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.