let it snow! let it snow! let it snow!

christmas eve 2009, the girls spreading out reindeer food in front of the gilmore grandparent's house in corcoran, mn.

happy birthday baby jesus 2009. cherry chocolate cake - delicious!

mmmm - lip pops

opening presents

matching pjs from grandma and grandpa

how much snow??

the gilmore boysplaying in the snow

grandpa blowing out the circle drive, round 2

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

drew and i hosted the 1st annual (and last?) ugly sweater party for my side of the family on saturday, december 19, 2009. lots of good laughs and fun for all.

joanna and brent
mom and dad (he was a tree that received some electrical shock)
mom was so proud of her ugly angel sweatshirt
the grandkids with grandma and grandpamen's division, and the winner was brent (what a special looking group of guys)

women's division, and the winner was me!

kid's division, and the winner was gibson

cutest picture of the day!
oh no, not my gumdrops

other fun

fleece tie pillows made by all the kids, great project!

frosting sugar cookie gingerbread men(with an ugly sweater?)

more decorating

unwrapping goodies game

9 reasons for the season

chaya had her first preschool christmas program last friday at st. a's. grandpa and grandma t were able to attend. the kids sang some great songs and their teacher narrated 9 reasons for the season as they each had a small part. chaya was money (which is NOT one of the reasons for the season). she did a wonderful job, so proud!

singing and jingling her heart out
chaya and good buddy, aiden

miss margo, chaya, and miss angela, her preschool teachers

fun-filled festive weekend

the girls and i out for an adventurous weekend. we are on a "sleigh" ride downtown.

hutchinson, mn, towndown celebration.

another visit with santa (brrr... cookies and hot cider).

decorating ornaments

getting ready for a sleigh ride. although chaya pointed out that it wasn't a real sleigh.

the girls performing at their sunday school christmas program

kenya as sheep. baaa

the little girls were part of the children's choir and sang a handful of tunes

do you still believe...?

a few pictures from the past weekends.

a quick visit to jolly old st. nick

chaya: "how do the elves make candy" "what is your favorite kind of cookie"

seriously, this kid would be happy with a box full of candy for her under the tree!
our latest craft - brick snowman

chaya and one of her many turkeys made at preschool/daycare. she understood that it needed to be thrown away because it was missing an eye.

chaya dressing the build-a-bear that we are giving to a young girl who is part of a family that we are buying christmas gifts for this holiday season. we all had a fun time wrapping up the goodies.

the girls with the presents that they wrapped themselves. they are going to an 8 year old girl in need.

christmas tree 2009, all fake

putting on decorations

the girls are always excited to put the ornaments on the tree. they love seeing which ones belong to whom and which ones they made.

chaya getting in on the action. she was responsible for the lower part of the tree.

happy holidays! everything in these pots were FREE, yep that's right, FREE. i think they turned out really nice. thanks neesha :)

show off week

kenya has been in the hutchinson high tides swim club for the first trimester of school and she just participated in her first "mock" swim meet. she was super nervous, but did a fabulous job. she swam the back stroke, breast stroke, and freestyle.

this is kenya (yellow cap) beating two boys in the 25m breast stroke. she likes this stroke the best. i think i was more nervous for her than she was!

gibson has been in gymnastics for the first trimester and she had a show off night. here she is balancing a bean bag on her head as she cruises down the balance beam!

"walking" across the high bar

warming up

i think she has great potential for gymnastics!