Ice Skating

Matthew some how got in his head that Todd needed to teach him how to ice skate this year. So I bought everyone but Abby ice skates and away we went. Matthew did really, really good for his first time, and his mom did really good considering she hasn't ice skated in about 15 years, and Todd.............well lets just say he was doing laps around Matthew and I while holding Abby!
Todd and I at the skating rink.
Abby at the skating rink. She still had alot of fun even though she didn't have skates. She insisted on holding our hands and walking with us while we skated.
Matthew making sure he held his hands out while skating. We didn't teach him this, he came up with it on his own. It was really fun, and we all look forward to the next time.

The Ruturn of Unlce Tim and Auntie Laura

Auntie Laura came back home for Christmas. The kids got to spend alot of time with her which they really enjoyed. They got to pick her up from the airport and also take her back. Matthew also got to show her his cooking skills when they made Christmas cookies together.
Uncle Tim also came home for Christmas. Abby enjoyed seeing her Uncle Nim as he is refered to by her, and Matthew got to play Legos with him. He will be home for another week, so I am sure we will see him again before he goes.

Christmas '08

Matthew and Abby next to the Christmas tree in their new jammies.
Matthew and Uncle Luke playing Don't Spill The Beans. Matthew thinks you win if you spill the beans, so you can see he is trying to knock them over.
Abby and Grandpa Joe. Abby has her new baby that she got from Unlce Luke.
Abby and her chapstick. Please note that chapstick is not appropriate for a 2 year old. Yes, she is putting it on her gums!
Matthew and his new scope that he got from G&G Tungseth. Its for looking at deer and stars, as he would tell you.
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Matthew and Abby making their gingerbread house. It actually looked pretty cute. Matthew spent a long time on it.

Church Christmas Program

Matthew had his first Sunday School Christmas Program tonight. I had my doubts that he would even stand on the stage with the other kids . The reason for my doubts was because he had a bible school program this summer and got complete stage fright and would not stay on stage unless I was up there with him. This time it was a complete turn around. He not only stood on the stage without me and he also sang the songs and did the actions! WaHOOO! We were so proud. The first picture is Abbys Christmas outfit, she didn't want to be left out.
Not a very good picture, but you get what you get. Matthew is the one with the blue shirt and tie. He was by a group of kids who did get stage fright, so they ended up sitting on stage with there teachers, so it looks like he was kind of by himself.

Welcome home Auntie Laura

Todd's sister Laura flew home for Christmas on Saturday. The kids made signs with her name to hold up when we picked her up from the airport. Matthew worked very hard on his and it was the first time he actually tried hard to color something in the lines. He did a very nice job on his.
The kids with there signs waiting for Auntie Laura.
Holding the signs up when we saw Auntie Laura. She knew we were coming to pick her up, but she didn't know we would have signs!

Love these kids!

That would be almond bark on Abby's face. I know some of you may think that she is foaming at the mouth, but no, we were just making almond bark pretzels. I swear she tries to get as messy as she can every time I let her help with things.
This is more what I like to see. Matthew did very good at making the pretzels. He made his for Santa he told me.
Matthew learned how to make a paper airplane the other night. He calls it a paper jet though. Whatever works I guess.
Todd teaching Matthew how to make a paper jet. After they made them they raced them all over the house.
I got out of the shower the other morning and found Abby sitting on the couch like this. She had taken plates that I used to have hanging on the bathroom wall as decorations and found a bag of party mix and was apparently expecting to have a couple other people to feed. Gotta love her!

Santa Clause is Comming to Town......

Yesterday I took the kids to see Santa at the mall. They were both really excited to go, which is surprising since Abby cried if she was in the same room as him last year. So I got them all dressed up in their Christmas attire and off we went. When we got there I tried to set Abby on Santa's lap and she of course started to cry. I was thinking what happened to the excited girl who was talking about Santa the whole ride over here? So, it was candy to the rescue! Santa gave her one of his candy cane suckers and she sat on his lap and even gave him a hug when the pictures were over.

Sleigh Ride with Santa

On our way home from tree cutting I spotted this sleigh ride going through downtown Fargo and decided we should check it out. Turned out they were giving rides starting at the US Bank plaza and going through the downtown area and back. We decided it would be fun and got a ride.
Mommy and Matthew on the sleigh ride. Matthew kept on telling everyone that "sometimes horses are smelly." Thanks Matthew.
Daddy and Abby on the sleigh ride. While we were on the ride it actually started snowing! I thought that was really neat. Just snowed while we were on the ride then stopped. Neat! When the ride was done the kids got to pets the horses also.

