double the fun...

We had TWO grandmas visit two weeks ago...see there I'm almost caught up! We had an action packed weekend ahead of us and were thrilled when both of the girls' grandmothers flew in together to take in all the Christmas activities. After they got in Friday we picked Katie up from school and had lunch. The small town where her school is located has an historic district with lots of quaint little shops that we have been wanting to explore and they were all decked out with pretty Christmas items and decor so we spent what was left of the afternoon browsing the shops... Saturday was the dress rehearsal for the play Madison was in at church, a basketball game for Katie, and symphony concert for all three girls. Katie was unable to take band AND be on the soccer team at her high school, so we found a local youth symphony that was just starting up. It includes grades 6-12 so Ellie is eligible, too. And what is really great is that they even found a place for Madison. Since she plays piano and can count music well, she is playing various percussion instruments. It has been so wonderful that all three can participate together and we have been so impressed with the program so far!

Katie and her good friend Hannah, also a clarinet player

Sunday was church and Madison's play. Ellie serenaded the audience with Christmas music played on her violin as they were being seated. This was the first of two Christmas events she played for this season- she had never done anything like this before. We were thrilled she was willing to share her talent- she did a beautiful job.

Madison and her grandmothers after the play!

Madison playing Ms. Sanders (yes, that's a wig). She has such confidence on stage and did a wonderful job with her lines and a solo part in "What Child is This." Both Ellie and Madison obviously get their stage presence and singing ability from their dad!

Ellie during the prelude...

We also managed to squeeze in a couple of movies and a 500 piece puzzle while our special company was here. The girls are so blessed to have such terrific grandmas (as are we to have such great moms)! They left bright and early Monday morning and the consensus was they need to come together more often. I must say we did miss the grandpas though!

Go Sioux!

The day after Thanksgiving we took the girls to their second Sioux hockey game (the first was three years ago). My dad found us GREAT seats. We watch the games on TV at home so the girls know all the players and to attend a game in the beautiful Engelstad arena is a huge treat for all of us. Brings back memories for Wade and I...we spent many a college date at a Sioux hockey game! It was also great to see several relatives on my dad's side of the family while we were in town. Here is my dad (the guy hamming it up in the middle) with the girls and their cousin Zech...

Very possibly the two most die hard fans in the family...

Up close and personal...

Each of the banners represent an NCAA championship, only Michigan has more...

Score! We were sitting behind a bunch of students and so the girls learned the lyrics to a new song. "In heaven there is no beer....that's why we drink it heeeere...." GREAT....

Katie posing with a picture of her fav player, TJ Oshe, who now plays for the St. Louis Blues...

Thanksgiving 2009

Wade's crazy family...we fit right in :)

On a more serious note!

Wade and Madison wrestling...

Wade's dad and sister Leah put dart boards up in the garage...they provided hours of entertainment. In this photo Wade is getting ready to throw a dart and Auntie Leah is posing with Ellie and Madison after French braiding their hair...

Tia.. she had her hair in a gorgeous updo from a dance she had been to the night before. Isn't she so pretty!

My brother and his sweet family...

We made "oreo turkeys" with the kids. Here is Sydney with hers...

Daniel's birthday is during Thanksgiving week. We love that we get to help him celebrate it!

Ellie with her newest cousin, Parker.

Ellie and Zech...

Ellie and Katie kissing Sam. Do you think the girls love their cousins??!!

My most favorite time of the year...

Did I mention that I L-O-V-E fall? E, M and I had a party this week to celebrate this beautiful season.

Pumpkin ginger cupcakes with cream cheese frosting... The kids had apple cider and for the adults my friend Diane made some "to die for" pumpkin spiced latte with this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Spiced-Latte/Detail.aspx

Carved pumpkins...

I "borrowed" most of these photos from my friend Michelle. Not sure why these are so small or quite how to "bigger" them!

We were going to make the cute little pumpkin and leaf fridge magnets on the left but after pumpkin carving and tie-dying the kids just wanted to play capture the flag and jump on the trampoline! Anybody need some yarn?

Tie dying...

My kids thought this was very cool and want to do alot more of it!

The idea was to make pumpkin faces inside the circles per this Family Fun project: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/pumpkin-shirt-674600/ but the kids seem to love the shirts just the way they are...they can wear them year round.

San Antonio- Columbus Day Weekend

Chicago

I am sitting here in a hotel room in Arkansas with Ellie...just the two of us. We've had a nice time. We're here for a soccer tournament and her team won both games today but tomorrow will be a bigger challenge as we will have just one sub. Katie has generously loaned me her laptop which has her pictures on it so I thought I would share some of her shots from the trip we took to Chicago this summer!.....

Sears Tower:

Millenium Park:

Waiting for the double decker train we took from the suburb of Lincolnshire where we stayed and Wade attended Army meetings while we explored the city:

Madison on the train...

Katie and Ellie - doesn't Ellie look grown up?

Ellie taking a picture of the Sear 's Tower. She is afraid of/fascinated by very tall buildings. She was constantly asking me "Mom, how many stories do you think that building is?"

Cool reflection, cool Jeep!

Skyline:

The magnificent mile...

Navy Pier...LOVED Navy Pier and our time there was so short. I want to go back soon!

Dinner at one of Chicago's iconic pizza joints, Pizzaria Uno. Picture below was in our booth...for Wade's family and anyone else who loves the game "Pit" this is a photo of the Chicago Board of Trade...take a look at the commodities :)

We also went to the American Girl Place, rode the "el" (elevated train), saw a play, swam at the hotel, and witnessed a very cool Indian wedding celebration. There is so much more we wanted to do in the few days we had but we simply ran out of time. There are several more pictures...on another camera in another state at the present moment....but I will try to post them at another time!