Flower Power

Marian has been looking forward to her role as flower girl in Uncle Ben and Aunt Tarisa's wedding.



Getting her hair done with Maid of Honor Rachel in the background getting hers done, too.

Last curl!! It took a little over an hour to do!

Final product

Rachel, Tarisa, and Marian ready to go!

'Snow' Much Fun

After our sledding adventure, we headed back to the hotel to play in some untouched snow in the courtyard (right next to the indoor pool where all the other kids seemed to be playing).

Notice how the kids boots have disappeared!

Marian and Aidan started a snowball fight.

Marian trying to make a snow angel, but the top layer was too icy for her to make a dent.

Thomas and Marian managed to make a snowman. Then plans were hatched to make a snowfamily.


After a break, they returned to finish the family. Which Aidan promptly knocked over after the picture was taken.

Slip-N-Slide Wisconsin Style

We took the kids to a park in Racine for some sledding. Of course, we came at it from completely the wrong direction, so while Thomas and I struggled to climb the back of the hill, Marian and Aidan raced, slipping and sliding, up the hill.

Marian completely ignored our requests to wait for us at the top, so when we got there, she was a speck at the bottom of the hill. And I struggle to describe just how big/steep this hill was. I don't think I would have let her go down, and daredevil Marian did not want to do it again.

So we decided to go over to the side where there was a much smaller slope. But that meant we had to get down the very slick, icy hill. It took some doing, including Aidan going very slowly down the tire steps, which everyone else was going up to get to the top of the hill.

We made it and they had lots of fun going on much shorter trips. Aidan alternately loved it and was too scared to do it.

We put Brennan on the sled for a short tow ride, but he just wanted to be held. He was a real trooper the whole trip, ear infection and all.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

We went to a friend's house for a surprise visit from Santa on Christmas Eve.

Brennan was a little shy, but Marian and Aidan had a lot of fun listening to Santa read some Christmas stories and hand out gifts.

Merry Christmas!

"Star Lead Us to Jesus"

Aidan was a wise man in the preschool Christmas program.

He's in blue on the right.

Aidan really got into the singing this year.

Brennan swayed to the music.

Brennan was mostly relaxing in the six-seater stroller with some of his classmates.

Christmas Letter

Ok, so I didn't get it together enough this year to send out a real Christmas letter. But, if you follow our blog, you already know what we've been up to!

Some highlights would be:
April: Brennan's First Year (birthday was in March, but started blog in April)
May: Our trip to California runs from 'Dr Uncle Ben' to 'Cousins'
May: Marian made her 'First Communion'
July: Brennan became a little boy with his 'First Haircut' (see the 'Before Pictures' also)
July: Aidan's '5th Birthday'
August: We thoroughly enjoyed 'Backyard Olympics 2008'
September: Thomas and I took a trip to 'Scotland'--a nice break from the hot weather!
September: We squeezed in our 'First Days of School' before Ike hit (see 'Hurricane a-blowin' for pictures)
October: 'Happy Birthday to Marian' --#9!!
November: Another "Star Wars"-themed 'Happy Halloween'
December: The kids got an early present--'Let It Snow'

Stay tuned for Christmas pictures and Marian as a flower girl in Uncle Ben's wedding later this month!

Merry Christmas!

Let It Snow

We got about an inch of snow last night, and needless to say the kids were THRILLED! They had a blast playing in it as it fell last night (and again in the remnants this morning before school).


Aidan's first snowman!



Well, Marian and Aidan had fun, but Brennan was less than happy. Thomas wasn't home, so I couldn't take any pictures of Brennan in the snow (he was glued to me). He refused to go anywhere near outside, and if I did, he came running to try to push me away from the door. If I did take him outside, he became very unhappy. He has reacted that way when I've tried to get him to play in the rain with the big kids, so I'm not surprised. He just doesn't like precipitation. He's actually the reason that I realized it was still snowing, b/c he kept anxiously looking toward the front windows, and then glued himself to me.


Our Christmas lights shorted out yesterday in the rain, so I've been waiting for it to dry up, so I can see what the problem is.

Holly Jolly Poetry

Marian entered a poetry contest at school, and her poem was chosen as one of the winners! The local bookstore hosted a night where the kids read their poems, the choir sang, and a portion of sales from that night went to the school. Marian said she was nervous as soon as she found out she was a winner, but the whole reason she entered was because she wanted to read a poem in front everyone. She did great, despite feeling a little under the weather. We are so proud!

Christmas is coming,

Christmas is near.

Time to spread good joy and cheer.

Santa is coming driving his reindeer.

His time is coming, it is sooooo near.

I can't wait for Christmas,

Neither can you.

It's a time for family,

fun and giving, too!

Christmas is coming,

Christmas is near.

It's time to spread

good joy and cheer.