3...2...1...Happy New Year!

Today Lucy and I went to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory for a New Year's Eve celebration. It was especially designed for kids, most markedly so by the fact the partying went down at noon instead of midnight!

They had some music and activities leading up to the "ball drop," which consisted of lots of vinyl blow-up animals being released from nets on the ceiling. Lucy was a little overwhelmed so we stood on the outskirts of the crowd, but still managed to snag an elephant, which she insisted she did NOT want. Luckily, a lady was walking by with her daughters and said, "any chance you'd want to trade a giraffe for an elephant?" So all was right with the world.

After the big event we went outside and visited our Lucy's favorite animals, the polar bears. They were not very active (as in, one was inside and the other was taking a nap in the doorway with only his butt sticking out the door). We also visited the aquatics and monkey buildings, before heading back inside to check out what was going on in the Conservatory. How beautiful with all the poinsettias!

A nice way to ring in the New Year. And hey, since I got my partying in during the daytime, I don't have to stay up until midnight, right?

What will you do to celebrate the New Year?

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas from our house to yours. Hope you're having lots of giggles and good times this holiday...but in case you need a little help, here is Lucy's rendition of "Jingle Bells," complete with hiccups.

Christmas Tour 2012 - Stop #4 (Home!)

Christmas morning we woke up at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and hurried to see that Santa had eaten the cookies and milk we left out for him. Santa also left Lucy a couple of small gifts and a note that he had also stopped at our house! We had some breakfast and were then anxious to pack up and get home, to see what Santa brought, but also to see our Daddy. We talked to him via FaceTime every day we were gone, but it just was not the same not having him there. So after saying goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa we hit the road, jack!

And oh my goodness, Santa sure did come! Daddy was waiting for us and we didn't waste any time getting after those presents. Lucy's big gift was a dollhouse, and if Santa had any doubts, I think the squeal of "it's just what I wanted!!" upon opening was just the insurance he needed. ;)

Brandon came over just in time to open his gifts, and the kids opened their stockings together. We ate dinner and just had some great, quiet, family time. It was a perfect end to Christmas Tour 2012.

Christmas Tour 2012 - Stop #3 (Great-Grandma's House)

Christmas Eve day was LAZY! The kids played and the adults lounged, looked at pictures, and grazed. Grandpa had fun with his new remote control helicopter. Mid-afternoon, we all headed to Grandma Mardie's house for another long-standing family tradition. There were gifts for Grandma and the kids, and some funny moments with the adult grab bags. We had our soup dinner, then changed into our fancy clothes for church. I especially loved Lucy sitting next to my mom and singing Christmas carols during the service. I think she might have Grandma's singing genes! I just love to be at my grandma's and I know these times may be limited, as it's quite a chore for her to have us all at her house. So I am so happy we were able to be there. Thank you, Grandma!

Great-Grandma needed some help opening her gifts. :)



Great-Grandma always gives the cutest PJs!



The piano is always a hit.

4 Generations - I just love having these pics!

Sharing the Nativity with Grandma after church.

Christmas Tour 2012 - Stop #2 (Overmohle)

This morning we left for Iowa to celebrate with my family. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Daddy, who had to stay behind because he came down with a case of shingles. It wasn't quite out of the contagious stage yet, and he knew how important it was to get to see the family, so he shooed us out the door after some hugs and kisses.

We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's just before noon to a full house. For the first time since 2009, all of my brothers and their families were home for Christmas, which was great...but a little bittersweet for us since Husband was not able to make it. However, all four cousins got some great playtime and it was quite something to see them all together in my parent's house. We ate lunch, took some photos, and then the craziness began.

"For me, Grandma?"

Em

"What did you get?"

The carnage...

Playtime! All four of them on the floor with Grandpa and Uncle Jason.

What fun! Josh, Abbey, and Em left later that day, but we were so glad to have (almost) everyone there for at least an afternoon. Lucy, D, and E are still playing. Could be long night, but certainly a day not soon forgotten!

