Baking with the girls!

I had a can of pumpkin that I wanted to use so I found a recipe for some pumpkin muffins! Why not give them a try! The girls and I had fun! They don't bake with me too often as I often bake when they are at school!

These were delicious! We will be making these again!

Annual Christmas Tree outing

Every year it is a challenge to get an agreement on a tree. Daddy says "get a big one!" Mommy says "not that big, I have to put the lights on it!" Trust me, there are enough ornaments...mommy just doesn't want a 10 foot tree (or taller) as that is a LOT of lights!

THE ONE! Not too big, not too small! Just right!

Seeing Santa and telling him their wishes!

No puppies this year, but all the bunnies and the little funny chickens

Even the Grinch gets in on the Christmas Tree Adventures!

This photo does not show it as it was, but it was like Heaven shining down on us, on our way home from the tree farm. Dad had gone with us 2 years ago and was with us again this year in spirit! We stopped at Broadway on our way home for some lunch! Yum-yum!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Turkey Day! We are heading to WI for an lunch (daddy is already up in WI hunting with Grandpa) and then heading to Nana and Pop-pops for an early dinner. I wanted needed some GOOD coffee this morning so we stopped at Caribou and I got the kids some hot cocoa, which I never do (because it is a little expensive for a kids cocoa!). It is expensive for coffee, too, but that, I needed!

We love to see the Schultz cousins! Every time we see them, I think they grow a few inches. Soon, I think Grace will pass me up - she is already taller than Dawn! Anna will be there soon too!

It was an early morning of hunting. Grace and Todd hunted, too - Grace got her 1st buck horns - but neither her nor Uncle Todd were sleeping!

Nana and Pop-Pops! So many people! Soon, kids will outnumber adults!

Man, look at all these kids! It is hard to believe that Evan will be 15 in just a few weeks. Where, or where did time go? Now, there are 13 grandkids and 1 on the way! Geez! Nana sure got her wish of grandkids!

Gotta get a photo of the adults...not one holding a baby either!

It was fun to have TWO babies - lots of holding going on by everyone! Look at how big Gwen is and how tiny Camdyn looks! Pretty ladies!

Look at Asher's little smile for his Nana! Man, what a cutie!

Tanner was so cute with Asher! I love this photo of Nana, Tanner & Ash! So cute!

Teagan getting some practice - will it be a brother or sister for her in 4 months!?

Someone is always on their phones!

Reese and Kendall brought their dolls with and they are in their matching outfits! Reese and her dolls!

Reese and her love of little Harley and her love for Tanner! She just won't leave him alone!

Nothing like playing Wii on a holiday! Sure is fun! Look at all those boys!

Reese's 1st PS Conference & Kindergarten Screening

Ms. Annette had nothing but good, wait, GREAT things to say about Reese's first 3 months in preschool. She did mention that she does sometimes have a hard time understanding her.  But, usually they are able to figure it out - by pointing at something or maybe Reese re-works her words so that Ms. Annette can figure it out.

Reese does have a little bit of work to do on her letter recognition but Ms. Annette knows (and so do we) that she will work hard and get them all done.  She said she is super friendly.  An excellent helper. A great listener. She loves all their songs and loves playing creatively. I sometimes wish that there were a few more kids in her class because I fear that she will have a hard time in Kindergarten.  Going from a class of 5 kids to a class of over 20. Yikes!

She also had her kindergarten screening this afternoon. She did great with a few little exceptions. One, she failed her hearing test. I let them know that she has an ear infection and some wax build-up in the other ear. They think that may have hindered her hearing so they would like us to have a follow-up visit to ensure that is the reason. The other issue was that she did have a little difficulty on some of the speech stuff. They are going to refer us to Ms. Jeannine and see what she thinks!

So proud of you. Reese!

Ear Infection!

Reese complained on Saturday night that her ear hurt, then Sunday when she woke up she said that it was fine.  Then Sunday night after waking at about 10:30 she said her ear hurt again.

These were the wait times at the "quick" clinics:
target 2.5 hour wait
minute clinic 1.5 hr wait

The above 2 clinics only have a $20 copay, so I try to take the kids to them when I can,if I think it is a simple illness, like an ear infection in this case! Express Healthcare is a $40 copay. But, when wait times are so crazy long and we can't get into our regular clinic, it is off to Express Healthcare. I like most of the PA's that we have seen here, though there have been 1 or 2 that I have not liked too much, but to diagnosis something quick and not be our long term care team, that's okay! Boom, we were in and out with an ear infection! And, off to Target for a prescription! I should have gone to school for nursing - we could be saving some serious $!

Rollerskating Party!

Kendall had a roller skating party today for Rachael in her class. I have never been to Cheap Skate - Dave took Dawson a few years ago and was a little concerned about it, so he said. That is what I am doing as well. I don't quite recall what else was going on but I just had Kendall & Dawson. Reese was with daddy!

The kids had a blast! Mom even put on some roller skates a took a few laps around the rink! Man, it has been a long, long time since I did that.

DQ or BBQ?

Kendall, God Bless this little girl, I love her with all my heart...but she really truly is the definition of Drama Queen.  tonight, she was doing something and daddy called her DQ (aka Drama Queen).  I don't think she partiularly cared for that.  Especially NOT at all when her little sister comes along and says "yeah, stop it BBQ!"  I was in the office when she burst in, in tears, saying that daddy and Reesey were calling her DQ and BBQ, which I had NOT a clue what she was talking about.

Dave told me the story later and then, and only then, did it make sense.  Oh, DQ or BBQ, I love you!

stunning...

The row of clouds and the sun rising was beautiful this morning. The clear crisp morning is just stunning! This is what makes waking up such a blessing!

Northern Lights Chorale

Dave mentioned a Chorale, that his friend Jarrett is singing in a few weeks back at Bethel University.  We weren't sure if Carter would want to go but he wanted to show the kids that singing & music is a great thing too.  Sometimes we focus so much on sporting activities and he wants the kids to be able to branch out and try other activities as well!

It was really a wonderful show.  Songs were amazing.  It was not a Christmas show but they did sing a few songs. Dawson did baulk slightly but I think he enjoyed it in the long run of things!  The girls LOVED IT!

Dominos, Dominos!

I love when the kids play creatively. I found a container of dominos in dad's things so I am keeping it for the kids. They built a track on the table and down it went! The only bad thing about them - Reese loves to play with them...and hide them, put them in other containers and so on, so I am finding them all over the place!