A Christmas Carol

It took us until the last minute to roll out our Christmas video this year. The actors were on strike. Let's just say that one of our children puts the "ben" in Ebenezer.

2007 Sunshine on My Shoulders

2006 How the Grinch Stole Christmas

2005 Nativity

Merry Christmas!

Laundry

While Staci and I were frantically tackling our daunting piles of laundry, we both agreed that we needed the sign that hangs above her friend's washing machine. It reads:

"When I said, 'I do,' I didn't mean laundry."

Marie's Journal Entry

Marie started each school day with a vocabulary word written on the board. Her job was to write the definition and color an accompanying picture. This entry was written at the beginning of the year, so her spelling is a little difficult to decipher.

Translation: Worker means my grandpa's job is to ride on airplanes and he gets paid.

A New House

A while ago James asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted a house. Well Santa delivered. We can't decide which is more exciting, the large back yard or our interest rate (4.9%)! We have a few details that still need to resolved, but we're hopeful. We close on the 30th. Yikes.

Swimming Lessons-Autumn Session

Last week was the kids' final swimming lesson. Grandma Jane came to watch (that might explain why we actually have pictures of the event). I'd say the progess they made was worth every penny. Marie is swimming on her own for short distances, and Tessa is almost there. Ben is no longer afraid of the water and Grace...well, she's just happy to be along for the ride!

Tessa doing the elementary back float with her teacher, Spencer. (Chicken, airplane, soldier!)

Tessa is pretty fast on the kick-board.

Ben and Miss Gretchen. He LOVED her.

I wish this picture hadn't turned out so blurry. Check out Ben's awesome stroke!

Marie swimming on her own!

The indoor water slide. It is so nice to have access to a pool year-round.

Grace at the bottom of a kiddy slide. We are thankful she no longer crawls deeper than nose-level. Apparently it takes some degree of sense to turn around--as opposed to going deeper.