Christmas Concert at Church

Bishop had his annual Christmas Concert at Church on Sunday. We practiced at home and he did participate more this year than the last 2 concerts in church (where he said/sang nothing)! :) I told him he could bring his bear to Sunday School, but not with him to sing.....well, his bear made it up to sing with him! ;) There was a live nativity scene after church and the weather was very mild, so we checked out some of the animals. After church we went down to the Macy's 8th floor display and to see Santa! It was a fun Sunday preparing for Christmas! The weather was so mild that after we got home from seeing Santa Bishop and Luke went on a bike ride and Nora and I went for a walk! I miss the snow and we hope we have snow for Christmas!

Nora will be singing in church next year!

Checking out the church!

The Live Nativity Scene

Our Macy's Picture with Santa 2014

Mud covered after his bike ride

A warm walk in December!

The kids have really enjoyed helping me make Christmas cookies this year! I love the help!

Christmas Concert at school

On Thursday the kids had a Christmas concert at School (Kindercare). My parents came up to watch them sing and the kids thought that was pretty special! Santa was even there for the kids to see, so we saw Santa and then got ready for their performances! Bishop asked for a Ninja Turtle and a Dragon. Nora asked for a baby and a house for her baby!

Excited nana and papa came!

The only way to get a picture was with us in it! :)

Nora and her friend, Ashling making silly faces!

I took videos of their songs, but wasn't able to upload them (I think they're too big). It was a very fun night and the kids had a blast singing with their friends! Bishop's class sang "Santa Claus is coming to Town", Nora's class sang "Feliz Navidad" and they sang "Jingle Bells" together!

O' Christmas Tree!

Friday night Luke and I went down to First Ave to the Mason Jennings Concert. My parents came up to watch the kids and they spent the night. Saturday was a fun, busy day! We started with basketball and Bishop had a cheering section for his game!  Grandpa Ray ended up in the hospital due to pneumonia, so my parents visited him and then came over to watch Bishop play bball. Shelly had been sick for over a week so she came and dropped Madelyn and Jack off with my parents--so everyone got to watch Bishop play a little-he thought that was pretty cool!

After basketball we went to our friend, Jack's birthday party--it was a bowling party and it was a ton of fun! We had a little scare when we couldn't find Bishop for quite a few minutes--we looked all over and there were even workers looking for him. He's not one to just wander around, so I got pretty scared when we couldn't find him. All of a sudden he turned up--he was laying on a couch at a different birthday party (about 5 feet from where we were). Geez, that was scary!  Then at the end of the party he started feeling sick so we went to the bathroom and he thought he was going to throw up--turns out he had too much cake/frosting! :( 

After the party we went to pick up our Christmas Tree. We get our tree from Coldwell Banker at the Toys for Trees events. It's a fun event--we bring a toy and get a free Christmas tree.....there are treats, coloring pages, Santa, popcorn and bonfires! It was actually pretty warm this year! So, we went home and the kids and I put up the tree and decorated it.....and Luke went for a ski. It was a great day for everyone! :)

On Sunday after church we went skiing as a family. We went to Hyland in Bloomington and rented skis for Bishop. He had been out before on the toddler skis (slip in with his own boots), but this was his first time on "real" skis! He absolutely LOVED it! He has been talking about it nonstop since and wants to keep going! Nora even got out on the toddler skis for the first time--she did real well too!

The coach said--"arms up"! :)

Bishop's cheering section!

Bowling at Jack's party!

Nora and her friend, Ashton, having so much fun together!

Decorating the tree!

First time on real skis!

First time on skis!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

On Thursday night we went to How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Children's Theater! This was the first play we took the kids to and we all had a great time! 

