Merry Christmas!

We have officially wrapped up our Christmas celebrations, and it was a magical few days for us. We had plenty of cozy, quiet moments, along with lots of laughter with family. As usual, watching the girls' excitement for their gifts made all the hard work and organization worth it. The only tradition we have left is to sleep under the tree, which is taking place tomorrow night. Merry Christmas!

Kate's Interview

 

Here are Kate’s answers to her 11-year-old interview:

Favorite Food:  Noodles.  I like the bow ties best.
Foods I Don’t Like:   Plain eggs and I don’t like the green pepper.  It tastes like flavored grass.
Favorite Thing to Learn:  Math
Favorite Color:  Light blue
Best Friend:  Isla, Natalie, and Karlie
Favorite Game to Play:  Kids Against Maturity
Favorite Books to Read:  Scary ones.  I like Haunt Me.
Favorite TV Show:  Kiff and Raven’s Home
Favorite Holiday:  Christmas and My Birthday
Things I Do Well:  Math and Gymnastics
Favorite Place to Go:  Geeka and Grandma’s House and Wisconsin to visit Lizzie and Rosie
Favorite Thing to Do With Family: Watching movies on Friday nights
Favorite Thing about House:  My bedroom and the living room
Favorite Thing to do Outside:  Playing volleyball and sledding
Favorite Chore:  Making my bed
Least Favorite Chore:  Getting Milferd off the counter
Favorite Song:  “Are You Ready for It?”
When I Grow Up I Want to Be a:  Teacher
Place I Want to Visit:  Italy
Favorite Part of Each Day:  I love school days the best.
Favorite Drink:  Dr. Pepper and Sprite
Favorite Sport or Activity to Play: Gymnastics and Volleyball
Something New I Want to Learn How to Do:  Get my overhand serve over
Best Part of Your Family:  The people and MILA

Kate the Hen is No Longer Ten

Happy 11th Birthday, Kate! Kate turned 11 on Monday, and thankfully, it was a school day. Kate has expressed multiple times how much better her birthday is when it is a school day. She celebrated in style, bringing mouse cookies and asking her class to cheer so loudly during the announcement of her birthday on the intercom the whole school could hear it! What a goof.

Kate, we love you! Your sense of humor, kind heart, and love of TV brings so much joy and comic relief to our lives. I am soaking up this last year with you in elementary because it goes fast. We wish you a wonderful year and can't wait to watch you continue to grow and bring smiles to the world!

Kate's party is happening this weekend. An ice storm kind of forced plans to change last weekend!

Audrey's 13th Year Survey

 Here are Audrey's answers for her 13th birthday survey, just a bit late!

Favorite Food: Tacos and Fruit
Foods I Don’t Like:  Eggs and Mushrooms
Favorite Thing to Learn: Reading and Writing
Favorite Color:  Pink
Best Friend:  Julia and Millie
Favorite Game to Play:   Dress to Impress and Blockblast
Favorite Books to Read:  Places We’ve Never Been
Favorite TV Show:  Dance Moms
Favorite Holiday:  Christmas
Things I Do Well:   Write, Draw, and Babysit
Favorite Place to Go:  Vacation or Geeka and Grandma’s House
Favorite Thing to Do With Family:  Play Games
Favorite Thing about House:  My Room
Favorite Thing to do Outside:  Play with Sadie and Ride the General
Favorite Chore:   Cleaning my room
Least Favorite Chore:  Cleaning the sink
Favorite Song:  “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
When I Grow Up I Want to Be a:  Teacher or a Cookie Decorator
Place I Want to Visit:  A beach in a tropical area
Favorite Part of Each Day:  Sleeping with Millie
Favorite Drink:  Dr. Pepper or a Caramel Ribbon Crunch
Favorite Sport or Activity to Play:  Volleyball and Basketball
Something New I Want to Learn How to Do:  Decorate Cookies
Best Part of Your Family:  My pets and the people

Nails!

Aud celebrated her birthday with her close friend Julia, and Aud chose to get their nails done. It was quite the process, but the nails looked beautiful in the end! Between nails, Starbucks, matching Grinch pajamas, and a sleepover, it was a fun birthday!

Oh, and Kate and I loved sitting in the massage chairs at the nail salon for over an hour.

Choir Concert

Audrey sure had a busy night tonight! She played in a 4:00 basketball game almost an hour away, and then we hurried home for a 7:00 choir concert. She wore a new dress from her birthday that made her look even older than usual, and she did a wonderful job. There is something amazing about listening to sweet voices singing Christmas songs!

Decorations

We spent some time over Thanksgiving weekend decorating for Christmas. Miraculously, we were able to make it through the process without fighting between the girls for the first time! Aud was also bound and determined to put up outside decorations for the first time since Sadie joined our family. Between her and Kate, they successfully brought back the reindeer! So far, so good with Sades behaving herself!

Cousin Fun

While in Galena, time with cousins was filled with an amazing game table, some crazy dancing, time in the hot tub, and an annual fall egg hunt.