Little Gymnast!

I wanted to share these sweet pictures of Kenzie!  She had her last class of her first session of gymnastics.  I didn't know they were going to do a little awards ceremony or I would have brought my camera.  Luckily I had my phone to snap a couple pictures.  She went up to the podium and did her "ta-da" and then with clapping and cheering was handed her very first gymnastics ribbon!  I was surprised she even went up there by herself!  She has made some serious social progress since the beginning of class and I am so proud of her!

She thought she was pretty special and loved all of her stamps as well!

Holiday Baking.

 We did some family holiday baking today.  Baking cookies takes a lot of time with 3 little ones and is one giant mess!  They had fun helping and we were exhausted by the time the cookies were baked and everyone and everything was cleaned up.  We just made a couple different kinds but they are yummy and it was fun.

 Kenzie didn't quite understand why we were putting a plate full of yummy cookies in front of her but she wasn't able to eat them!  She did pretty well and when we were all done they got to choose a cookie to eat.

You can see the excitement in Landon's face!  He is my sweets boy.  Oh, and why not bake cookies in a dance costume?

Holiday Recital 2012.

 Kadence had her holiday recital for dance.  It is a very informal recital where the classes just where costumes from their own closets and do short dances.  Kadence's dance class had a lot of 3 year olds in it this year so they had two big girls helping on stage.  I think it may have been distracting for those few who actually knew the dance, but it was cute nonetheless.

 Kadence was so excited she kept telling us to hurry because she didn't want to miss her recital.

 This little copycat wanted to pose for pictures just like big sister.   I can't wait to get her in a dance class!

 When we arrived at the school Kadence still wasn't nervous.  She gladly posed for some pictures for me while Dad, Landon, and Kenzie found some seats.  She was the first in her class to line up and after  I had been there with her for about 10 minutes and one other little girl had come she says, "mom, you can go now- I'm good."  I was shocked and glad at the same time.  She was so excited and didn't seem nervous at all!

 It was pitch dark when I snapped the picture below so it was fun to see her smiling face with the flash of the camera.

 Love her little nervous smile!

 Such a pretty little dancer!  I have moved Kadence up to a class with some older girls which I think will be great for her.  So, I am excited to see what her recital this spring will bring.  So proud of of our little girl!

That's Weird.

This little girl was just what I needed this morning.  I am thinking this family is starting to feel better although my little Kadence girl is still pretty pale.  Just wanted to share Kadence's chatter this morning. I have recently discovered that Barney is the one thing that Kenzie will actually sit and watch on TV only for about 10 minutes but that is better than her crying while I try to cook, or get ready, or help the other kids, or basically anything else that does not involve holding her and/or directly talking and playing with her.  I had recorded a Barney Christmas movie and turned it on for the girls while I helped Landon get ready for school.

 Kadence: I didn't know Barney was a dinosaur, I really just thought he was a long-tailed purple hippo. That's weird.

It was just what I needed.  I was instantly in a good mood and couldn't stop smiling!  I love catching insight into these little minds!

Shake it up!

We have had an extremely rough week and a half around this house.  We have been plagued with the nastiest bug I have ever encountered in my life.  It has gone through everyone but Ryan-thank goodness for his iron guts.  I wont go into details to spare your own stomachs but I will say our washer and dryer has ran continuously for 10 days and we will probably have a water bill higher than when Ryan was obsessively lawn watering this summer.  Kadence and I also had recreated words to "This is the song that never ends" with our own "This is the stomach bug that never ends..." On a positive note I am hoping (and praying) that once this bug leaves our home we should be good for awhile and be able to enjoy Christmas.  

I had to write this post so that I could remember Kadence's adorable name for 7-up.  Our kids rarely get pop and to be honest with you they never even ask for it.  We have been desperate in settling the kids' poor tummy's so I gave Kadence a few sips of 7-up.  It seemed to help her for a little bit and she would ask if she could have another sip of "shake it up."  I corrected her a few times but quit when she didn't get it and I realized how adorable it was when she would ask for her "shake it up."  

We have spent way too much time sick and at home, it has been exhausting for everyone.  I let the girls work out a little frustration by finger painting this morning.  They had a blast!

 I had to laugh because neither one of them loved having paint all over their hands and asked to wash them in between painting.  Little cutie patooties!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We had a great time decorating our tree and home this year.  All 3 of the kids were eager to help and lets just say our tree has plenty of decorations, especially on the lower half.  The kids are believers of fitting every single decoration on the tree.  They had fun and I love a decorated real Christmas tree.

Crazy how much alike these three can look depending on the expressions they are making.  How did we ever get so lucky to have such beautiful kids?

Ryan and Landon putting the star on top.

Every year our Christmas' have been more and more fun and special thanks to these three little blessings.  This picture shows the world who the boss is!

Hope you all stay sane in the holiday hustle and don't forget to take time to remember Jesus is the reason for the season!  God bless.  

Disney on Ice.

Ryan went pheasant hunting in SD with his boss so the kids and I headed to Cloquet.  I was blessed with great driving weather and quick trips.

My poor little puppy Emma was unimpressed with her new mode of travel.  She is so anxious in the car and is continuously up and down on my lap and trying to jump behind my neck.  She is getting worse and it is just too difficult when I am alone to drive, deal with her and the 3 children.  I decided for the safety of my family (and my sanity) it was time to buy a kennel for her to travel in.  It broke my heart when I had to shove her in there but I knew it was what I had to do.  She scratched the kennel for 3 1/2 of the 4 hour trip and cried periodically.  By the time we got to my mom's she was thirsty, tired, and had some pretty filed down claws.  The poor thing.  I sure hope she gets used to it.  

 I was pretty excited to be able to go to Annabelle's first Kindergarten basketball practice on Saturday am. She was unsure at first but once she started to play she looked like she was having a lot of fun! It was pretty cute.

We went to the Holiday parade on Saturday night and had great weather.  I forgot my camera so I am waiting on some pictures I will insert later.  Jackie, Rocco, and Piper hung out with us most of Saturday and came to the parade.  Landon and Kadence rode on AJ's preschool float so they thought they were pretty cool.  Kenzie had a blast getting candy with Rocco, Piper, Grandma and Grandpa.

Sunday Landon, Kadence and I went to Disney on Ice with the Skowlund's at the DECC in Duluth.  It was so fun to watch and I think I probably enjoyed it just as much as the kids.

 Kadence probably enjoyed the show the most of all the kids.  She was so excited she couldn't even keep her little bum in her chair!

Such a fun weekend!  But I was sure glad to be home with Daddy on Sunday night!