2008...

has been good to us.

Welcome 2009!

happy happy happy Christmas!

Is it Christmas yet?

Lucky boy...Cole won a 5 foot stocking filled with gifts from an Ace Hardware name drawing. The kids choose to each pick one thing and donate the rest.



A walk through the Trail of Lights at our Botanic Gardens.


Christmas Eve...after the little one were in bed.

Nema's amazing "Christmas" sweaters.


May you be filled with peace, love and laughter.
Merry Christmas!

a week in december

Just a few highlights from the week...
It has been cold and snowy in Denver. My darling five your old has become almost completely independent when choosing what to wear (except when mom has to step in and force something). Her new sense of style consists of layers and more layers. Stripes, tights with just about everything and leg warmers. We are bringing leg warmers back. I am now making a second pair because she loves these so much.I adore her choices. She inspires me.


Shoveling with dad...it's only the 2nd or 3rd time we have had to shovel so the novelty hasn't worn off yet. They really do try and help - it's quite sweet.





And chocolate mustaches from the countless cups of hot chocolate made this week.
It's amazing how the little things make your heart happy.

little me

hey ma...who does this remind you of?

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for?

"I am happy that I have a warm and cozy bed that I can take long naps in." - Cole...age 3


"I love my lunch bag so that I don't have to eat cafeteria food at school. And you pack me really good lunches that I like." - Ryan...age 5

"I am thankful for my incredible husband that loves me, cooked our entire thanksgiving dinner and gave me my beautiful babies."
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

warm fuzzy goodness

Between the slippers from Nema and the hats and scarves I made...we are ready for winter. Come on snow!

more hats!

I now have over fifty very warm and colorful heads running around my school. Our kindergarden buddy class got their hats this week.
It makes my heart happy.
Thank you, thank you...again.

thank you and thank you

First of all...
I have another update for Knit for Paris.
My third grade class has a kindergarten class we have been buddies with since the beginning of the school year. They eat lunch together, have recess together and read to each other. It has been really neat to see my class take on the responsibility of becoming role models. And I am happy to report that I now have enough hats to "adopt" our buddies' kindergarten class. On Monday I will be bringing the hats into school (I am finishing the last one up right now)to give to them.
Super exciting!
From the bottom of my heart...thank you to my Aunt Evelyn, cousin Kelly and my mom.
Thank you Thank you.


Also, Cole has now started soccer lessons. Jeff brings him to practice every Tuesday and he loves it. He was so proud of himself this week when he learned how to stop the ball.
So, Thank you Oma and Opa for the Holland Soccer jersey. I can't get it off of him.
Thank you Thank you.


And on a side note, here is Ryan's story of the week...
The other night she came downstairs to me after working hard for a while in her room and handed me this piece of paper. She then went on to tell me that this was a letter to Barrack Obama just in case he came to our house. "That's why there are American Flags all over it," she said.
My darling girl.

Introducing...

Scaredy Cat and Karate Man


Our day started with a parade and party at Ryan's school and ended with trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. So fun!





Happy Halloween to all

a visit with nema

My mom came to visit this week while I had the week off for fall break. We had so much fun exploring red rocks, going out got dinner, and doing a little shopping. It was some much needed mom/nema time.




thanks mummsy...
love you
love you

pumpkin patches and corn mazes

Last weekend Jeff's mom and sister came to Denver for a visit. Anita, Michelle and Jeff took the kids to a pumpkin patch. Jeff said the kids had so much fun picking out their pumpkins. It was a great visit with Nema and Auntie Shell...thank you!





And keeping with the fall theme - Jen, Emily and I took our kids to a huge corn maze yesterday. Our kids loved it and had a great time playing hide and seek and picking corn.

piles and piles

This is what I came home to...





happy jumping
happy Friday!

cold mornings = warm heads

Knit for Paris came to fruition today. I let my 3rd grade students pick out a hat that they would love and wear. I only had one request...that if they picked one they would wear it. All 26 students now have a beautiful new hat for the cold months ahead and huge smiles on their faces. There are a few hats left over that I will give to siblings tomorrow.I am going to continue to knit and hope to be able to do this again with my next class.

Words cannot describe my gratitude
Thank you to,
Evelyn
and Mom

walks, leaves and tomatoes

Fall is finally upon us and we are welcoming the change.

Sweatshirts and slippers.
Cool enough to walk around red rocks for the afternoon.
The anticipation of raking huge piles of leaves.
And nearing the end of our tomato run.




Hello fall...we've been waiting.