Getting Ready for Christmas!

The day after Thanksgiving, we had a fun day by first going to see Frozen together with my parents, then picking out a tree, and busting out all the decorations!  I love handing the decorations over to the girls and letting them have at it.... every year so far, there is a group of balls and other decorations all bunched together in an area of the tree that just reaches their max height.  

Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving this year was smaller than normal with my grandparents gone, visiting my uncle in MD.  We still managed to cook a ham, two potatoes, two salads, and four pies..... for SIX people (two of whom were children)..... we had lots of leftovers! :) To make things a little different, I decided to try making a fun, edible place set I found on pinterest - a turkey and a pilgrim hat.  The girls had fun making them with me. :)

Homemade Tripoly! :)

Natalia turns 4!

 It's official - my babies have grown into little girls! :)  Natalia asked almost every day this month if it was time for her birthday party at Chuck E Cheese now.  She also trumped everything with, "Well, it's my birthday," until Tory finally had to hit her with, "It can't be your birthday EVERY day!" Yeah, she didn't swallow that one.  No, she could get the big, purple chair they fight over every day; she could get the pink marker first; she could pick out the music at night; she could. . .  well, she had a good month! :) She tried that for a few days of November, but by then, we all agreed that 31 days had been enough. :)

What a ball she had at her party! It happened to fall on her actual birthday, too, which was fun.  She wanted it to be a Chuck E Cheese so bad!! And it HAD to be an Ariel party. NO! A princess party!! No, wait!! An Ariel party!! So, we got it all! :)  Her highlights were picking out the piñata and the gift bag prizes.  We asked the girls to dress up as princesses, and Jack.... well, he got to pick! :) IronMan Jack was pretty cool!

Turning four was particularly exciting because it meant:
1. Now she could sit in a booster seat like Tory (who cares if the booster seat is used, a boring black, and does not have as many cup holders).
2. Now she can "go upstairs" during her hour and a half at the gym daycare/preschool.  In other words, now she doesn't have to stay in the room with the babies; she can go with the group of 4-6 years old that go to a different room and do fun pre-school activities.
3. Four is just a cool number!

Still can't believe it! Happy birthday, sweet Taya!! We love you!

Barnekor

Tory and Natalia's music teacher, Ms. Linnea, invited them to participate in the Scandinavian Festival by singing in a small choir called Barnekor. They sing in English, Swedish, and Norwegian. They don't know all the words, but it is super cute to hear them. They still sing them at home, when just playing.  It is neat for them to be exposed to another culture in this way.  Kind of funny, too, though, to see them looking so unlike a Norwegian child. :)

Here are a couple links to videos of the event

http://s299.photobucket.com/user/criscia25/media/MVI_6603.mp4.html

http://s299.photobucket.com/user/criscia25/media/MVI_6617.mp4.html

Carnaval!

Tory's School, Sunset View, had a fundraising Carnaval night.  The girls had a blast there last year, but it was held in May, and it was a VERY hot day! This time, being held in October, made it the exact opposite - very COLD! - but kids never seem to mind the temperature outside! Their favorite activity was getting their hair colored.  And.... we did not take any other pictures of the event! Ok! Katriel and Analise were able to join in the fun, too! :)

Fun Times at the Farm

We spent a lot of time visiting Grandpa and Grandma this summer, enjoying all the fun activities at their home. So, here are a few pictures to remember our fun times! :)

The rabbits have had babies . . . again!! :)

They LOVE checking for eggs and collecting them!

Usually, we leave the chickens alone, but wanted a picture with them.....

Enjoying the newest baby on the farm: Lily,  german shepherd.

Don't do anything with the cows, either; well, unless you count eating them - YUM! :)

Caught a picture with Papa - who was tending to the soil. :)

We will be carving those pumpkins soon!

Swinging on the tire swing is always a highlight! 

We kept one of the MANY tadpoles Tory caught in the river this summer, and watched it transform.

Not sure if she is sad to be letting it go, or disgusted with its sliminess. :)

Letting it go in its natural habitat!

A lot of fun times in this room, playing cook or pretending to be puppies, or ponies.