Christmas Tree Cutting

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Every year Todd's family cuts there own Christmas Tree. Usually we have a fake tree but thought the kids would like to cut there own tree and see where they come from so we went with this year. Most of the people wears Santa hats and then go out for lunch and shopping around Perham after the trees are cut. The picture above is of me and Abby at the tree place.
Matthew helping daddy drag the tree to the van.
Matthew telling daddy how to get the tree cut down. He also helped with a few tugs of the saw, then decided it wasn't for him and let daddy finish.
Uncle Tim and Abby.
Grandma Tina and Abby. Grandma bought the kids both Santa hats to wear, and Abby's ever said princess on it. The tree is warming up and the branches are "falling" now, but when we get it decorated I'll try and get a picture of it up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Since Matthew has started preschool I've been getting some artwork. Here is the Thanksgiving projects he brought home for me. So Cute!
Tonight Grandma Wanda and the kids and my cousin Kaydee made these Turkey cupcakes. Matthew and Abby really had fun doing this. They both love to cook so they did alot of cooking tonight.
Decorating the Turkey cupcakes.
Mixing the cupcakes. He can mix now, because "he's four."
Abby getting her hands in on the cooking. She is making the pumpkin pie.

Holiday Lights Parade

Every year we go to the Holiday Lights Parade in downtown Fargo. Its such a fun, festive time, plus who dosen't like a parade? Here is Abby with her candy bag.
Matthew waiting for the parade to start. He sure looks like he stayed warm!

Baby Elias

A friend of ours recently had a baby a few weeks early that had to spend some time in the NICU. We helped them out by giving them our bed downstairs. Before they brought baby Elias home they stopped over to show us the new baby.

Cutting Deer Meat

I guess if you go hunting you have to learn to cut the meat up, even if you didn't even get to touch a "real gun!" I didn't know if Matthew would want to help Grandpa Joe and Uncle Luke cut up the deer meat, but he did. Weird though, because he won't even touch cooked hamburger. So anyway he cut meat at Grandpa Joes house for almost an hour using his own knife with no help. I got some good videos but I was having trouble getting the on here. Maybe I'll try again later.
Grandpa Joe, Uncle Luke and Matthew cutting deer meat.
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Of course they had to get my little girl in on the action too. She looks just pleased as a peach to be touching this disgusting dead deer. Oh the worry's a mother has. On another note when the boys were cutting meat last night I said something about it being disgusting and Matthew promptly told me "no, its not disgusting mom!"

Matthew Hunting!

Much to his mothers dismay Matthew went hunting for the first time this weekend. It has been my mom's dream since last year to take him, so instead of breaking her heart again this year, I tild her he could go for a little and only if Todd went with also. From talking to Matthew it sounds like he had a fun time, even though it was bitterly cold out. They didn't get anything but saw two deer according to Matthew. Mom was talking about taking him again next weekend, but I said I don't think so. I just don't think my nerves could handle it again!
Grandpa Joe and Grandma Wanda. Maybe they want to use this picture for there Christmas cards!?!?
Matthew walking the rode, looking for deer.
Grandma Wanda pointing out something really interesting it looks.
They started out the day with breakfast at Uncle Lukes house. Unlce Luke has three snakes and Matthew likes to look at them. I hate them so he only gets this close it I'm not there!

Fabric, Abby, Preschool

JoAnn fabrics just moved to a new buliding so the had a really good sale the other day. I got 25 yards or fabric for $25.00! It was all 90% off! The camo fabric was $.51 a yard and the others were $.81 a yard! I plan to make a quilt and stuffed chair for Matthew and curtins for Abby.
I just had to post a picture of what Matthew weres to preschool every day. He has been going to two weeks now and has only not worn a tie for two of those days! I don't know why but he insists on wearing a tie every day, and usually its a Christmas tie too! I guess maybe he thinks he is going to a prep school or something.
Couldn't leave Abby out of the post. Her newest thing is jumping which she gets about an inch off the floor, Maybe. She is also comming up with about 25 new words a day! Oh, and she now reads her books outloud to herself. Its pretty funny.