Our first sleepover!

Over winter break Kate had invited Gracie to sleep over. Both girls were REALLY excited! This was a first for us and I think that it went quite well. They played and had fun. Watched a movie. And, oh yeah -- stayed up REALLY REALLY late. I think it was a success!

to the Circus!

We had a family outing to the Circus! It was a blast!

The circus was fun. Kate and Dean were really excited. Then, just after intermission Dean was done - ready to go. Of course we stayed the entire time. but it was quite funny. Lions, tigers and bears and Dean is ready to go. Great family fun. Thanks Aunt Jana!

Mia Update!

Just a peek to see how our puppy has grown. Just a year old now -

don't know how much bigger she's gonna get.

At this point I just have to get Todd to stop feeding her

people food b/c she's starting to get fat.

Mia with her birthday present.

Kate's Bookshelves

This project has been on Todd's honey-do list for a LONG while.

Probably since he got a table saw and did the floors a few years ago. Given the overflow of books (which is not a bad thing) we have I got to the point that the ones that wouldn't fit on Dean's bookshelves (which were made for Todd when he was a boy) I started putting the extras in boxes under my bed and every few months alternating them out. So - over Christmas break my nagging finally paid off and after a trip to Home Depot the project finally began.

Todd's part of actually making the bookshelves turned out to be the fasted phase.

He did a great job - my only complaint would be that he didn't cover anything in the garage before he used his table saw so EVERYTHING (including my bike) got covered in saw dust.

I will give him credit for cleaning up after though.

Dean had just gotten a work bench and tools for Christmas so he too helped out.

As all would expect Kate did not participate in the

building phase but was all into the painting.

Dean of course also wanted to help paint.

This truly turned into a great family project.


With excellent results --- by this point I just wanted the books on the shelves.

Will organize on another day.

SANTA!

Kate and Dean with Santa

Dean LOVED the cookies -- sprinkles are a super hit in our house.

Kate and her daddy decorating cookies. This is actually a tradition that Todd has with the kids. It was an added bonus to get to decorate cookies at church. But, starting the day after Thanksgiving Todd and the kids make cookies (on several occasions) leading up to Christmas. It is not just the cookie baking that is the tradition. It is the icing, then more icing, then sprinkles, then more sprinkles, then that third kind of sprinkles - that they top on them. By the time they are done there is more icing/sprinkles than cookie. It generally takes three containers to keep the cookies in b/c there is so much icing you can't stack them. Yes, we love our traditions.

Lil' Jenny's Wedding

On November 15 we attended the wedding of Todd's littlest sister, Jennifer to Drew. It was a great event. Kate was a proper young flower girl and did her best to keep Dean in line - but as a young Todd she had more to handle than she was able. Dean looked quite handsome in his little tux. During the ceremony he truly entertained the entire church - making the winking face, then mouthing like the preacher. Todd and I could barely pay attention to the ceremony for laughing at Dean. It was truly a memorable experience.

The Wisenbaker siblings. Need I say more.

Our family

Kate, Dean and Pappi's "mean faces".

By this point (reception) Dean had his fill. Jacket gone and on with the cake.

Kate was a sweet proper little lady through the entire day.

Superstar!

Dean got to play soccer this fall and did excellent.

Big shock. Our little jock has Todd's natural sport abilities.