Wilderness Resort

With the kids off school for teacher in-service Monday and Tuesday, we took a one-night vacation to Wilderness Resort. We started off with the ropes course.

Getting geared up!

Abigail quickly transitioned from "Mamma go first" to "I'll go first" to...

Off and running! She even liked pulling the incremental lock strings on the stairs.

Lydia enjoyed it too. They were both rock stars on the course!

We all crawled, swung, and slid around in the Timberland Play Park, then grabbed dinner and changed into swim suits for Klondike Kavern (lazy river, double slides, hot tub, basketball pool, big bucket)

Morning Tickles :)

With our Fun Passes we raced on the Go-Kart Trail,

and snuck around the cool Lazer Maze

"Beat my score" stickers

In the Wild Waterdome we rode the Dueling Mammoths 8 times. It had a family sized tube we all could ride in together!

Back in the lazy river-"Hi!"

Almost time to say, "Good-bye to 'Waterpark Capital of the World!'"

Ice Skating

Milaeger's opened up their garden center rink again this year! The girls have made strides in comfort and confidence and overall agility with traveling, falling, and recovery. I think Abigail even had double skates last year, but not this year! 

Snow bank bench break.

The sun was bright and the temps were high (48 degrees?!) so the snow changed from light and fluffy to melty wet and super easy to roll into a snowman.

The name's Lily the Snowman

Thanks to the warm weather, I laced up ice skates without numb fingers and the girls played in the snow for a long long time. Before we left, Lydia was sliding down the snow like a penguin!

Abby’s 1st Tooth Lost!

It happened! She lost her first tooth last night! (bottom front right)

Although the bottom front big girl teeth made their entrance a few weeks ago, Abby was not eager to wiggle the baby ones out, or would forget about them. I had to give a firm wiggle 2 weeks ago (which produced a story to write about in Kindergarten) and again last night.

Abigail was excited about her super loose tooth and went to bed planning when during the school day tomorrow she would wiggle it free. You see, she wanted to go to the school office and get one of those tiny treasure chests. 

But then, 3 minutes after lights out...”Mom!”  She pulled it out! Cleaned it up, put it in her pillow, and got a dollar coin from the tooth  🧚‍♀️  in the morning.  Big Girl!

Christmas 2017

Spent the Saturday before Christmas celebrating in Sheboygan.

We paid a visit to Bruce the Spruce at the Sheboygan Historical Society. The kids really enjoyed talking to him. (Poor guy behind the artificial pines and plaster...)

And also to Santa Claus, where they drilled him about his authenticity.

All he wanted to say is what he rehearsed, "And what do you want for Christmas?

Sweet Santa is always kind to the kids

The old Prange's window displays were displayed.

Really cute how this mischievous elf got wrapped up.

The kids got to be an elf and make a wooden toy like the other elves.

The other building was an old house decked out for Christmas with mice in every room for the kids to find. Their prize was a precious little eraser ;)

All the grandkids and matriarchy on the couch!

Bolgert Christmas Eve at our house.

Sam, Tom, John, Abby, Cindy, Greg, Quincy, Lydia, Violet, Stacy, Sarah, Levi, Aaliyah, Matt, Julie, Ben

After everyone left, we put out cookies, milk, carrots, glitter oats outside, wrote a note Santa and said good bye to Magic, our elf,

with whom we had a little fun with this year.

Santa came! And at last minute, since the girls hadn't woken up yet, he left footprints. ;)

Opening excitement: Long awaited Baby Alive Go Bye Bye!

Gleeful Eee--Bitty Baby Book!

Cozy sensory sequinned mermaid tail!

Went to Port Byron Thursday evening.

Lydia and Abigail were lucky to get to spend some extra time with Emily, Hailey and Kinsey with a sleepover at Grandma Jan's! They enjoyed the snowy slope on the side of the house.

Whee-hee!! Emily, Kinsey, Lydia, Abby

More surprises for Abby and Lydia at Grandpa Pulley, Kathy & Addie's house.

"Home for the Holidays" at Laurie James' Piano Studio

Families gathered in the teacher's home for each student to play 2 Christmas Carols. 

Yay, proud of you! Love that you sang too...it made the carols extra fun and festive.

Hot chocolate and cookies afterwards. :)

"Here We Come A-Caroling!" Winter Concert

Ready for Lydia's 2nd Grade Concert!

There's our girl, front and center!

Jingle Bells

Making Angels in the Snow

"Snow Dance" (Waltz of the Flowers) 

The children came up with these movements all by themselves and gave up recess time to practice!

with music teacher, Ms. Cybela

with Mrs. Tarnowski

Abigail watched their dress rehearsal at the end of the school day and with us at night!

Good job performing, Lydia!

Gingerbread & other Christmas Traditions

Some old traditions, some new, not all can be pictured. Many memories shared and made during this special time of the year. Parties for hosting, wassail for toasting, kids jingle belling, much mistletoeing, hearts glowing when loved ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy Helper with Trimming the Tree

Posing with favorite (baby) ornament

Milwaukee Public Market MATC students' Gingerbread Houses display
Another-"wow, Milwaukee is so cool" moment. Still discovering new places...

Decorating their Gingerbread House...Ta-Da!

Decorating cookies for the neighbors-we really enjoyed spending a cold Saturday morning doing this and stopping at houses for deliveries in the afternoon-worth repeating!

This Cutie's having fun creating Twizzler Hair!

Conducting a band Christmas concert
(and yes...that's Sarah in the antlers playing auxiliary percussion!)

Downtown MKE holiday lights
"All I want for Christmas is You" ;)