Christmas Tour 2012 - Stop #1 (Laabs)

Our 2013 Tour started at Grandpa Lee's house on Saturday the 22nd. As always, fun was had by all and Lucy received lots of cool presents from Grandpa and aunties and uncles. It was an intense 4-5 hours of eating, opening presents, playing with presents, teasing her uncles, and running around with her "big girl" cousin, Miss H. I am blessed to have married into such a fun and loving family.

Brandon decorated for Christmas. Grandma would be proud.

Cousins.

A favorite from Grandpa - "Bouncy" the dog.

Doesn't take much to get some silly out of this crowd. :)

She was out within about 2 minutes on the drive home...still surrounded by Christmas!

Flashback - Lucy, Elmo, and Buddy

December 2009,  about 6 1/2 months old. How time flies...

Sunday School Program
This morning was the long-awaited Christmas program at our church. This was Lucy’s first year of Sunday School, so her first time participating in the program. She was excited to dress up and wear the sparkly pink shoes reserved for special occasions.

They don’t have high expectations of the 3-year-olds, but they at least get to stand in front and look cute! It was a packed sanctuary and Lucy had her own special surprise audience of Aunties Brenda, Marcey, and Candy, as well as cousin Hayley.

She did great! She was deliberately trying not to acknowledge or look at me in any way, but she was well aware of where we were sitting and would toss a few looks to her aunties every now and then. She maintained her little singer status and remembered most of the words to the songs. A few people came up to me afterwards and complimented how well-behaved she was, and one asked how old she was. When I said 3 ½, one woman said she couldn’t believe how much she was singing and knew the words. If only she spent 30 minutes in our home, she’d hear all kinds of singing!

So, we check another milestone off the list – first Sunday School Christmas Program!

Ladies Spa Weekend

Friday morning I left for Grandview Lodge in Nisswa, MN. A group of ladies I know goes up there for a weekend every year to enjoy the fabulous spa services and cut loose a little bit.  I went two years ago and decided to join them again this year. The mix of ladies is a little different every time, so there is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and the chance to meet some new ones.  Ten in all.

Some of us had appointments Friday at the spa (I had a massage), but then on Saturday we tried something different - a spa cabin, only for our group. It's a cabin all set up with a relaxation/lounge area, and separate rooms set up for the services. We had a "concierge" of sorts available to us all day, offering warm neck wraps. :) There was even a hot tub on the deck!

It was at our disposal all day, so we lounged and snacked and chatted and slept and...ahhhhhh. It was so nice! Sprinkled in there, of course, were some wonderful services. I had a very relaxing facial. Who couldn't relax in this beautiful cabin?

Most of the girls went out on Friday night, but I stayed in with another woman because my back was bothering me, and frankly I was ready to hang out in my stretchy pants! We had a nice time chatting and having a couple glasses of wine while everyone else went out and danced their butts off. Saturday night, we went to Iven's on the Bay for dinner and a few of these babies:

Everyone was pretty tired so we went back to our main cabin and watched a movie, then headed to bed. We needed to rest up, because overnight the world turned white! A few inches of snow came down and was still falling in the morning. If possible, snow makes the lodge even prettier.

It was just too bad it came as we were leaving. I'm sure a little bit of our relaxed state was disrupted in our respective white-knuckle drives home! Over a foot fell in many parts of the state, including the metro. It took awhile to get home, but I made it unscathed and was warmly welcomed by my loves. It's nice to get away once in awhile, but it's also nice to be home!

Holiday Program

Program night at school! The theme was "Gingerbread Kids" so all the kids wore a cute little brown paper gingerbread suit over their clothes.

Lucy sang the whole time and despite seeming a little annoyed for awhile that the girl next to her was not singing, she had a good time.

Oh Where, Oh Where is My Gingerbread Man?

(pardon the shaky camera work)

Breakfast With Santa

Each year Lucy's school does a "Breakfast with Santa" fundraiser. There is a raffle, arts and crafts, pancakes, and of course, a visit with Santa Claus. Although we had seen him in Storm Lake, Lucy was very excited to visit with the Big Guy again and was practicing her list as we stood in line.

 Once we got in there, she surprised me by climbing right into his lap! She kind of froze up on her list, but I heard her say she had a Barbie at home, and then tell Santa, "but she's naked." So Santa thought that maybe he could bring the Barbie some clothes. :)

Thank you, Santa!