Before the show we had dinner at The Malt Shop and sat next to a table of 3 boys and their grandparents who were going to the show--everyone was excited (I think the grandparents were a little nervous)! :)

Nora wasn't so sure about the Grinch--and while we bought her a seat she never sat in it for one second! :) The first half she cuddled up as closely to me as possible! She did turn to tell me she liked the Who's and while she never cried or got upset, she was pretty scared. At intermission she kept saying she didn't want to go back in! She sat on Luke's lap the 2nd half and broke out in a few huge smiles! Bishop loved the whole thing! His biggest concern was he didn't want it to end! He kept asking me "is it over? is it over?":) After the show I asked Nora what her favorite part was....."The Grinch!" :)  She has proceeded to tell anyone she can about it (her teachers, the lady that checked us out at Target, etc)!

Some friends of ours (friends of friends actually) were there with their 2 kids (boy, girl, similar ages to ours) and after the show Bishop and Ian ran around like they were best friends. They had an absolute ball together! It seems they are very similar! 

All in all it was a great show and experience and we'll definitely be back!

Before the show

Getting settled in our seats!

Excited for the show to start!

Thanksgiving 2014

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend this year! We started by celebrating in Cold Spring on Thanksgiving Day. It was also Jake's birthday so we had a lot of celebrating to do!! We had a wonderful meal and Father Alberic was able to join us. There was snow on the ground and although it was COLD we were able to get out sledding to burn some energy! The kids had a great time playing with some of Luke and Jake's old toys, so that was fun too! Grandma taught the kids a game last weekend when they were there...."hide the thimble", so we had fun playing that game a lot too!

It was Uncle Jake's birthday on Thanksgiving day so we had an extra reason to celebrate! It was great being able to all be together on his birthday! We went to Cold Spring on Thursday morning and spent the night that night.

Dressing up with Daddy's old toys!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jake!

Keeping busy in the morning :)

Sledding!

The best picture we got--and B is sticking his tongue out!

Sledding down the driveway!

Whee!!

Friday morning Luke went skiing in St. Cloud while the kids and I played at the house. We had lunch and then took off for Owatonna.  On the way to Owatonna Nora was crying and complaining that her ear hurt! :( I could tell it was about to start draining so I called the ENT. The ENT was closed and they recommended she be taken to Urgent Care. Nora really wanted my mom to come along, so the 3 of us went to UC together (my mom is unbelievable--she's about to host 10 people that night and 20 the next day and she goes to UC because Nora asks her to!) I am pretty lucky to have this Nana as MY mom! :) Turns out Nora's right ear was draining so the Dr. couldn't see if her tube was in, etc. He gave her drops and an oral antibiotic and we were on our way back to Nana and Papa's to see the Bormann's! Friday night we all stayed at my parents--and the kids had so much fun together. Nora and Madelyn LOVE playing together--they had a tea party, played in the kitchen and with the babies and laughed and giggled all night long!

Reminds me of me and my sister--so special!

Nora loves her Nana!

So happy together...in matching PJ's!

We tried for a picture with all the grandkids with Nana and Papa--Jack could not stand to wear footie PJ's and Bishop was reluctant to let him borrow his other Christmas PJs (he was afraid Jack would drool on them)! ;) So Jack stayed comfy and happy in his own PJ's....and was as cute as ever! :)

Saturday morning we woke up and the big kids help Papa get donuts, while the little kids helped Auntie and Uncle Ryan get bagels! We then visited Great Grandma Marlys! She was happy to see all the kids and Nora loved sitting on her lap! Great Grandma Marlys gave each of the kids a purple bear (they were actually from hospice) and they all enjoyed playing with them!

Jack loved playing with Great Marlys!

While Jack was playing with Great Marlys, the big kids were doing this!

Aunt Sandy gave the kids their Christmas Presents--they all got a Jan Brett book and Bishop LOVES his!! It's become tradition that Tim reads the story to Bishop, it's very sweet!

The kids table! Jack was napping for dinner!

Hanging out together after dinner!

This is what Nora made at school for the book for their class: She loves her daddy--it is so special!

We are so very thankful for so many things--and being together with family is right at the top of our list of things we're thankful for! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and we're all excited to start counting down the days until Christmas!