Thankfulness Notebook

I started this tradition with Harper in November of 2010. We had just moved to Minnesota and I was searching for ideas to keep us occupied. I came up with a thankfulness notebook. I thought it would be a great way for Harper and I to spend some quality time together while also working her letters. Each day in November, she would have a letter of the day. We would sit thinking of all of the words that started with that letter and write them down. At the end of the day, we would review the list and think of the one thing that she was most thankful for that started with the letter of the day.

We did the notebook again this year and it was so fun to see how many new words she could come up with and also compare to what she is thankful for.

Looking forward to next November when we add a notebook for Adeline.

A Harper story

I could share hundreds of stories about Harper. She never ceases to amaze me...this particular one made my heart melt. We were on our way to Tulsa for Christmas...

Harper: "mommy, what are your kids going to do while you are gone?"

Me: "What" (At this point, I was thinking, I am with my kids..what does she mean?? Does she mean when I am not around anymore?)

Harper: "NO-mommy, this kids you teach how to talk. How will they be able to talk to their mommy's if you don't help them?"

Right then and there my heart melted. I love that she knows what I do and that she is so tenderhearted and cares about those children.

Also, it has become a routine that each night at dinner, she will ask "What did you teach your kids to say or do today?" She often asks their names and of course, due to privacy, I can't share their names but she enjoys hearing about my day, which is such a blessing!

Baking bread

My little bakers!

A few days before Christmas, the girls and I decided to make a dozen loaves of pumpkin bread for the people in Peter's office. They always love to help me bake. In fact, I remember Harper drawing a picture of us baking together but of course, I can't find it now.

Santa Letter

I hope to be back on the blogging bandwagon again. I have made a list of about a months worth of blog posts that need to be finished. I am backing up to Christmas time to keep things in order.

This year, Harper wanted to write her own letter to Santa. She told me what she wanted to say and I helped her spell the words.

Concentrating very hard

Here is the finished letter:
"Dear Santa
Hi. I have been good. I want squinkies.
Harper

I'M BAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK!

I know I have been missing in action for over a month. Life has been busy, challenging and a bit overwhelming but I hope to get back on the blogging wagon again.

Fun story from today, we were driving down the road and I was quizzing/being a speech pathology mommy and I was asking the girls some WHO questions. For example, "who checks and cleans your teeth?", "Who puts out fires?"..the normal WHO questions for speech path's. Any who...I asked Harper "Who grows food for us to eat?" I was expecting to hear something along the lines of a 'farmer' but instead I heard the BEST possible answer. Harper said "JESUS! He gives us all the food we need!" My response was "Yes, honey, yes he does. Jesus gives us everything we need!" I need those constant subtle reminders and I love how my 4 year unconsciously gives them to me!

1st Timberwolves Game of the Season

Last Saturday night, we went to the 1st Timberwolves game of the season! We are beyond thrilled that the lockout is over! We went with some great friends (Meredith and Nick) who happen to have season tickets. It was so nice because they even rode with us and we hung out with them since Peter was "working." We spent 1/2 of the game wandering around, buying and eating popcorn and ice cream, trying to find Crunch (the mascot) and running around like silly people. The rest of the time, the girls sat in their seats and cheered for the wolves! It was so fun cute to watch them cheer and clap! They we so excited; we even made it through the whole game.

Harper and Adeline LOVE to go to daddy's work.

We are praying for a great season and we look forward to lots more fun at the games!

The girls with their daddy!

Up high watching the game with Meredith and Nick


They got their "chosen" snacks and are ready to watch some basketball!



GO TIMBERWOLVES!

Teacher's Christmas Gifts

I'm at it again...making coasters. I thought long and hard about a fun/creative gift for the girls teachers for Christmas. It is hard because they each have 3 teachers and I want to keep the cost down. I finally decided to make them each a set of holiday coasters..

here are the finished products!

Away in the Manger

Last Sunday, the girls had a chance to sing in church. They sang "Away in the Manger"...both of my girls are in the green shirts. Harper was kind of hidden by some taller kids:) We had gotten an email earlier in the month letting us know they would be singing on the 18th. I forgot because I didn't write it down so the morning of, we go walking into church a few minutes late so I didn't get a chance to warn/tell the girls. During the first performance, both girls just stood there and look terrified so I was happier that I recorded the 2nd one. This was the 1st time they sang in church and it was even more special because they did it together. It was such a blessing~Enjoy!

Christmas Cookies

A few weeks ago, y wonderful friend, Jen, had emailed earlier in the week asking for a good sugar cookie and icing recipe. I sent her the yummy recipe from my friend Jill but I also commented that I needed some Christmas cookie cutters. A few days later, a wonderful package arrived with about 6 Christmas themed cookie cutters. So a few days later, I decided it was time to test them out and let the girls help me make and decorate cookies.

Stopping to pose for the camera

Another one who loves the camera

The finished products..the may not be "bakery looking" but they tasted YUMMY-O!

Here is a video of the girls decorating the cookies-I finally figured out how to upload videos to the blog-watch out world!

Package for my cousin

About a week and a half ago, we snt a package to my cousin Trent. Trent is in Korea (in the army). The girls and I made some Christmas goodies. Above, you see our white chocolate covered nutter butter cookies (we tried to make them look like snowmen). We also sent him chocolate covered oreos with peppermint and chocolate chip cookies, which was his request. He still hasn't gotten his package yet. It has never taken this long so I am wondering how the cookies will be when he finally gets them.
I asked Harper to make Trent some cards. The one in her left hand is a Christmas tree with yellow snow...when asked about why the snow was yellow. She responded that the white wouldn't show up. The one in her right hand is a snowman with snow falling. She was so proud of her pictures.

How Do You Sleep?

