Our Tree

(I was looking up how to resize pictures so I could figure out this blog thing and randomly attempted to just upload them as is and it worked!!  Who knows?  Anyway, here is Lily....)

Last weekend we ventured out on our yearly tradition of cutting down our Christmas Tree.  We had a chilly but beautiful day.  We haven't seen any snow yet unfortunately but hopefully soon.  Yesterday was my last day of school for Christmas Break and I couldn't be happier.  I'm excited to spend some time with my family.  We ended the year with a big Christmas Program last night.  I'll be sure to upload a picture soon.  Oh, and just 10 more days until Christmas, not that we are counting!!

My cutie brother

Or is it Saint Nick?

Mama and her babies

I think Nick was checking out his silly brother

Sam and I taking a break on our search for the perfect tree.  I found one and guarded it while everyone kept looking.

Watching the saw go back and forth, back and forth

Daddy and I

Decorating the tree.  It was so fun this year checking out our ornament boxes and putting them on the tree.

One of our favorites, from Grandma Bonnie and Papa Jim!

Sam and I dancing around the tree before church

A new addition this year!

Mama came on a field trip last week with my class.  We went to the Senior Center and sang carols and gave them cards.  We also had two other recent field trips and Daddy came on those!  I'm so lucky!

Family Update

Hello Family and Friends, just wanted to check in.  I know it has been a very long time since updating the blogs.  Part of the problem is that Blogger says that our photo storage is full and we must start paying to store photos and upload anymore.  We are trying to figure out what we are going to do about that.  We have all been sick, passing it around, and having a challenging time.  Lily had some strong asthma struggles which caused several trips into the doctor's office, specialists, several rounds of strong medicines, but we feel we are on a path to prevent this again.  She is on a twice daily inhaler, which she is just a champ at taking.  We will see when the next virus comes around.  In other Lily news, she read a part at Mass during Grandparents day and did a wonderful job, lost her second tooth, has gone to several birthday parties, and last but not least had a fantastic report card and conference.  Matt and I couldn't be more proud of her!  She has such a kind and generous heart and never wants anyone to be sad or hurting.  She is a big help around the house and loves her brothers!!
Sam enjoyed having Lily around the house the last few weeks between Thanksgiving and her sicknesses.  He has enjoyed decorating for Christmas and has found a dinosaur Christmas CD which he is just so excited about.  He has spent hours the last few days in his room playing with the Little People Nativity and listening to his dinosaur songs.  Sam continues to be an easy going, go with the flow, silly boy!  He makes us laugh on a daily basis and he gives the best hugs in the morning!
And now for little Nicholas!  He finally has two little teeth poking up on the bottom.  Long story, but he is taking a bottle full time now and is much happier.  He is back on some acid reflux meds, and has a fabulous new pediatrician.  He is sitting up on his own and eating everything!  I love this stage, sitting up on his own, not crawling or getting into mischief, and eating whatever I feed him without complaining!  He is sleeping better as well!
Matt has been traveling a lot for work.  Over the past month he has had several trips- Vancouver, Eugene, and a fun little trip to Friday Harbor, where he rode a small airplane, and I mean small!!  They just opened a hospital there.  We are excited for Advent!  This time of year is so fun with kids and we love to share the true spirit of Christmas with our children.  They are enjoying our fun traditions such as the Jesse Tree, Advent Wreath Prayers, Good Deed Manger, and we have a new little Advent Calendar with drawers.  Each drawer has something to do and a treat.  It could be a family activity or a random good deed to perform for someone else.  They love it!
Blessings for a wonderful Advent!

I Lost a Tooth!!

Well, my mama thinks she lost her camera so these are off her phone.  Good thing her new phone takes pretty good pictures.  The news for the week is that I lost my first tooth!  It is one of my bottom ones and the other one is loose too!  Mrs. Vanderboom at school ended up pulling it for me and gave me a little purple treasure box for my tooth.  I was so excited.  I also wrote a letter to the tooth fairy asking if I could keep my tooth and she let me!  The tooth fairy was also very generous, maybe because this was my first lost tooth?  In other news, I have been busy learning at school and having fun with all my little friends.  I enjoy playing with kids of all ages too, that is a great thing about my school and where mommy works after school.  They do such a great job mixing age groups in activities and the buddy systems.  One of my favorite things at school is singing too.  

Yesterday we went with cousin Maggie and got Christmas pictures.  We dressed pretty and smiled nice, it was actually a fun experience!

