Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

We spent Christmas at home in Cedar Rapids this year. Over the past few years, we have traveled to Bear Creek to visit my parents on Christmas Eve and then head home for church on Christmas Eve. With the wintry weather and the longer distance, this was our first Christmas at home. On Christmas Eve we went to 3 p.m. family church and then stopped at the deli to pick up some yummy food. We frosted cookies for Santa and then let the kids open a few presents. Such joy and energy over the prospect of opening presents! Christmas morning, the kids woke up to find the tree surrounded by presents. They were content to open their stockings until Chris returned home from work at 800 a.m. Such patience. Sam was up at 4 am! After presents, presents and presents, we tried to restore some order to the house, opened up the packages and played until Chris returned home at noon. Then off to chinese buffet for our traditional Christmas dinner. I don't think the Chinese celebrate Christmas anywhere as they are always open! After our return home, naps were in order and we all took a nice long nap.

Christmas Joy

Samuel and Katherine both were involved in the Christmas program this year at church. Their first formal Christmas program-the program itself was an awesome celebration of the Jesse tree - and the best children's program I've seen in my thirty plus years. It included a "hand sign" dance, vignettes, songs by each class, dancing and narratives, as well as a couple of solos. All of this put together in one week by Dan and Megan Dyrland. This photo is of the children eating a half dozen of sugar cookies in between performances. The 11:00 service had much more energy. We feel very blessed to have found a church which offers so much to our family.

Katherine's 4th birthday

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH2fPnBSK9o

Our little princess turns 4 this weekend and Chris turns 34. Lots of cake and celebrations.

The wintry weather mix of rain, snow and cold arrived just in time for the celebrations to begin. Nana and Ken bravely drove to Cedar Rapids from St. Louis to spend the weekend with us. Kate began asking at noon on Friday when they would arrive. It continued all afternoon until their arrival around 7 p.m. It's always wonderful to visit with them and to have an extra set of hands to help out.

BADGERS VS. HAWKEYES

SAM ATTENDED HIS FIRST BIG 10 FOOTBALL GAME ON SATURDAY AT KINNICK STADIUM IN IOWA CITY. ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL WHO WAS CHEERING FOR WHICH TEAM?

Chris and I have been talking to Sam alot about team hopping or jumping on the band wagon and being a fan just because a team is winning. So Sam and I had a very intense discussion about how Sam likes both the Badgers and the Hawkeyes. He wanted to cheer for both teams and said he'd be happy no matter which team won the game. I told him it was okay to cheer for both teams and in a situation such as this it was very difficult to have to choose, especially when a little six year old boy is so lucky to be able to go to the game and sit in box seats, nonetheless. These tickets, by the way, were given to Chris by his general manager at work! I looked into buying a ticket so I could go to the game - way out of my price league for a football game. I had much more fun taking Kate to urgent care for an ear infection! Moving is never fun, but both Sam and Kate appear to be comfortable cheering for the Hawkeyes! Sam did wear Chris' Badger jersey to school on Thursday. I forgot to ask if anyone teased him, because he was all about Hawkeye gear for the game!

Sam and Chris also had a very special welcome during the first break of the first quarter.

Katherine's First Day of Preschool

No tears in sight for Miss Katherine as she started preschool. She loves school. After seeing Sam go off to school for the past few years, she realizes it is finally her turn. Katie is in the Tuesday/Thursday preschool at St. Paul's United Methodist from 9-11:30. She will go to a preschool plus program from 1130 until 1:00. On her first day, she went from 9-10 am and read a book about a giant ogre! She quickly learned the routine and she hangs her coat at the red rectangle. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Wielage and there are 15 kids in her classroom. Chris and I will be volunteering in the classroom here too!

Sam's First Day of School

Sam marched off to first grade. He is in Mrs. Foley's class with 25 other boys and girls. Chris and I are still trying to figure out the routine on the days I work at the hospital. It's going well. Some days we drop Sam off early and he eats breakfast at school, again. This fall he is playing flag football and basketball. We are excited to become more involved at Pierce and to meet the other teachers, students and parents.

Our Poor Van Post Deer

We will probably never travel over Labor Day weekend again. Chris hit a deer on Highway 29 going from Eau Claire to Farm Country. Chris was not hurt. The deer was hurt. The van was damaged. Thus we turn into a one car family during the beginning of the school year. Chris meets with the adjuster on Monday. The collision center estimates one week to do the repairs.