It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

The tree is up and we have come to a point in our family that we are not worried about anyone pulling the tree down. Carter has been very respectful of the tree; it does help that the kids have their own tree downstairs that they are allowed to decorate as they wish.

The big snow storm allowed for some sledding and some holiday baking at our home this past week.

Taylor had a little play date with Jaclyn last week. They soaked one another's hair and insisted on the "off the shoulder look" with the dress up clothes. Disturbing.

Happy 2nd Birthday Carter!

My baby boy is TWO! Happy Birthday Carter!
(He was pretty lucky to have gotten an Adrian Peterson jersey from Aunt Teresa and Julie)

Carter with his birthday balloon sporting his new sweater from Auntie Ginnie

Trying out his new tee ball set from Brad and Pam

Very excited about the classic Little People car ramp from Grandpa and Grandma.


THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE CARTER'S BIRTHDAY!

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving at Grandma Miedemas'
Lights on the outside of our house for the first time.

Trying on Christmas dresses

Carter in his latest pooping hide out

Surgeons At Work

Fall Gymnastics

Taylor on the bars
Taylor on the beam

Taylor on the vault

Hailey on the vault

Hailey on the bars

Hailey on the beam

The girls have really enjoyed their fall gymnastics and have really improved in just 10 short weeks. We have decided to participate in the winter session.

A night out

We had a great night out this past weekend as we were blessed to attend Jeremy and Leanne's wedding in Sioux Falls. Mom and Dad took on the kids overnight. We had a wonderful bed-n-breakfast stay at the Zobels'.

Fun Stuff

Carter is all about love these days.
He now says "cheese" when I get out the camera.

Oh my, about 3 weeks ago I taught Taylor the game of Memory and it has been non-stop ever since. I'd say that we average between 5-6 games a day and that is about half of the number of times that she sets up the game and asks me to play. The best part is that she beats me most of the time, fair and square.

Hailey came home from school today with a massive basket of prizes. She was so delighted. They had a drawing that they all got to put their name in because they had raised a certain amount of $ for the bike marathon. She told me with such expression how the principal pulled out a name, then how he said "it is a 1st grader" and finally he said "Hailey Miedema" and how she just couldn't believe it!

This is a picture that one of the 1st grade moms sent me of the kids at recess.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was lots of fun for the kids this year as we dressed up several different times and did some double trick-or-treating. On Halloween we headed back to Como Student Housing to visit The Schroeders'. Trick-or-treating at CSCC has some great advantages as it is very easy to scope out good building for the best candy to apartment ratios.

We then came back to Bloomington to cover our immediate blocks with the Syrjamakis' and Wrases'. The result was far too much candy, but very happy children
Our bumbles Shea and Carter

Angelic Hailey and Princess Taylor

It only took Carter about two apartments for Carter to catch on the concept of trick-or-treating. Even after he could barely carry the bucket neither Mike or I were allowed to touch the bucket to help. He stood at each door in silence holding out his bucket until something was dropped in.

Hailey's First Grade class also had a fall party at school on Thursday night. Hailey wanted to mix up her costume and try Carter's Bumble Bee for the night.

Taylor and Jaclyn

Julia and Hailey