Gingerbread House 2009

Our yearly tradition of decorating a gingerbread house took place yesterday. The house turned out beautifully and as you can see from the crazed looks on the girls' faces, they enjoyed eating the candy as much as putting it on the house. Needless to say, the gingerbread house rests on the very tiptop of the bookshelf - out of little hands' reach!

Santa and his elves

The girls went to see Santa today. Julia asked for art and Emma said she didn't know what she wanted yet. The candy canes were the highlight, of course!

Little Drummer Girl

Here is a clip from Julia's first concert with her drum group. She was great - love the smile she is trying to hide.

Halloween 2009

This was cute...........

And this was scary..........

Halloween party in Julia's class - lots of black and scary makeup for those 4th and 5th graders

Not so much black for the first graders - mummy, nature fairy and disco fairy

Fun trick or treating with friends

Hope you all had a fabulous Halloween!

House remodel update

Emma's dormer window

Julia's dormer window

Tub/shower and toilet

Vanity (knobs and pulls to be installed)


We are so close to being done! Probably two more weeks to wrap up the last details. Time has certainly flown by and working with our contractor has been great. We would recommend them to anyone. I can say that I am definitely looking forward to having a clean house again and being able to walk out of the bathroom without meeting someone other than my family! Here are a few pics.

Anyone seen a tooth?

Emma lost her first top tooth this week. She lost two bottom teeth already but nothing compares to the look of a child with a top tooth missing. You just can't help but giggle......too cute.

Happy 2009!

Despite the rain that has been pouring out of the sky all day, today has been a very enjoyable start to 2009. The girls have been getting along fantastically (partly due to the start of a new way of earning tv time - they earn minutes for good behavior, mostly meaning GETTING ALONG and not screaming in each other's faces and pulling hair and jabbing fingers into each other, etc., etc.). I've tried lots of other methods and this one is actually working. We have had 3 very peaceful days after a doozy of a day on Monday. I'm hopeful that it will continue into this new year.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their families. We had a very snowy and relaxing time with Molly, Sous, and the kids and Mom and Dad up in Seattle. On Friday, we celebrated Nathan's first birthday. He is walking and into everything. Such a cute little guy. The addition of some boy energy to the girl vibe is a welcome addition.

Happy first birthday Nathan!

Jillian and Emma in their matching Christmas dresses (Molly and I unknowingly bought the same dress for the girls)