Happy New Year!

Pets in the House

I broke my "no pets in the house" rule. The same night we started letting Ginger sleep in the basement (due to the cold weather), we acquired a free hamster "Sugar" from some homeschool friends. The kids were so excited! And overall...we are all getting along well. ;-)

Merry Christmas!

This is the tree we selected, from our sand pit, to bring home and decorate for the holidays. 

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year!

Library Activities

Amber read to a therapy dog at our children's library. She read an American Girl doll book.

Clara wasn't old enough to participate at the library, but she tried to duplicate the activity at home with Ginger. (Yes, Ginger comes in the house now - in the basement - when it's so bitter cold outside). :)

Brent enjoyed library Lego time. Your creation gets displayed in a glass case for a couple weeks...he was excited about that. He made a hovercraft.

Friends

First Snow

A snowman I upcycled from old pots and some wood. I love spray paint! Instant transformation. ;-)

We have had 8 more inches of snow since these pics. The winter sledding has begun! :)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day we had a nice lunch at Great G'ma and G'pa's senior center restaurant. It was delicious. The kids enjoyed the fancy meal and fancy table setting. Brent was not enthused about mashed potatoes and gravy at first. But in the end he said it was ok. 

And Brent enjoyed the new taste of a lemon from his lemonade. He was funny. 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had brunch at my Mom and Dad's. All siblings and grandkids were together. Even my sister-in-law's parents were up too, visiting from Texas. So...for some fun, my Dad organized a "Civil War Sock Fight." North vs. the South. It was hilarious!! Fun for the kids and the adults. 

Piano Concert

Amber has been enjoying piano more this year than the previous two years. She and I like playing little duets together. So fun to enjoy music with my kids!

Our local library had a mini concert last week. Piano duo performers Sylvia Hong and Michael Rector, a husband and wife team, came. They have performed in D.C. and Korea, and...they came to the Neenah community room. We were able to have front row seats. 

They started with a piano duet, but then they each performed individual pieces as well. Here Sylvia is doing a 30min. piano concerto by Liszt. It was very "epic." 

Amber Goes Riding

Amber was invited to a horseback riding birthday party. Pretty special for her and a good learning experience. 

Fall Campout

Our neighbors invited us to join them (and their friends) for an October campout. It was chilly, but fun.

Jumping Rope