These trails, by the way, are in our, ahem, Dr. Johnson's backyard. They are just another reason why living in Bemdiji is pretty awesome and yet another reason why you should come visit us no matter the season.
We are spoiled to have these groomed trails 50 yards from our front door. OK, so this particular trail that Eli is on is leading to our house so it's not so beautifully groomed...
This picture was actually taken a couple of weeks ago before Anissa's baptism. But, with church going late on Christmas Eve and then me deciding to make swedish meatballs for supper and after cleaning up, the kids just could hardly wait any longer for us to take photos too.
Sadie got her much desired pillow pet.
Reid had way too much fun running around and playing with Eli's toys to open any presents for himself. Reid, by the way, is Mr. Chatterbox. For being 2 and a boy, that kid can talk your ear off. And he's funny!
I like this picture of my dad and Anissa because it reminds me so much of another picture I have when Sadie was that age.
Sadie got these Tinkerbell PJs and she loves them. She loves them so much that she took off her Christmas dress right in the living room in front of everyone and put them on. Gosh, it's great to be 4!!
The kids posing in their requested made-by-mom bathrobes, which are much too big for them. They loved them too!
Santa came in the morning and brought the kids new bikes. They are very sad that it is cold and snowy and can't try them out. I did get a picture of Eli on his bike too, but it was really blurry.
Santa also brought Eli some new HotWheels, SnapCircuits, a movie and a jumprope.
Santa brought Sadie this awesome "Sadie" hat and a huge candy cane.
Eli is also now the proud owner of an air hockey game. Dennis got his chainsaw and underwear. I got a new apron, wool socks and some wool clogs.
Here are some actions from "Up on the Housetop". This is a "dolly that laughs and cries. One that will open and shut it's eyes."
You can tell that all of the kids love the "whip that cracks" part. Mrs. Schaefer, their music teacher, (pictured) apparently has a real whip that she brought to class and showed the kids what a cracking whip sounds like. I bet the students were good that day!!
After the show we celebrated with Zoe and her family by going out for pizza at our favorite local pizza joint. It was such a fun day!
Both of the kids decided to hand-deliver their letters. Eli requested a lot of stuff: tools and cars and some other things that I can't recall. (Things he never mentioned until he sat down to write the letter!)
The snow was a little deep once you got off the road and it made finding the perfect tree very tiring. See that tree without any snow? That's our tree!
Every year, Eli wants a Charlie Brown tree. He didn't get one again this year.
I have a video of the actual falling of the tree, but it's a little boring, so I'll spare you. This is the point where Dennis was saying something like, "Gosh, it sure would be nice if your mom would put down the camera and help."
They had to wait a whole day before they could decorate it. Mom was too busy decorating the rest of the house and dad was putting lights on the house and then Grandma was here so mom and dad had to go out on a date...
It's a major award!
How sweet is Sadie?!?
"Snowmen" by Eli
We have snow in northern Minnesota and what fun it has been. Sadie, in particular, has turned out to be a snow queen. She wants to play in the snow all day and never seems to get cold or bore of it. She could make snowangels all day and never seems to tire as long as I'm the one pulling her around on the sled! Eli likes to be outside if he has a job to do. He's been working on a fort (a teepee, really, that the neighbor kids started building on our property) and loves to shovel. It's easier to get them outside this year. I think they've grown accustomed to the cold and they don't mind wearing layers as much as they used to, or maybe it's just their age. Either way, it's going to be a fun winter. I predict lots of snowmen, forts, angels, skiing and sledding. Oh, and lots of hot chocolate too!
"There was an old lady who swallowed a fly" by Eli 
Sadie turned 4 on October 28. Grandma and Grandpa Z. were here for the big day (and stayed for the party too) along with uncle Darren and his family. Sadie requested fried chicken and french fries for supper. The cake was just a little one to tide her over until her party which wasn't until the next day.
With the passing of Jewel, we were just missing that special presence that an animal brings into a home. Our hearts ached and we missed cuddling a beloved pet. It was quickly decided that another cat was needed. A trip to our local Humane Society introduced us to our newest family member. This is Belle formerly known as Guinevere which was just too much of a mouthful for all of us. She's a 6 month old tabby cat. She's a little runt, very lovey and a little whiney. Much like a newborn baby, she only cries when she's put down! Eli has declared her as an indoor cat only, but I think once spring rolls around Belle will be outside chasing the bugs and climbing trees like every cat should. She's such a beautiful cat and we're so happy to have her.
Here's Sadie with our beloved Zoe.
Eli and his twin friend, Ryan. They were born on the same day, are the same size and practically look the same. Then, they both show up at the Halloween party with bulging muscles.
Sadie chose to carve her pumpkin in nothing but her panties. Why? Because she didn't want to get messy. Haha.
Sadie and I also went to a really fun party at Carlos and Luis' house on Saturday night, but I didn't have the camera. Eli and Dennis took the camera to Minneapolis to the Gopher v. Buckeye football game. Fun was had all around. I'll have to share those pictures later....JPG)
Sadie searched and searched and searched (to the end of mom's patience) to find a perfect pumpkin. Her criteria for the perfect pumpkin: one she could carry. After what seemed like an hour of searching we finally spied a cart full of little pumpkins and that is exactly what she wanted.
The rest of the pumpkin patch had the usual fall fun stuff: plenty of opportunity for photo opps, haybale mazes, haybale lassoing, wagon rides, and barrels pulled by a lawn mower. Good times.
