Our 2011 Christmas Letter

It’s amazing how easy it is to forget the many things that happen in a mere 365 days.

We are still in Fairmont, Minnesota, completing our second full year here. We now have kids in third and first grades and two preschoolers. Emily and Megan will be 5 and 4 respectively next month. Crazy, eh?

Since not much has changed in our situation in the last 12 months, I thought I would try to find some of the more memorable quotes from our kids this year to share with you.

Cute Kid Quotes

·         For my birthday this year, Lauren invited all of her classmates to my party!

·         "I'm going to be five my next birthday," Emily said. "And then six and seven."
"Stop!" Annika, age 7, replied. "It's so weird to hear little kids talk about growing up."

·         Pupcakes--what Megan wanted more of at Dan's birthday (cupcakes)

·         "I slipped. Good thing I didn't plop. Plops hurt." Lauren

·         "Somebody made a clock that runs on lemonade and water--no electrocution!" Lauren

·         "It's the human mushrooms," says Emily, talking about garden gnomes from Gnomeo and Juliet

·         "My toes are hiding," says Megan as she walks around in her slippers.

·         "See? They're sparkles," says Megan about her many concrete-caused scabs on her knees.

·         Overheard at Annika’s tea party birthday party: "This is the best tea party I've ever been to. I've never been to one before."

·         Megan's newest cell phone is made from three Lego pieces. I have no idea how good the reception is; she seems happy with it.

·         Emily discovered “squirrel” ice cream this summer. Or, as I like to call it, swirl.

·         Emily also likes “cabinets”—where one goes on vacation in the northwoods.

·         Megan likes watching those pretty black and white-spotted ducks, the “balloons.”

·         Lauren: I can't hear Jesus, but I can see him.
Mom: How can you see him?
Lauren: I have super vision because I'm a fairy, you know.

·         Emily singing in the shower: "I am a friend of God/ I am a friend of God/ I am a friend of God/ He calls me Frank."

Megan and Her Papparazzi

Preschool productions are among my favorite. Part of it is probably the fact my attention span is about 20 minutes long--the same amount of time preschoolers can sing their entire repertoire.

Another reason is that preschoolers are unpredictable. Very fun to watch the spontaneity.

Below are some clips of Megan's preschool Thanksgiving song-thingy from today. Yes, that's her, picking her nose...so proud.

It was our first time using our new-to-us flipcam so we've learned a few things during this time--like the zoom makes things fuzzier...