Winter Fun

In the past month, we have headed to New Richmond twice to meet up with all of the cousins and go sledding at the elementary school hill.  The kids absolutely love it, and I am so impressed with how long they last out there and how they all pull their sleds back up that long hill over and over again without complaining. 

 

 Ella and Maggie are best friends when they are together.  It is pretty sweet.

 We have also tried ice skating a few times.  Lauren is really getting the hang of gliding, and Ella does great staying up on her double blades.

New Experiences

Now that Luca is a little older, he is getting in on more activities with the girls.  In the past month he has learned how to fingerpaint and play with Play-doh.  Of course this means a little more stress for mom, but he is enjoying it!

He was a bit skeptical on getting his hands dirty at first, but he figured it out pretty quickly!

 

Impromptu Get-away

We had plans to go to Joe and Bobbi's house in Chippewa Saturday afternoon. Well, Friday afternoon Dan thought it would be fun to go to the waterpark in Eau Claire and stay overnight, heading to his bothers on Saturday. I was a little reluctant due to my very pregnant state, but I am glad we did. The kids had a blast. We stayed at the Metropolis, which has an indoor waterpark and a huge arcade connected. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures from swimming, but here are a few from the arcade. Bumper cars and mini bowling were the highlights.

Snow Day!

Lauren's preschool was cancelled today due to the icy roads. I have been waiting all year for a snow day, there is just some excitement about them. Of course Lauren could care less, I had to explain to her why she didn't have school and she was worried about what she would miss! Luckily it was a very warm day so we headed outside during Luca's nap. We got a lot accomplished: snowman, snow fort, snow angels, sidewalks shoveled, and van vacuumed!

Skating

I took the girls ice skating for the first time, and they loved it! Ella did great on her double blades, and Lauren figured out her hockey skates pretty quickly. By the time we left, both were skating on their own. They are already begging to go back, and Lauren wants me to show her how fast I can go! Too bad my skates are still at my parents house... If that tells you how long it has been since I've been on the ice!

Christmas Programs

We have had a couple Christmas programs this year.  It started off with the Sunday School program.  Both Lauren and Ella were in it, Ella in the front row on the end and Lauren behind her to the right.  They did great, singing the songs and doing the actions.  It is crazy how shy these girls can be, but up on stage in front of a church full of people and they are fine.  Ella got a little crazy twirling in her dress, and apparently when she tries to sing REALLY loud, her tongue comes out of her mouth... it was pretty cute actually.  You will see this in the second video.

 

 After the program, downstairs in the church basement.  Luca let Lauren hold him like a baby, that doesn't happen often anymore:)

 

 

 

 Next Lauren had her preschool program.  Again, she did great.

Sorry about the camera movement in this next one... I believe I was trying to wrangle Luca who escaped to the middle aisle!

 

 

Lauren's Dance Performance

Because it is difficult to watch Lauren's weekly dance class (there is only one small viewing window, with lots of eager parents), her teacher plans a few performances throughout the year where we are invited inside the room.  For Christmas she danced to Frosty the Snowman, and they were allowed to wear festive clothes rather than their standard leotards.