Tiz's 12rh Birthday and a Christmas Service

Another Christmas service in the books for me with my Preschoolers.

As usual, they did an excellent job.

We performed on Friday and again on Sunday.

My two biggest successes were that Norah, my little autistic girl was able to sit up on the altar with the rest of her class and although she did not say or sing anything, she sat up there and looked as normal as any three year old can.  My second moment of pride was when Asher, who can be a handful performed so beautifully for me.

I was one happy and humble teacher today.

God is working in those kids.

Tiz came home with John on Friday.

We went to Walmart to shop and then ate dinner at Pizza Ranch.

She opened her gift and we planned the cake that she wanted to make on Saturday.

And, what a cake she made.

She had her own idea of this cake, she worked fondant, made royal icing, and decorated her very colorful five layer cake.

We gave her a gift card to Five Below so we took her there on her way home.

She took about an hour to pick out special things for her gifts.

We met up with the rest of her family at Oscar's for dinner.  (We had planned on the Texas Road House, but it was way too crowded, so Tiz picked Oscar's )  It was very good and much cheaper.

We went over to their house to have a piece of cake, it tasted as good as it looked.

Nailed it for sure.

It was a great way to celebrate her birthday.

Here are a few photos"

Annual Christmas Play and Lights

We had another fun weekend.

I Friday night we helped Harmony celebrate her second birthday at the bowling alley.

It was a great, fun party for her.

John and I went to have pizza at Biggs after the party.

On Saturday we took the girls to see "The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever," at the Todd Weir Theater.  It was a funny, well done play with a message.  We all loved it.

After that we had dinner at Fudd Ruckers and went to the Country Christmas Lights.

Both girls drove again and stuck themselves out the roof, always a special part of the lights.

Today the girls came out and we baked chocolate and white sugar cut outs.  A bit messy as usual but so many memories were made.

Another Weekend is in the Books

We had another really fun weekend.

It started on Friday night with the Live Nativity.  Courtney, Paul, and the girls came out for the Live Nativity.

After that, we had Marco's pizza and after the Van Aukens left, we went to Lyons Pub to meet up with Connie and Paul.

We had a great time full of great conversation and laughs.

On Saturday we headed into Milwaukee to do some shopping and then watch the girls compete in a cheer competition at the Wisconsin Center.

It was a great way to spend a gloomy, rainy Saturday.

Both girls did a great job.  Tiz's team got first place and Soliana's team got a second place.

After the competition we went to Solderman's for hamburgers.

It was a good day.

Today I got started on Christmas cookies.

The Packers lost and fired their coach.

It was a great weekend.

Thanksgiving in Door County

Since the Van Aukens were off to Iowa and Alissa doesn't really like Thanksgiving, John and I cancelled it this year and headed up to Door County.

Of course, I couldn't do without the smell of a cooking turkey so on the Sunday before I made mom, John and I a full thanksgiving dinner.  It was delicious and the house smelled so good.

I also decorated the house for Christmas, took my time this year and really enjoyed doing it.

Courtney, Paul and the girls came out the day before Thanksgiving on their way to Iowa.  They got manicures and we had Kwik Trip for lunch.

The girls also had to spend time with Lacey.

On Thanksgiving Day, John and I headed up to Door County.

We hiked to Old Baldy and went to Cave Point before our dinner at The English Inn.  It was very good.

We stayed at Julie's Motel in Fish Creek for the two nights.  It was a great place to stay.

On Friday we hiked Ellison Bay County Park, drove to the tip, hiked Penninsula State Park, and had a delicious fish boil at the White Gull.  It was a great day.

On O

We ended our night under the Christmas lights in Sister Bay.

On Saturday we took a nice drive home through Two Rivers, it did rain the entire drive, but the scenery is still nice.

So, all in all, it was a great Thanksgiving.  I think we may need to cancel it every year.