The Nutcracker 2013

The girls were in The Nutcracker last month! It was fun for them and a great experience. Thanks to all our friends and family who came to see it!!!

Gabriella was a Toy Soldier, a Rat, a Villager, and a Flower. She loved the practices, the socializing and getting to be with her friends in the play.

Jocelyn was a mouse and a Candy Cane.

 I haven't posted in a LONG time!! So sorry!! I've been a tad busy!!! I thought I would add some favorite photos from a holiday photo shoot that was a blast!!!!

 I love all the pics and and posting some of my very favorites for you to see!!!!

Hope you enjoyed looking at the pics.

Kick'n Off the Holidays

It's that time of the year again!!! And I love it. I love ALL of it. The holidays festivities, the lights and music, the shopping and decorating, the friends and family, the endless planning and list making, and oh yes the traditional COOKIE BAKING!!!!!

 A couple weeks ago we did our holiday cookie baking with Great Grandma Ro, Grandma Peggy and Nancy!! We did it at our house this year and it went beautifully!!!! We had a blast as always and kicked off the holiday season in full force.

The girls helped out too. We bake the same cookies every year. We have it down to a science. Pecan Tassies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, Lemon Squares, Russia Tea Cakes, Ginger Creams (Jocelyn renamed them to Korean Ginger Creams!), Chocolate Stars, Old Fashioned fudge (Grandma Ro and I had to make it three times to get it right....very old recipe and very fussy!!!) and Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs and Nut-Goody Bars.

Here's Nancy and my sweeties helping decorate the cut-outs!!!!!!!!!! Can you HEAR the Christmas music???? I had it cranked up!!!!!!!!!!! Did I mention I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Ahnya is always eager to help.......and eat them!

 Gabriella and Jocelyn are professional bakers now! They've baked these same cookies since they were babies!

 We took a break and had to burn off some sugar after eating cookies...and played a game of football!!!!

Gabbi can throw a ball like nobodys business and Jocelyn can tackle like a pro!

Magnus pretty much was concerned about not getting dirty and kept brushing off the leaves from his pants saying "no messy momma!" Ahnya was clueless and followed Uncle Curt everywhere!

Here's Uncle Curt and the kids. He is exhaused and the kids are revved up on sugar!!! We had a great weekend baking together and it was the perfect kick-off to the holiday season!!!

Halloween Fun!!!

Look at these cuties!! We had a blast on Halloween. We had our friends over before Trick-or-Treating and tried to fill the kids up with healthy snacks before they ate junk! Moms and dads had some yummy spiced apple cider and maybe a cocktail before, too.

Patrick, Ava & Amy Clagget came over, along with Maya and Halle Roos. They were all adorable and made the event more special. Thanks for sharing the night with us!! We have to make that a tradition you guys!!!! We took the kids trick-or-treating for a couple hours around the blocks where we live and then called it quits at 8:00 pm! It was a beautiful night and we all had so much fun!!!

Forgive my pictures...they are all maxed out pixilated. My settings were all messed up on my camera and I had to have Adri, my niece  try and fix them. Thanks Adri! So you get the idea of the events that took place Halloween night...but the photos are minimally adequate!

Ok, Gabriella was a spooky Count Dracula!!!

 My little Jocelyn was Queen Cleopatra......very fitting to her caliber!

 Ms. Ahnya was a spooky witch...........she had her witch sound perfected! She loved Halloween this year!

 And Mr. Magnus....there really are no words for this kid! He is so crazy, funny, sweet, etc. etc. He was batman. But he didn't like the batman hat that went with it...so confining for him. He was cute even though his batman pants were too tight and looked more like capri pants!

 Nana and Bumpa always come and help get kids ready every year and join in our Halloween Fun!

This picture is not of good quality...but you get the idea....We always make our first stop at Boulder to see Grandma Ro and trick-or-treat at her place. The kids loved it!!

Hope everyone had a great, safe Halloween! On to another holiday....

Ella & Annie Come to Visit

 We had a fun weekend....it was a beautiful weekend. Saturday was especially gorgeous!! Magnus loved playing in the leaves. It was his first time playing in the leaves. He was amazed the the leaves were crispy. He would smell and then taste the leaves and then say "not good momma...yucky!"

 The girls BFF's came to visit all day Saturday. They had so much fun.

 Here's Jocelyn and Annie Mae!!!!!!!!! They are two peas in a pod!!!!!!!!!!!

Ella and Gabriella giggled and ran around like they have been together forever!! Ella and Annie moved to Clara City last year. It was tragic when they moved. But when they get together, it seems like time stood still and they jump back into their routine together.

We love you Ella and Annie! You're the best! Hope to see you very very VERY soon!!!!

Happy Gotch'a Day Jocelyn!!!

Big day for our family...Today was Jocelyn's Gotch'a Day!! 7 years ago today Ryan, I and Gabriella went to the MSP airport and met Jocelyn for the first time!! It seems like yesterday...and today she is a very sweet little girl who has the biggest heart.

I was up early this morning making a Gotch'a day breakfast of rolls and quiche! Yummmmy!

 Then, it was the exciting part of opening a couple special gifts to commemorate the event!!!

 I always love the look of anticipation when the kids open gifts..........everyone's eyes are bright and excitement is in the air!

 .....And her face is priceless.....she is in shock and that means momma picked the right gift well!! Mission accomplished!

 Jocelyn got the new American Girl named, Caroline Abbott. She loved the book about her new historical American Doll and the accessories.

 Here's a picture of the sista's together.........................

 ...........................here's Magnus not joining in on the picture!!! Typical!

 He did this pose all on his own!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He seriously is a really funny little boy!!! Where does he get that....I don't know???

 Daddy smooch'in on Magnus and he giggles and giggles............

 My fancy face and her new doll.

 Gabriella is proud big sister. Gabriella and Ahnya never once complain that they didn't get something or fight about playing with Jocelyn's gift, etc. The kids just know that a Gotch'a Day is a special celebration for that child and the kids support each other and share in the joy. I love that. No one fought or had an argument at all today. I love that, too! We all had a great time playing outside, playing dolls inside, hot tubing and being a family.

 Jocelyn and Caroline having snack together!

 I had to post the other kids because they're part of the celebration, too! Ahnya all smiles all the time!

 Magnus already has things figured out. He sang "Happy Gotch'a Day to you" song to Jocelyn many times today. He gave tons of hugs to Jocelyn, too!

 And Gabriella..............another sweetheart!

We ended the evening with typical asian dishes from the Hunan Lion restaurant because I just couldn't keep up to all the cooking. Delicious and perfect for the occasion. Happy Gotch'a Day Jocelyn Ka In. You are even sweeter than when I held you in my arm 7 years ago. I love you forever!