Way to go Maddy!

Madeline made student of the month!  We are so proud of her.  Madeline told us in her passive way that this grand event happened.  She handed me some awards and said "Hey mom here are some awards."...Me "What are these for?"...Maddy "Oh, I made student of them month and they give you awards".  She is too funny.  We are so super proud of her.  Anyone who knows her knows are hard she works and how much she deserves this.  Rock on Maddy!

Yeppers another video...I couldn't resist doing this for Abigial's baptism.

I promise no more videos for a while after this one...they are getting me waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too emotional!  Abby actually cried watching this too.  Abigail wanted to take this to school for show and tell.  I was hesitant because it contained religious pictures.  I didn't know if they could show this at school.  Her teacher was AWESOME about it.  She let her show it and simply said that everyone has their own faith and this is Abby's.  It was a neat experience.  I love her teacher for giving Abby that moment!

Family Fun

Yes it was freezing!  Yes there was drama!  But we made it work.  This was the first time in 6 years, since Robbie and Jacki's wedding, that we have all had a family picture together.  This was awesome.  It was so stinking cold but we did it!  Doesn't David's dad look like he needs a pitchfork (that old farmer picture).  Or as Kirsten, my sister in law, said "He looks like the guy from Weekend and Bernies, you know the dead guy they prop up"...It's a good thing he is such a good sport.   This was a great time with family...Love it!

Here is a great picture of all of the grand kids.  They are sure yummy!  The next Photo right after this, Adri the girl in the blue coat by Savannah turned and smelled Savannah's hair flower.  And her sister Teya, the baby in Savannah's arms, bursts into tears.  Priceless!  Oh and if you notice Abigail's coat is pinned shut.  She slammed her coat in her school locker the day before pictures.  Yep...Priceless!

Unique Girls

With two teenage girls, we are realizing how much they struggle with "who"they are in this time. This year for Christmas both girls got lap tops, refurbished of course, and a DVD to help them remember how special they are. 

Having Fun with Jonah

I had the opportunity to run a small local event with Jonah...Such Fun!  I created a running blog for fun.  LeeAnnesruntime.blogspot

Charming Chicago!

We went to the museum of Science and Industry.  I can honestly say this was the BEST museum ever!  I really don't enjoy museums but I suck it up for my families well being.  That being said, this one was amazing.  I really loved it!  This picture was taken in the How Weather Works area.  The girls were enjoying the wind blown appearance.  Very cool.

This is an actual submarine that was captured in WW1, U-505. They built this museum around this enormous thing.  We were able to tour this submarine.  Our tour guide was amazing, he had you so involved in the tour that you felt as if you were really there.  Although when he described how 50-75 men were in there for months without a shower I was super glad I wasn't really there.  This was simply awesome. 

Madeline and Savannah have found their future prom dress!

What would a trip to the museum be without a little face painting.  Savannah got a butterfly.  Madeline's was an elephant and Abigail's was a unicorn.  Very cool!

We are so grateful to my Uncle Kevin and his wife Jen for treating us so awesome.  We couldn't not have had a better time.  We shopped, ate, walked, ate, shopped and ate some more.  We had one perfect weekend...thanks Uncle Kevin!

Random Fun

This big thing is a Buzz Light year made out of Lego's.  We received an open house invitation to the new Lego store opening up in a very upscale local mall.  I wasn't super eager to go, Lego's excite the rest of the family much more than they excite me.  After being convinced to go I was amazed at how cool it was.  The line to get into this store wrapped around the banister in the mall.  On the lower level children could build a section of the Buzz statue.  It was AWESOME!  Then at random moments they would ask trivia questions and hand out prizes.  It just so happens that David has a lot of information in that brain of his so he knew the answer and let Abigail receive the prize.  She was thrilled!  She one a Lego house, which the whole family built the same night when we came home.  It is amazing the imagination that creative people have.  This event was amazing.

Madeline and Savannah entertained themselves endlessly with this ball structure...What a hoot.