Happy Birthday Ben!

The girls were excited for Daddy's birthday. They both told their teachers about it and wanted to change into party dresses before Dad came home when we, "1-2-3 Happy Birthday!" surprised him!

I got some funny pictures.

Thumbs up from Lydia. Hand in front of face from Abby.

Rio going for the balloon

funny faces

Ready to cut into those layers of vanilla cake, buttercream, and raspberry!

* Best husband and dad in the whole world *

Cheap Date

"Do we have plans tonight?" Ben asks me on Wednesday morning. 

Thanks to Tot Spot, Festival Foods' childcare and Wednesday Sushi special... now we do!

 I love my husband!

 We get to talk, enjoy sushi, pick up some groceries, and the kids never want to leave!

Of course I like going out to a nice restaurant, but when we can sneak in a date mid-week on a dime (or Alexander Hamilton, rather)...that's divine! 

Star of the Week!

 Lydia enjoyed being "Star of the Week" at school. Every morning when I dropped her off, she told Mr. Bentley (who is always there to direct traffic-and she makes me drive up to him) what she got to bring in or do. I think she got to wear that crown whenever she wanted...

On Monday, she shared the poster we filled out.

On Tuesday, she brought in her favorite book, Fancy Nancy, Ooh La La! It's Beauty Day (which they read in the hallway with flashing emergency lighting since the power went out in the neighborhood that morning)

On Wednesday, she brought in her favorite treat of peppermint fudge!

On Thursday, she 'show and tell'-ed her Camille doll.

And on Friday the class will write a book about her!

Winter Sports

Sledding

one of these kids is not happy

Sledding is always fun. Except when a glove falls off and the hand gets wet. There is just no recovering from a wet hand in 20 degrees.

Butt Sledding

But close to home, a snow drift can be the perfect little slide ;)

Holiday Light Viewing

seeing the lights up close

Seeing the holiday lights is something else I consider to be a winter sport. We enjoyed a mild and beautiful evening walking and driving through the downtown Milwaukee lights.

Ice Skating

 The local garden center, Milaeger's, made a rink this year for 'free family fun!' This was their first time in skates, so we tried starting them out pushing 5 gallon buckets, but they were too short. It just took a short time and a few falls for them to get comfortable. We all had lots of fun on the ice!

 Indoor Dancing

Ringing in 2017 with a dance party!

Happy New Year! 

Elf Antics

 We had a lot of fun with Magic in the house this December.

We couldn't find him this day until it was time for breakfast...

Just Chillin'

Snow Angel

Whee! 

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Caught jamming: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Magic wants to be part of our snowman family!

I may have taken more picture of this elf than my family this December. :P Maybe it's because he holds a pose so well.

Who's going to win?

He got into the hair bows! 

Stuck

Christmas with Family

 Candlelight portion of family service at Trinity in Moline. The girls were angels, and Will was a donkey in the live nativity portion.

We got to see all the cousins over Christmastime-very fun!

 Bettendorf has a nice family museum. The Pizza Parlor was a favorite section,

  as well as the Locks & Dams.

 At Grandma Linda's, Lydia was wearing the Santa hat, so she was handing out gifts.

 We also celebrated Uncle Matt's birthday!

"The stockings were hung..."

Handsome Rio

We opened the gifts Santa left for us when we returned home. 

A few of Lydia's favorite gifts this year: Camille doll, Shopkins stuffed toy, diary with lock. Abigail's: Shimmer & Shine Wish & Spin, baby doll, FurReal kitten.