Family Pics at Aaron and Fish's New House

(Stay tuned for all 21 in a slide show when I have better internet connection)

First Pics with the NEW CAMERA!!

Christmas at Grandad and Granna's House

Christmas At Papa and Grandmomma's House

Video Tests (for Naomi's math facts and spelling)

Naomi's Ballet Recital

Today was Naomi's ballet recital. She was involved with both classes, so she was the only girl who danced during the whole recital. I was proud of all the girls, but (of course) especially proud of Naomi! Good job, Naomi!

Bethany Studies the Bible

Castle School Open Class

Today we had our "Show What We Learned" Open Class for our Castle School. We've studied Little House in the Big Woods with Gardner, Rebecca, and Brooke this term. It has definitely been entertaining! I think the girls have learned some great life skills--and also gotten a good picture of the life of a early American settler. This is their play of "Charlie and the Yellow Jackets."

And here the girls are singing a few of the songs that Pa would play on his fiddle during the long Winter evenings.

Family Christmas Pic

Baking Cookies

Naomi and Jacob were SO excited about helping to make Christmas cookies on Wednesday. We made Yellow Cake oatmeal cookies, Snickerdoodles (they rolled and dunked almost all of them), chocolate drop cookies, Chocolate chip-M&M cookies (Jacob's idea), and cranberry squares. It was QUITE a day of baking!

Seeing Kellyn

Our dear friend just had her little one! She is such a sweetie. I took Naomi over on Tuesday for a little visit.

Kellyn, Naomi, Olivia, and big sister Ari

Naomi, of course, ended up back in Ari's room reading princess stories! I don't know who was happier, Naomi or Ari!

Edible Playdough

My friend Stacie kept Jacob and Bethany (and her two) while I taught ballet yesterday. She was sweet enough to bring edible play dough. They loved it! She posted some great pics on her blog. Check it out HERE!

Advent with a Twist

Tonight was Naomi's turn to open the third box in our "What Does God Want for Christmas" advent set. She looked ahead last time and announced that she already knew the third box was Joseph, so Nate and I decided to give her a little surprise. I snuck Joseph out and put R2-D2 in the box. Boy, was she surprised when she opened it! Nate read the story putting R2-D2 in instead of Joseph and Naomi said vehemently, "That's not funny!" Later we put R2 in with Joseph and Mary and Gabriel in the manger and Naomi quipped, "R2-D2 is from Star Wars, not Bethlehem!" Maybe R2-D2 will be in the manger every once in a while to remind us to laugh a little at Christmas time! : )

Small Group Party

Angels

An angel a piece (can you guess whose is whose?)

MDO Angel by Jacob

SNOW!

We awoke to snow on Saturday morning...

Finally enough snow to make a (tiny) snowman!

Naomi's Birthday/Thanksgiving

During the Thanksgiving festivities at Grandma's house, we held a little party for Naomi.

Naomi's princess table

Jacob and Bethany and Grandma

Abby and Maddy (and Jacob)

Grandpa and Grandma Street

Thanksgiving with the family

singing to Naomi

Knowing that the kids would be having plenty of sweets otherwise, I made Naomi's cupcakes applesauce muffins with icing. You can see how well that went over. They attacked the icing and left the slightly healthy muffin alone!

Naomi got a new scooter from Grandpa and Grandma!

You can tell Naomi was excited about getting this necklace and earring set from Abby and Maddy!

Silly Grandpa!

And here's a gift that will get used every day! (Really, she's worn them every day!) High heels from Grandma!