I guess Adeline is starting a new trend to hide while you sleep...both pictures are of her the last week sleeping.

Where's Adeline

These days, I am constantly looking for Adeline in our house....and this is how I can usually find her-under the tree playing with the ornaments.

Addicted

This is Harper's new addiction/obsession.

She LOVES to play on the computer. We have had to start giving her time limits or she would be on there for hours. This picture was also taken on the day she was home sick with the tummy bug..notice the bowl in our bed:)

Choo-Choo

I'm sure most people have heard of the Elf on the Shelf by now. We have an elf and his name is Choo-Choo (chosen by Harper last year). Anyways, Choo-Choo is having a really hard time this year finding new and creative spots in our new place. He really wants to remain downstairs so the girls have the wonderful thrill and surprise at finding him each morning. It a little bit of a competition on who can find him first each morning.

This is a picture of Harper finding Choo-Choo on the morning she woke up with a stomach bug...she said "mommy, take my picture with Choo-Choo, it will make me feel better!"

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We decorated the Christmas tree early this year. I wanted it done before we went to Tulsa for Thanksgiving. There are only a few weeks between the two holidays and I didn't want to have to deal with/mess with/worry with all of that after Thanksgiving. So we planned to decorate the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. I spent the entire Saturday, taking down fall decorations, putting up all of the Christmas stuff around the house. I had planned for us to eat a wonderful meal, listen to Christmas music and decorate the tree, together, as a family. Um, not going to lie...there were many meltdowns...and I was so annoyed that I didn't take the time to enjoy the memories of them helping unwrap the ornaments and putting them on them tree...where ever they wanted...it became rushed and we didn't take the time to appreciate our time together.

the girls decorating



Adeline trying to put the angel on the top of the tree, while also hurting Peter at the same time

Harper got the angel on top of the tree

Homesick

We all get homesick around here from time to time but lately it's been Adeline. She has really been missing family members. I think she is finally realizing that we live far away from them. It started a few weeks ago, when she woke up one morning and she asked for Peter's mom "gramma". There were tears because she wasn't there.

Since then, every time she gets up from a nap and most mornings, she asks for Poppy (my dad), Grammy (my mom), Gramma (Peter's mom) or Granddaddy (Peter's dad). Last night, she had gone to bed but woke up asking for Poppy. So we called my dad. Here is the conversation:

Poppy: "hello"

Adeline: "I want you Poppy"

*Insert heart break on both ends of the phone*

They talked for a few minutes and Adeline was close to tears and I am pretty sure my dad was too. Adeline kept saying over and over again "I want you Poppy!" It was probably one of the sweetest conversations that I have ever listened to.

Adeline has also become more verbal lately and I love to hear what comes out of her mouth. I'm not going to lie-there is some sass but also some of the sweetest words in the world. For example, last night, we were talking about Christmas and who was going to be at my parents house.

Me "Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Bucka, Aunt Amy, Paps."

Adeline: "Where's Grams?"

Me: "in heaven"

Adeline: "No, she is in o-do-homo with Paps"

Me: "No, she is in heaven with Jesus"

Adeline: "Heaven, with Jesus?? I love Jesus!"

Santa Take 2 2011

About a week in a half ago (on a Saturday), the girls school, had a Santa activity at a local country club. We got the girls all ready and we hoped Adeline would have a change of heart towards the jolly old guy.

Harper LOVES Santa. She was so happy to see him again. At this point, Adeline is hiding between my legs

But wait....
She had a slight change of heart and decided to go stand by him and later she did give him a high five-so we are making progress!

Love these two girls more than words!

SantaLand @ Macy's 2011

Last Friday, Peter took the day off and took us to SantaLand. SantaLand is located at the BIG Macy's in downtown Minneapolis on the 8th floor. We went to this exhibit last year with some friends and Peter wasn't able to go with us. So this year, he made sure he went with us.

Excited to enter SantaLand

Happy!

Holding hands at they walked through SantaLand

Adeline was way too busy looking around to take a picture

Waiting in line to see Santa

"Oh, Santa!" She was so excited until she saw him and then she hid...

Harper was elated to see Santa. She asked for Squinkies...I think Santa can cover that:)

Scared to death of Santa...she wouldn't even look at him.

Lamb Dinner 2011

Like I said in a previous post, we always go to Peter's parents house with his dad's side of the family for a lamb dinner on Friday after Thanksgiving. It was so fun to watch all of the kids run around and play together.

Harper and cousin Charlie

Cousin time-Adeline, Charlie, Harper and John

Eating a yummy dinner of chicken, cheese and apple sauce

Great-Grandad and Adeline...she had done a outfit change into her princess dress.

Thanksgiving 2011-Karen and Rod's

Another tradition we have on Thanksgiving is to go to Rod and Karen's house (Peter's uncle and aunt). We usually spend most of the day at my parents and then head to his aunt and uncle's house late afternoon (where we get to see his parents, grandma {GG}, brother, aunt and uncle and cousins)

The girls with Grandaddy and Gramma

YAY for cousins-hugging Kaylee as soon as she got out of the car.

I have to laugh because Sarah (Peter's cousins wife) and I usually buy our girls the same line from the Gap. When we found out they all had this leopard line, we knew we had to put them in it for Thanksgiving. Wait until Christmas, they also have the same Christmas dress, which was not planned.

We all immediately grabbed our cameras as we saw them walking like this together (unprompted)

I love this picture and I adore Adeline's expression-it's like she is watching the other 2 to make sure she is doing it right. She may be smaller but she is older than Kaylee.

Another fun treat was that Sarah's sister, Amy, was also in town for Thanksgiving. She also went to Karen and Rod's and also had the same line from the Gap. This is the best picture I got with all 5 girls.

Kaylee, Adeline and Harper with their GG