December 2013

We met Santa and told him what was on our Christmas lists

a sewing machine for Eloise and a booby trap for George

Cousin Jane and her parents came for an early Christmas celebration

(Jane's going to be a big sister any day!)

Horse drawn carriage ride through the village

Winter Wonderfest

Eloise was Molly in Annie!

Here she is after we applied copious amounts of make-up at home

Here she is singing on stage

The cast posing for photos after the show

Flowers from her adoring fans

The Joffrey Nutcracker

Nonna and Grandpa came for an early Christmas with us

Grandpa in plaid on plaid

The Field Museum

Eloise was an angel in the pageant at Church

George was a (naughty) sheep

We wrestled him into this costume and chased him all over the church

This photo sums up his pageantry

Eloise, however, was angelic

 Cookie decorating

Berry the Elf decided to start switching spots on us after Eloise spent days and days begging him to start moving around like the other kid's elves. Apparently he's no longer afraid of Maize and willing to move a bit, at least according to the note he left for the kids. Most days he still forgot to move, but the two nights before Christmas he went really wild - that sneaky twerp even built a lego car...

and zip-lined from our chandelier

Christmas Eve

Two kids and one Dad

Plus one Mom

And a Hamma and a Boppa

Christmas morning

Toys!

My favorite gift of the year from my favorite girl

Christmas dinner with family

Hamma on ice skates after almost 30 years

Merry Christmas to All!

Happy Thanksgiving

Feeling inspired after Pretty Horse's Pow Wow, our family stood around the table before Thanksgiving dinner, held hands, and passed around a talking stick, telling our Native American name and also what we were thankful for. I am thankful for this new tradition - it was a beautiful highlight to our Thanksgiving weekend in GR. And like every year, we are so thankful that our families blend together so beautifully and celebrate happily as one. 

Oh, and we were so thankful that there was enough snow in EGR to sled! Our first sledding of the season was a complete and total blast.

UM-IOWA

Andrew went on a man weekend with his besties. They all look like pretty cute thirty-five year olds, if you ask me. 

Pow Wow

Eloise has the most wonderful teacher. They just finished a Native American study that culminated in a Pow Wow that our families were invited to. Talking sticks, Native American names (Eloise is Pretty Horse), buffalo hunts, trading, an indoor campfire and teepee, a feather earning ceremony, and feasting on pemmican. It was a fabulously memorable morning and we are already looking forward to Scary Buffalo's (George's) Pow Wow in 2 years.

UM-H2O