swimming and loved being thrown in the water by their uncles. They were worn out by the time we got home and went to bed early!

Olivia in the splash pool

Violet in the splash pool

cinderella

The girls and I went to the play "Cinderella" at the Children's Theater on Friday, December 27th. It was a very modern version of the story, complete with references to Justin Beiber and Twitter hashtags. It was very funny - we spent most of the time laughing! There was also a lot of audience participation and interaction. The play ended with everyone dancing to "YMCA," then as we left the theater, there was a dance party going on in the lobby with the actors. The girls thought it was pretty awesome to dance with people from the play, and they definitely busted out some moves! The lobby was even decorated with a big castle, and a horse and carriage, which the girls thought was pretty cool. It was a fun time!

It has been another great year! It makes me a little sad to think about how fast this year went, but I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life. Happy New Year!

The castle in the lobby

Violet & Olivia in front of the castle

Cinderella's carriage

christmas times

We celebrated Christmas with the Thronson family on Saturday, December 21st. It was chilly with weather in the single digits, but that didn't stop the kids from spending a few hours outside in the afternoon. The guys worked really hard at clearing off the pond, so the cousins loved going ice skating. Olivia learned some hockey skills from her cousins. After skating, the kids hit the driveway hill and went sledding. Finally, they wrapped up their outdoor activities by riding in a big sled behind the snowmobile driven by Uncle Jeff. Once inside, the kids played games and hung out together before getting ready for our official celebration. In the evening, everyone got dressed up. We took a fun but chaotic cousins photo (all of them were wound up), then Maya & Emma read the Christmas story. We had a delicious meal of prime rib and plenty of fixings. After the meal was our family talent show. Performances included Olivia doing a card trick, Violet dancing with William and Evan, Maya and Emma playing piano, William and Noelle making funny faces, Granny telling jokes, and Grandpa & Uncle Aaron singing a Christmas song. The kids finished the show by singing "Jingle Bells." It was a lot of fun to watch! Then we opened presents, which all of the kids were excited for. We tried to get them to open gifts one at a time which lasted a few rounds, then we let them go at their own speed. Violet was excited by her bow and arrow from Granny & Grandpa and her Barbie ornament from Terri & Aaron, and Olivia was excited by her Barbie cash register from Granny & Grandpa. We all stayed overnight at the farm, and spent most of the next day together. It was a very fun time spent with the family we love!

Skating

Sledding

Being pulled behind the snowmobile

Playing Uno with Granny

Olivia & Violet, all dressed up

Cousins…the only picture where you can see everyone's faces :)

Talent show finale: "Jingle Bells"

We celebrated with the Suchy Family on Monday, December 23rd. We had a fun and relaxing day! The girls were pretty excited to have a Christmas cookie after breakfast, what a special treat for a special day. Santa even made an early visit and dropped off some presents. He didn't come in the house, but left some special gifts outside the living room window! The girls were very excited and couldn't believe their eyes! The girls enjoyed opening presents again, and were very lucky (again) to receive many nice gifts. Olivia's favorite was a house for her Calico Critters which she got from Auntie Jill, and they both liked the Legos they received from Grandma & Grandpa Suchy. We had a nice meal in the evening, then hung out together and played games. The girls both put together the Lego sets they had received because they just couldn't wait! It was a fun and enjoyable day with family.

Cookies for breakfast? Only on Christmas!

Cousins!

Early visit from Santa

We headed home on Christmas Eve for our own family celebration. We went to church in the evening, then set the table all fancy for our meal of fettuccine alfredo. We piled the dishes on the counter and decided to leave them for another time so we could exchange gifts. Olivia and Violet were both super animated while opening gifts, they would yell "I love it!" after opening each gift, even before they knew for sure what it was! They also enjoyed watching Daddy open the gifts they bought with their own money (Skittles from Olivia, and Pop Rocks from Violet). The first gifts they wanted to play with were a horse and stable, and dolls, from one of their current favorite movies "Barbie: A Pony Tale." They also loved the new pajamas we gave them, which they changed into right away, even though they already had pajamas on! After gifts, we watched "Charlie Brown Christmas," then left milk and cookies for Santa. The girls said they were going to stay up all night and wait for him!

Getting ready to open gifts

Leaving cookies for Santa

On Christmas Day morning, the girls woke up to full stockings and a gift from Santa. They were thrilled that they both received the gift they asked for - a bracelet maker for Violet, and Calico Critters for Olivia. Then we had a good breakfast, and at 10:00 am, received a phone call from Mickey and Minnie Mouse, telling the girls we are going on a Disney cruise in March. After getting over being nervous about rain sinking the boat, and sharks attacking the boat, the girls were quite excited. :) Olivia asked how many days we would be on the cruise, and I told her four. She ran upstairs, and when she didn't come back after awhile, I went to check on her. She had stacked a pile of four pairs of leggings, four long sleeve shirts, and four pairs of socks in the middle of her bedroom floor. She had also packed a backpack of stuff for the plane. Apparently she wanted to get her packing done in plenty of time! I am very excited for the trip, it should be a blast.

Later on Christmas Day, we we went ice fishing on a small lake near our house. We caught a lot of nice crappies! It was a fun day, and a great way to wrap up our Christmas together.

We are blessed in so many ways…I hope that Olivia and Violet continue to appreciate all that we have. It was fun to experience Christmas through their eyes! I feel very fortunate to share my life with a husband and daughters that I love so much!

Violet with her bracelet maker

Olivia with her Calico Critters