I found this suitcase and wheeled it around the store saying I was going to Seattle.  Silly!

Practicing my smile for pictures 

Painting to pass the time with these curlers.  I was told my Great Grandma used these rollers too!

Snuggles from my brother

And kisses!!  I love my snuggle time!

My lost tooth!

Playing with mamas new phone.  I discovered how to take pictures of myself with the reversed camera.  So funny!!

November Catch Up

I have to share that last Friday I got a special award at Mass!  It is called a peacemaker award and I got a special pin!  I was surprised but felt very happy about it!  I continue to just love school and am just blossoming in so many ways. I am a trooper when I stay with mama after school and sometimes spend 10 hours at school but I sure love playing with the older kids.  

This week was very busy with Halloween and All Saints Day.  First off, on Halloween my mama planned a big party at After School Care since it was an early release day and I got to go!!  I had so much fun and when my mama asked if I was ready to go home to get my costume I said, "I forgot all about Trick or Treating, I'm having so much fun here!"  Then, since Halloween is All Hallows Eve, I was ready to celebrate on All Saints Day.  We got to dress up as saints at school so I chose the newly canonized Saint Kateri.  If you haven't read her story, you should as it is so special to Bellingham and our school.  I have also chosen, with the help of my Godmother, Saint Kateri to be my patron saint.  Her nickname is Lily of the Mohawks! 

Cousin Maggie had fun feeding Nicholas and she was so good at it!

On Halloween mama and Sam dressed Nicholas as a skeleton and put him in my bed to wake me up.  I think they were trying to scare me!

At the Halloween Party.  Check out the smoking juice!

Playing a relay race, The Balloon Sweep!

Pass the pumpkin.  Don't get caught with the pumpkin when the spooky music stops or you're out!

Painting and decorating pumpkins

Hanging out with a super nice 8th grader!

Making popcorn hands with Mrs. Lewis

The family stinkers

A dino and skunk trick or treating in the cold, wet, windy Washington weather

Off with the wet costumes and checking out our candy

Saint Kateri

The first Native American Saint!

Walking into Mass with my 8th Grade Buddy

Carving!

When we got home from our fabulous day we set up and got to work, I guess dad got to work ;)  I picked out tinkerbell, a fairy of course.  My mama and daddy were amazed how things change.  A few years back I wouldn't even think of touching that goop that comes out of the pumpkin, but today that was the best part.  I squeezed, smashed, and even performed my own science experiments with the goop.  (I put a concoction in the freezer even).  We had a yummy dinner in the living room and watched Charlie Brown again.  Ahh, we love Fall!

Sam was ready to help, not a fan of the gooey insides though

Getting to work!

Ahh, so fun!

It is hard to see how great they look in the dark, but daddy did such a great job.  Sam was proud of his Lightning McQueen, but then followed with, "Daddy, now do Mater!"

Busy

And tired!  Whew, this school thing is hard work!  Mama is working three afternoons a week now so I stay later at school with her until my dada gets off work to come get me, so it is a longer day!  I love the extra play time though.  You should see me on the bars!  I got my first birthday invitation and am going to a party for my friend Ross tomorrow.  Growing up!  My mama volunteered in my class this week and I loved having her there (and she absolutely loved it too!)  I'm looking forward to some fall events this weekend and a visit from Grandma Bonnie and Papa Jim next weekend.

Drinking from the cup I painted, so special!!

I think I posted last time how my artistic gene has come out.  Check out what I did with some crayons, a hair bow, and my blankie (which I still love so very much!)

Looking at some books with some first grade buddies at after school care

Fun Family Time

I started the weekend with a date with my mommy.  We went to Fairhaven to Creativitea, a pottery place.  I have been here with my daddy before and I love it!  This time I picked out a cup to paint and you should see it!  Ever since I started school I have turned over an artistic leaf and put together the most amazing things (I am told;).  I come up with projects on my own and bring home some neat things that I make during free choice time at school.  After painting I got to get a little cupcake from a cute little shop.  What a fun date!  (Sam went to the movies with daddy later on in the evening.  It was a day for special dates I guess!)  

On Sunday we went out to Lake Padden and went on some new trails.  It was so much fun!  We explored and enjoyed the neat fall colors.  Sam and I love picking up and keeping leaves, sticks, rocks, pine cones, you name it!!  Mama finds them everywhere!  I made a nature wand by finding a sharp stick and poking special leaves on it.  What a weekend!  Now back to school in the morning, I am ready!