Strike! Spare! Gutter baaalllllll......

We needed a break from the cold weather and bowling seemed like th perfect thing to do.  We loaded up and went to Stars-N-Strikes in Wyoming and ate pizza and went bowling.

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus....

We have always gone to see Santa at the Mall of America, after all he is the real Santa and all the others we see during the season are just helpers.  It's a great tradition.

They recently re-opened Legoland and the new structures were really impressive.  Kyle took some pictures as he is our Lego fanatic.;

We happened to catch up with a few Nickelodean Universe characters too.  Spongebob and Patrick were dressed in their holiday attire and ready for Christmas. 

However, the main character attraction was Dora and Boots.  Gabriella adores Dora.  We watch an episode of Dora every night when she does her nebulizer so Dora really has become a friend to our family.  She was so excited to see and play with Dora.  She gave Dora a kiss and a hug and hugged boots too.  When our turn was over she laid on the floor and cried, she didn't want to leave.  Finally she asked "Can we come back another time?"

PS - We did get a little Christmas shopping done too!

Happy Birthday Kyle!

Kyle turned 11 on November 29th!  I can hardly believe my baby is 11 (and stands 5'8")!  We had a special dinner for him that Monday and then the following Friday he had a party with his friends.

We were originally going to go bowling but the weather got bad so we went to the Grand Arcade and then to Grand Cinema to watch Megamind.

Megamind the Movie

Kyle, Tyler and Tommy

Kyle, Tyler and Tommy

Gabriella (after a little too much candy), Kyle, Tyler and Tommy

Thanksgiving, 2010

We spent Thanksgiving in Webb Lake, WI at my Aunt Crystal and cousin Randy's house.  Randy's birthday happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year.  Happy Birthday Randy!

Randy perfecting the turkey!

Instead of a birthday cake I made Turkey Cupcakes for Randy, didn't they turn out cute! 

Turkey cupcakes.

Made with oreo cookies, candy corn and malted milk balls.

At desert time both Jonathan and Gabriella wanted cupcakes so I gave them each one, then a second.  Jonathan finished both of his and wanted more but I told him no because I didn't want him to get sick.  When I turned around Gabriella got down, brought Johnny under the table and fed him her cupcake!  Those two!!!

Double trouble!

Kyle was in Illinois spending the holiday weekend with his dad's side of the family.  We miss him but are always so thankful that he gets the opportunity to visit them.

We had a delicious spread and everyone enjoyed each other's company.

Behold the feast!

Afterward we even had a little time to snuggle.

Uncle Ed and Gabriella snuggling.

The First Snowfall of Winter.

Saturday morning we woke up to a winter wonderland!  We had our first measurable snowfall of the season. 

Gabriella, just shy of two, didn't remember seeing snow fall.  She pulled her chair to the patio door and just watched in amazement as the beautiful flakes glistened and floated to the ground.  After a while she turned around and said "Nice job."

Watching the snow fall in amazement.

Still watching...

Nature is amazing... nice job.

Kyle, being the wise age of "almost 11" gave great advice.  "You can only eat white snow."  So Gabriella repeated over and over "My brother Kyle said only eat white snow."

"I've got white snow Kyle!"

It tastes pretty good!

Now I'll catch some on my tongue!

We made a snowman and then I pulled Gabriella and Jonathan around in the sled.

Our miniature snowman.

"Hold on to me Johnny we're going down the hill!"

Jonathan enjoying the snow.



Halloween

Ohhh... scary monsters, carved pumpkins and lots and lots of CANDY!  We carved pumpkins a few days before Halloween arrived, the kids each picked out a pumpkin at our visit to the pumpkin patch and then Grandma had a few that grew in the garden.  I bet you can guess which one Kyle carved!

Jonathan visited, dressed as a little pirate!

Jonathan and Grandma

We went trick-or-treating with some friends in Hinckley and then the kids went to the Lions Club Halloween Party that is held at the Elementary school each year. 

Gabriella as "Dora" and Kyle as a "Scary Hockey Player"

While walking down the hallway Dora, I mean Gabriella, spotted the "Dora" kindergarten room.

She found the Dora kindergarten room!

The kids both brought home a bucket full of candy.  At our house we let them eat as much as they want that night and then ration the rest.  Of course mom and dad usually help a little too :)

Mini-vaction in Duluth, MN

This past weekend was MEA and Kyle was off school both Thursday and Friday so we headed to Duluth for a quick get-away.  We stayed at The Edge Resort and Waterpark.  We did some sight-seeing too.

Kyle and Gabriella in Canal Park.

Kyle and Gabriella at Brighton Beach.

Gabriella, Mom and Kyle at Park Point Beach.

Gabriella, Daddy and Kyle playing arcade games at Old Chicago.

Gabriella, Daddy and Kyle getting ready to go down the water slide in the splash pool.

Kyle and Gabriella watching fish in the gigantic aquarium at the Great Lakes Aquarium.

Timber Wolf

On our way to town we noticed this timberwolf in a field near our house.  A little too close to home for my comfort!

On your mark... get ready, set, go!

Saturday was a busy day for us!  Kyle had his last football practice of the season in the morning followed by a long over-due trip to the barber shop.  Then he was off to a birthday party for the afternoon. 



Kyle at football practice.



When we picked Kyle up we headed from Hinckley to Saint Paul to drop off our flat screen tv to be repaired. (Amazingly it broke while still under warranty - that never happens does it?) 

Needless to say we spent a lot of time in the car.  On the way home both kids were near meltdown... more energy than one space could contain.. so we stopped at McDonald's Playland in North Branch. 

Being that Kyle is almost 11, he is a pro at playlands, but this was Gabriella's first time.  I wasn't sure if she would be scared at the overwhelming size and height.  Fortunately there was only one other little girl so the place wasn't overrun.  Kyle followed her up the first tube and the rest was history! 

Gabriella and Kyle  - no fear!

She played and climbed and slid until I finally forced them to leave.  She was tired and so was Kyle.  Gabriella screamed and cried until I convinced her that we would be back again another day.

Happy faces before I announced that we had to leave.

The Saxaphone!

Kyle has decided to play the alto saxaphone.  At our school students may begin band lessons in 5th grade.  Today he arrived home with his brand new instrument.  He, of course, performed a concert for us immediately.  It may be a long few months...