Jolly Holiday Lights

We took the Templeton Rye bus through the Jolly Holiday Lights downtown.  The kids had a great time on the bus and checking out the lights!  So festive...thanks Bush's!!

Lounging on the couch in the back of the bus

Snacks, snacks & more snacks

The girls "driving" the bus

Retirement Home Visit

We went to the Deerfield Retirement Home with Moms Club on Friday.  The kids sang a few songs to the residents and also shared books with them.  They loved it and it really brought a smile to their faces to see all of the kids!

Angels & Cookies

We were happy to have the Larson's back in DM for a few more days this week.  They so graciously came on Saturday so that Andrea could babysit our kids while we went to a dinner party!  Could not find a sitter to save my life!!  Thanks, An!!

The rest of the time was spent baking, wrapping and shopping for our Angels whom we adopted through the DM Salvation Army.  Adopting the angels was a great opportunity to talk to the kids about giving back this holiday season and helping out others who aren't as fortunate as us.  They loved it!

Meemers & Drewski

Angel Tree Gifts

Baking away - here Andes Mint cookies

Oreo pops - a new recipe & they were great!

Packaged them up and delivered to the neighbors with our xmas card...

Happy Birthday Jesus @ Preschool

We had a birthday party for Jesus on Thursday at Mia's preschool!  The kids sang and they had craft/activity stations set up for the kids afterwards.  It was a great time and Mia was a super singer!  She was absolutely belting out the songs and seemed eerily comfortable up on the stage!!  Her teacher told me that while rehearsing, some of the other teachers asked if Mia could be front and center during the program since she did such a great job.  Will she be a future American Idol?  MUST get her some voice lessons first - let's just say she's loud, but not quite on pitch :)!!!  Must take after her mom & dad :)

Our little singer

Buddy boy actually did great sitting through the program -- thank goodness for suckers!

Playing games

Decorating cookies

 Got these darling holly cactus' for Mia's teacher's at Trader Joe's for $2.99!!  Boxed up some sweets as well and they loved them!

So impressed with how well Mia wrote Mrs. Heather's name!!  What a big girl!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Mia was way into decorating the Christmas tree this year!  Let's just say the tree is "bottom-heavy" with ornaments!!  I don't like many gaudy things, but my Christmas tree is an exception!!

Both kids are obsessed with hot cocoa!

....and searching the ads for toys!!

Post-Thanksgiving Fun

Andrea and kids came back to DM after Thanksgiving, as Steve was traveling back to Texas.  We did some fun holiday stuff with the kids - visited Santa, rode the train at the mall and wrote letters to the North Pole!  It is such a treat having my sister and kids within a 3 hour drive from us!  

I was especially thankful to have her here after I came down with a terrible stomach flu.  Nate was out of town, so she managed the 4 kids for the day, while I laid in bed!  Thank you, An - I owe you big time!!!

Hawkeye Hoops

Nate took Mia to the see the Hawks play basketball here in Des Moines a few weeks ago.  We weren't quite sure how she would do sitting through the game, but she did great!  She especially loved seeing Herky & the cheerleaders!  She now keeps asking Nate to take her to another game!

When asked if she wanted to be a basketball player or a cheerleader, of course her response was a cheerleader :)

A Thankful Thankgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving hosting family here in Des Moines.  My extended family came for the long weekend and G'ma & G'a Heinrich joined us for a few days as well.  We also got to celebrate cousin Kate's 3rd birthday with her!  The beautiful weather was a bonus too, with temps in the 60's on Thanksgiving day!

Thanksgiving lunch at Mia's preschool

The bird!

Football!  Yes, t-shirts on T-giving day - love it!

 Tub o' cousins

 Daddy & Uncle Steve having a "tailgate" in our Nebraska fan neighbors' driveway!!

Kate turns "3"!

The little girls thinking they're big stuff - getting their nails done at the mall!

With G'ma & G'pa Heinrich