2011 Blizzard!!!

My first blizzard! It was windy and cold and snowy....just like a blizzard should be, I guess. We didn't get as much snow as they were thinking but it sure did blow everywhere and drift and pile up! Quentin spent about three hours snowblowing our driveway and four other neighbor's places. There was a lot to move and he was so happy to use his snowblower! But it was really nice for him to be able to stay home and help our neighbors. I took the kids out for a little bit and it was chilly...but it was fun to walk on the sidewalks with 2-3 ft of snow on either side. Kinda like the parting of the sea =)...just frozen! So anyway, here are some pictures of the drifts and sights around our house this morning!

Jessalyn's Tangled Birthday

She is now 6 years old! Just amazing how she has grown and blessed our lives! We had so much fun with her on Friday and then at the party on Saturday. Lots of fun and activities!!!

She wanted the Tangled theme for her party so we went all out! I found some great activities on the website and printed out some crafts and color sheets and characters and we had a great time. It was fun to see her so thrilled with the outcome...she especially likes listening and dancing to the songs we downloaded and used for musical chairs!

She wanted hotdogs, grapes, Cheetos Puffs and juice for her menu. I added a big sub sandwich and some other veggies and it turned out great....wouldn't you know, she didn't even touch her hotdog!

We made lanterns! They weren't the floating kind like in the movie, but they sure were pretty!

We played pin Pascal on Flynn's shoulder!

We braided hair with ribbons and flowers, just like in the movie, and the girls had so much fun! Thankfully I had two moms there to help!!

I just love seeing their reactions to getting sung to on their birthday. I didn't quite capture it on the photo but it was great!

Upward Basketball ~Announcing Elliana Wagner!!!

So who wouldn't want to play with a beginning like this, hey?! It is pretty cool and the kids love the tunnel and music and lights! Elli has some pretty good bball skills and I would post a video of her in action but her coach/dad/#1 fan was coaching (yelling) the whole time while he was taking the video =) ! So we will have to take some more video towards the end and show you how she does. And hopefully they will decide to play again next year!

Upward Basketball ~Jessalyn in Action!!

So this is Jess' first year playing a sport....we decided to have them try basketball with the Upward Basketball organization and it has been really cool. They have devotions or Bible time each practice and each game and the coaches and helpers are really positive and encouraging. So even though they don't really know what is going on, they are coached and encouraged and it is a very positive experience. Jess wasn't too excited about it at first, but she has been learning the game and has been practicing and is enjoying it now. Thank goodness! This was shot on her first game and she has improved since then...I'll have to post a last game video so you can see her bball skills! Go Jess, Go!!!

Mall of America

It's true....we made it as a family to the Mall of America!!! Quentin has gotten out of going in the past so it was lots of fun having him and Owen with us...and it was fun! I took the girls to the American Girl Doll Store while Quent and Owen went to Verizon and then got tickets for Nick U. It was fun to shop with the girls and then we met up with Quentin and he got wrist bands for 3 hours of kiddie rides because it was Toddler Tuesday! What fun! We did have to wait in lines for a while but it was loads of fun for the kids and it was great watching them have a good time. The lines were all long to sit down and eat lunch so we just stopped at Cold Stone Creamery and got icecream for lunch...the kids were thrilled and it was easy to load them up in the van to head back to Grandpa and Grandma's. It was a great morning and we all had fun!!!

We started out on the little blue train for Owen....he was excited to be on his first ride!

Waiting in the lines was ok but Quent got tired!
They liked it after the wait!

The honking of the horns made Quentin decide to not ride with the kids even though Owen really wanted his daddy to share this ride!

They were all so excited to do the Swings! I took a long video and their eyes all got big as it took them up in the air....it was cute!

Elli said she tried to keep her feet together during the ride so her shoes wouldn't slip off =)

Elli loved these crystals as part of the mall decorations...she would love to have some in her room!

Where Did Christmas Break Go???

Christmas break has come and gone and I am still trying to figure out how it went so fast! We had such a great time, we are not wanting it to end. We enjoyed making goodies, the girls had a First Day of Winter party, we travelled to WI and visited with lots of family and we played really hard in the snow every day! It was great!! Here are some pictures to show just how much fun we had....fyi, they are in reverse order. (sorry!) =)

Elliana had a dream to build an igloo!

Owen dreamed of fast hills...

...and Jess just wanted to stay warm!

We loved having Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's!

We had a wonderful lunch on Christmas day and then enjoyed visiting with both sides of the family the rest of the week!

Christmas stockings! A favorite tradition!!

We love visiting Great-Grandma Wagner!

Owen got his own Leapster....he loves it!

This girl was wishin' and hopin' for a sewing machine!

Jess loved opening her Play All Day Doll...and boy does she go all day if you let her! =)

The girls had so much fun with their friends at THEIR party...the First Day of Winter party on the first day of winter, no less! We had snowflake sandwiches, made and decorated snowflake cookies and painted snowflake ornaments...it was great!

oh yeah, and it wouldn't be a party without a dress-up show, either! The little girl in the turquoise MC'ed the whole show and directed the other girls....what cuties!

Owen was such a good helper...he didn't even try to sneek a chocolate while he was making these goodies....amazing!

Jess loved "cooking" with Owen! Elliana would rather be reading a good book!

Hope your New Year has started off great!