Christmas et al ROCKED

OMGoodness did we have a WONDERFUL Christmas!

Christmas Day at our house

My Dad and his annual tradition of reading through our cards. "Who's this?"

After Christmas, our trip to the Wilderness with the Mauermans, McMillans, Sabols and Mahones.

Everywhere he goes, peeps, everywhere he goes.....

Wave pool!

We spent a few days in Elkhorn, visiting family and friends. Here's Ya with the McMillan and Klug great-grands.

Ringing in the New Year at the Glogovskys.

We had a great ending to 2009! Thanks, y'all!

LOTS

December has been CA-RAZY! With what you ask? Well, here's a sampling...

We've already had TWO snow days. That's our allotment for the year. Good luck with that.

Ringing the Salvation Army Bell. Again, la familia is a BIG draw.

Ted has the next two weeks off! So we went on a DATE today! In the middle of the day!! But this was before that....chillin' with the Baxtie Boy.

I've been doing some baking. That's right. Suzy homemaker and all. No turds this year....

Tonight our Life Group from church went caroling at an assisted living facility. We are not good, but they still loved us. Sweeties.

We've also had quite a few holiday parties and concerts. LOVE this time of year. But also have to keep it in check and perspective. This is the second year our church has done Advent Conspiracy. Check it out: http://adventconspiracy.wordpress.com/

I had Kaleb this month for one-on-one time and we helped serve a holiday meal at Madison's largest food pantry. That really helped us refocus this season. Advent Conspiracy: "What would it look like to reclaim the Christmas story from our culture of consumption, and celebrate what it's really about, the arrival of God's redemption project in our world?" I strongly recommend at least checking out this website. Merry Christmas!

'tis the season!

Wowee! It's already "the most wonderful time of the year"......

Isn't this little pilgrim girl sweet?

We spent Thanksgiving at my Dad and Judy's. Always a good time!

Tree hunting! This is the first time that we've cut one down with the kids. Ted and I did this several years ago, at this exact tree farm, when we were newlyweds living in Madison. This time was sooooo much fun! Ted, the outdoorsman that he is, especially loved it. (Well, I guess he's an outdoorsman when he is riding his bike. Anyhow.....). We found the perfect tree, at the very BACK of the farm. Good thing we had good helpers, and it was in the 50's!

And the help continued.....we got this baby decorated in no time flat! Bring on the season!

Elkhorn and Lambeau

What a great weekend we had....a visit to Elkhorn and Lambeau!!!

Our besties, the Websters and Glogovskys. (sorry Kev!)

A little play time with Yaya Jen

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was sooooo excited to be watching my Packers!

This is the RIDICULOUS dessert cart that comes around. Serious desserts.

Ted enjoying his small slice.

Thanks, Welton Enterprises!

The Month of October in Pictures

Well, long time no post again, so here is a photo-documentary on our month!

A international kite-flying day near Grammy's. Good thing it was windy!

Anna did a rec gymnastics program. She was all about the socialization, and did NOT like doing the "three legged dog".

Kaleb's soccer team that Ted coached.

My husband is the BEST sport! I borrowed my costume from a friend, and then came up with the idea that Ted could be Captain Underpants. (For those of you that don't have school-age boys, this is actually a book character). It took some bribing, but he did it!

Homecoming, Wedding, Dare Devils

Well, it's been a while, so here's a smorgesboard (or however you spell that)

Homecoming in the Mt. The contest was to wear the most red. The boys at the bus stop got way more into it than the girls! Please note the red-faced chap. That'd be William.

The last of the Magill cousins got married (Matt). It was like date night for us!

Ted and his peeps (sister, grandma and mom).

This was an interesting game that Kaleb and his friend made up. Kaleb pulled his buddy as fast as he could down the hill on our backyard, and the object was to stay in the wagon the longest. They started it on the street, and Ted banished them to the grass!

Warm Weather

We've had the nicest stretch of summer weather since the kids have been back in school, of course!

We got to take advantage of it this week one day when they had early release. We visited Gov. Dodge state park, about 1/2 hour from us. The lake was practically empty, and we got to enjoy swimming for what has to be the last time this summer!

This is a different day, different lake. We went out on a friend's boat on Mendota. For those of you who know Ted's dislike of lakes, this is TRUE LOVE. SWIMMING in the lake because Anna asked him to!

Then, there was the tubing. Daddy got that honor too. On the other tube is Luke (you've heard of him --one of Anna's "dudes" from preschool, and a likely candidate for an arranged marriage)

Here were the tubers of the day. HOURS of it. By the end, very tired arms and headaches from flying OFF the tube several times!