A lot of love...

Yesterday we finally got some snow, so Timothy, Teresa and I bundled up for the first sled ride of the year.  We were going in circles in the backyard and stopped briefly to visit with our neighbor who was out shoveling snow on her deck. 

Timothy was very talkative and started questioning our neighbor about her grandparents.  He then filled her in own who his grandparents were  and stated that they loved him very much.  He paused for a minute and then added, "there is a lot of love in our family."  I couldn't help but smile.  Timothy was not simple repeating what he had heard.  It was his own observation.  And he is right.  There is a lot of love and the best part is that he knows that!

4 Years Old

We just finished celebrating Timothy's 4th birthday.  (He already has been asking when his next one will be!)  We were in the cities for his actual birthday and celebrated in a similar fashion to last year.  We rode the light rail train to the Mall of America took in some rides and had lunch.  It was a very fun morning despite the fact that Timothy was coming down with a cold.

This year he actually smiled on the train ride.  It was a highlight of the day again.

All day he wore his birthday crown made by his Grandpa out of his new birthday toys!

When we first arrived at the mall, all Timothy wanted to do was ride the escalator down and up over and over.  We finally had to insist that we stop and go check out the amusement park.  Initially Timothy was not pleased to stop this great ride, but then he got a glimpse of what else the mall had to offer and he did not put up a fuss.

Zooming on the cars with daddy.

Lunch in the food court over looking all the rides.

Before we left the mall, Timothy got to visit the Disney store and pick out a toy.  He chose the tiny Squinkies Cars toys.  Troy and I may have tried to persuade him to pick something else, but it was his choice.  And in his defense he has really enjoyed playing with them...and they are really cute!

Birthday boy and his sis

We had a low key afternoon before Timothy's cousins and uncles and aunt came over for "the party."  Before dinner we all prayed a birthday blessing for Timothy.  Then it was pizza, a big chocolate cookie with The King from Cars, and some Wii dancing fun.

Back at home we had another party with Timothy's friends.  Troy was in charge of buying balloons.  I made another big cookie, this time with Francesco from Cars.  We played party games and enjoyed a treat.  It was another fun night and Timothy was so sad that his friends had to leave.

There were some great celebrations for a very special and beloved four year old.

Merry Christmas!

For the first time since we moved to ND, Troy got to be home with us on Christmas Eve.  He only had to preach at the two contemporary services that are done by 5.  The service was nice.  This year Teresa did not scream during her daddy's sermon, she just toyed with the idea of walking right up front to see him.  Luckily I had cheerios to keep her with me.

As Troy found out, Christmas Eve at our house has a very normal feel.  We had nachos for dinner and then watched a Veggie Tales Christmas show before heading to bed. 

Dressed up for church.  If you look closely you will see the spilled hot cocoa on Timothy's sweater vest  I guess we should have gotten dressed up after snack!

Christmas day was very low key at our house too.  It has just been a great day of time together.  We planned a nice breakfast, that turned into a sort of brunch since Timothy slept in until 9am.  I think he was catching up on sleep after a week away from home.  Teresa was up at her usual time--7am.

Playing with animals while waiting for Timothy to wake up.

When he finally woke up, we opened a few presents in our stockings.  (Timothy is wearing the crown from his birthday. That post is still to come). 

After our breakfast the kids opened their other gifts.  Timothy suggested that we sing to Jesus first, so we did a short advent time.  Then it was gift time.

Two Christmas bumps on a log!  The boxes always bring the most fun!

Animals, and more animals make for a happy little girl.

Sitting in his new soccer/hockey net and wearing his new slippers.

The day was very warm which allowed us to head outside to try the new net.  Timothy did a little hockey and then wanted to be the goalie.  It was warm enough that Troy even went for a bike ride mid afternoon.

Watching the hockey game.

We had a nice turkey dinner and shared some things that we were thankful for.  Troy started naming a list of five things he was thankful for.  After hearing this Timothy piped up with his own list of five things.  He was thankful for  Mommy and Daddy, Teresa, his juice box, his cars, and Christmas lights.

Not a bad picture taken by a four year old!

A daddy and the kids he loves so much!

We ended the evening with a tour of Christmas lights and the Veggie Tales Polish Christmas foods song.

 It was a happy day for all and we are so thankful for another Christmas and the celebration of our king and savior.

MN Christmas

We just returned from our time in the cities celebrating Christmas with my family.  It was fun time as usual!  Here are some picture highlights.

The Christmas tree picture. 

I was proud of how nice the kids matched...since Timothy's outfit came from the Target clearence racks the day before.  Someone (who will remain nameless) forgot Timothy's suitcase in ND.  So he got a few new clothes and borrowed a few from his cousins for the week.
  Teresa isn't quite her happy self in these first pictures.  She just returned from a trip to urgent care to check for an ear infection.  No infection, but a pretty bad cold nevertheless.

A decent family picture except for a sort of sad Teresa.

Just waking up from nap, the Christmas joy was not quite evident on the kids' faces yet!

As part of our celebration all the cousins helped act out the Christmas story.  It was a wonderful production and brought about many laughs for all of us.

Timothy the shepherd and Broder the "O Holy Knight" ( aka the knight loving wiseman!) wait for the show to begin.

The little sheep with her animal friends.

A very happy Timothy opening a Lightening McQueen toy.

After the Christmas celebration there were lots of new things around to play with and enjoy.

Teresa finding a new way to cart around her animals.

And still more animals going for a ride in the new wagon.

One evening we took in a live nativity.  I am not so sure the kids understood that the Christmas story was being acted out, but the sure loved the animals...a camel, donkey, goat, pony and pigs.

All bundled up, Teresa and Troy enjoy the animals.

Grandma Rebecca even joined us on this adventure.

Getting ready for a big sip of hot cocoa after being outside at the nativity.

Timothy and I got to go to a stage production of Peef the Christmas Bear with Grandma and his older cousins.  The younger girls stayed home and had some fun with Troy, Lisa, and Grandpa.

Grandpa's lap...a great place to relax!

There were lots of happy memories made! 

Caged!

Most kids want to climb out of the crib, but not Timothy.  He never learned to climb out when it was his, and now he just wants to climb in and play with Teresa.  Yesterday they spent a good while playing in there together.  Perhaps I should 'cage' them more often!!

Christmas pictures

 The kids were playing near the tree yesterday, so I decided to make an attempt at a Christmas picture.  Being evening the lightening looked better without a flash, but that required me and them to stay still which was not happening.  (I really am not much of a photographer...I just capture random shots that sometimes turn out!)

Teresa is almost smiling and I don't know what face Timothy is making!

Next Timothy wanted to hold Teresa on his lap, so we gave it a try.  Teresa was less into the picture taking by then, so she wouldn't look at the camera.

Teresa planning her escape from her brother's lap.

And of course the best picture was when they were playing in the kitchen cupboard.  Nothing says Merry Christmas like a cupboard picture!

Happy faces after deciding to share the cupboard space.