Fun Friday

We went on a tour of the Coon Rapids fire station today. The kids had fun learning about how fire fighters live while they are on duty. Just as we were checking out the trucks, they got a call and had to go. That was a great way for them to learn about how fast the fire fighters have to get going.

After the tour, we spent the rest of the morning playing at gym day with some home school friends. Mommy hasn't been feeling well, so it was a great way to pass the time and give mommy a break!

Miss O and Miss I just now discovered that the moon is full, and are having a dance party to celebrate. Have a good weekend!

Miss O's birthday

Today was Miss O's birthday. We spent the morning at a nature center class, learning about how animals survive in the winter.

For part of the class, they made a nest to try and keep a "mouse" from freezing. The mouse was a film canister filled with hot jello. Then we went for a walk, and came back later to see if our mouse survived (meaning it didn't freeze) - and it did! Good job girls!

The birthday ended with cake and presents. Happy birthday Miss O! We love you!

Birthday party

Miss O and Miss I had their first kid birthday party this year. Since their birthdays are so close, they had a joint party. The theme was snowmen. We made sock snowmen, played pin the nose on the snowman and a snowman relay, and had a snowman cake! Happy birthday girls! Love you!

Winter fun

Sorry, I can't figure out how to get this picture rotated. But here it is - Ato T has a walker, and took his first steps at Physical Therapy yesterday!

The girls are really enjoying the snow this winter.

Miss I's birthday

Miss I's birthday is a popular day. It's also Auntie Stef's birthday, a cousin's birthday, and Ethiopian Christmas! This year she chose to have an alien cake. Happy birthday Miss I, we love you!

Happy New Year!

We did a mock midnight with the kids on New Year's Eve, at 7:00. It was absolutely worth the mess! They all loved it!

Praying for Haiti

As we all continue to pray for those in the midst of the devistation in Haiti, take time to love your family! And continue to pray ... pray without ceasing. Here's a blog of a family living in Haiti, please take time to read it. It drives home what the wonderful people of Haiti are enduring as we sit comfortably in our homes. And please find a reputable aid agency to give to!

www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com

Our last Christmas for 2009

We did indeed make it through the marathon of Christmas celebrations! I was even able to convince Miss O to wear her Christmas dress to Grandma's church on Sunday morning. After church we had lunch and opened presents. Ato T was tired to say the least!

A picture with all the cousins to end the day.

Saturday

The day after Christmas we traveled to see Heather's parents. That night Miss I had fun learning to play checkers with Grandma!

Christmas night

Mike and I watched a movie (TV is in the basement) and came upstairs at the end of th night to find a little elf who just couldn't bring herself to sleep in her bed. :)

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas day at Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Bob's, along with Auntie Stef, Uncle Jose and cousin Ray. Before we opened gifts, Grandma Lynn read us the Christmas Story.

Miss I's first gift she opened was the family joke: great grandpa Rey's old hairbrush. She wasn't sure what she thought about that! :)

The kids always get warm winter jammies from Grandma and Grandpa!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning began with opening stockings by the fireplace ...

... followed by LOTS of shoveling!

I asked Ato T if he wanted to go play in the snow too, and he said "Uh-uh." So he and I stayed in the nice warm house.

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Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve celebrations began at church, with the Sunday school kids telling the Christmas story. Miss O did a great job in the program! Miss I was still a bit too shy to join the group up front this year, and Ato T is still too little.

My Christmas angels

After church we came home to dinner on Great Grandma's wedding china, by candlelight. Then we opened our gifts to each other. Miss O's favorite gift was a baby doll she has named June.

Ato T enjoyed ripping the paper off his gifts!

Miss I's favorite gift was a hot wheels track with cars. The track has a large bird on it that flys off when the cars zoom by.

Christmas #3

We hosted Mike's extended family Christmas party this year. It's always the Saturday before Christmas, and we do a white elephant gift exchange, which is really fun! Miss I got a pony this year in the exchange.

Miss O got a book of questions for newlyweds, that she loves to play with! She tells me she's going to marry mommy and daddy when she grows up.

The kids had a fun fort made out of their bunk beds for the day