update

so since we've started the new year we have been quite busy! lets see, where do i start. well the most important and extremely exciting news is that quinn took the huge step from "little girl" to "big girl", she gave up her pacifier, yay quinny!! she was very hesitate, but we were very patient and encouraging (realizing that if she's not ready it will just back fire later), so we eventually got to the evening where she was ready, and she has been paci free for 8 days, and hasn't even asked for it!

the next piece of amazing news is that ryder has taught himself to ice skate. he was a bit timid on skates, and actually just preferred to use his boots, until he spent an afternoon playing hockey with a friend (who is a hockey player and can skate really really well). well, that's all it took. the next day we went to the rink and he asked for his skates. he walked down to the rink and asked me to just let him go (oh, and he was wearing a helmet), and walla, he was skating, all by himself! he cruised around for like 10 minutes, falling a handful of times, but getting right back up, and then he raised his arms up and yelled "my dream came true!". apparently he dreamed about being able to ice skate the night before. oh, it was like the coolest and purest moment i could have been a part of! gosh i love being around my children!

and thirdly we are once again searching for schools, man, this seems like an ongoing process around here. this time it's for quinn! i think we've found a few really great schools, so we will see if she gets in (we'll here back in march).

but for now quinn will be starting ballet in one week, and ryder's swim class starts back up, and we are going to make an effort to get both kids on skis this year. so we will continue to be busy bees, but always making time to have fun:)

"grandpa"

every christmas jesse gets a gift for the kids, that is usually very interesting! this one is pretty classic (stay tuned for more of these interesting staches).

ice skating

the kids all got ice skates and hockey sticks for christmas so we took them all out on the ice and got them gliding around. the lake makes quite the rink:)

using a bucket to help balance, yay!!

side note: after this picture was taken my nephew slipped and hit his head and ended up at the emergency room. we now have our kids wearing helmets when they're ice skating!

a true fisherman

well i was certainly shocked when ryder would continuously bundle up and head outside in the cold frigid air to try and catch a "whooper", but he did for five days straight and can't wait to get back up north for some more fishing with grandpapa! it was priceless to see him head out on the ice, it made me realize how powerful this connection is, not only with his grandfather, but with nature!

look at his excitement!

i think this is the fish that made his gloves super stinky:)

december 25th, 5:52am

we knew the kids would be up early this year, the anticipation was just killin ryder! so when i heard the whispering early in the morning i just laid in bed and smiled, and waited for them to discover the wonderful glow that santa left behind;)

i think quinn put on or tried out every gift she opened. it was too cute! here she is admiring her daddy's handmade snowflakes! not sure there are too many kiddos that would sit and admire artwork before ripping the package to shreads!

the joys of the stocking. it's my favorite part! and look at that expression, ah, it just kills me!!!!