Opryland, USA!

Who would have thought... a family gathering in Nashville, Tennessee? We went to see the Rockettes at the Grand Ole Opry, took in the festive surroundings of the Opryland hotel, and met up with Aunt Alicia, Oma and Bea! We even experienced "The Grinch" in ICE, didn't dawdle there however, it was only 8 degrees in the building! It was a great weekend, we might have to make an annual trip!

You know, they have good days and bad,but through it all these two really do share an incredible bond! Sarah is Matthew's mentor and hero, Matthew is Sarah's number one fan, and always good for a giggle! They shared "sibling day" at school together on this day.

"Oh, Christmas Tree..."

I think we'll need a bigger tree next year for all of the awesome ornaments that the kids are making every year! They get to decorate their very own tree in the playroom, and then help some with Mommy's tree in the family room!

Winter came early!!

It was an early first snow, but the Leins were ready!! Hours were spent making snowballs, sledding down our makeshift "hill" in the backyard, and then coming in for hot chocolate! Mom and Dad even got in on the action...

Sarah told me recently that she's glad "You and Daddy are so silly and have so much fun together. When I'm married I want to be like you and Daddy!". The ultimate compliment in my book!

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We took the costumes out to "Zoo Boo " for a test run... Wall-E and Nature Girl! Had a great time with the Cordova's, Matthew ate too much candy and got the "halloween tummy blues!"

Meet the newest addition to the Lein family... Shumai! She's as sweet in person as she looks in the pictures, an Australian Labradoodle and 9 weeks old. True to her puppyhood, if she's awake she's chewing on something! So far no sneezing or ithching for the human household members, so I think Shumai is going to be a keeper!!

Look out, Galena...Here we come!!! Mom and I took our annual trip this September to Galena, Illinois (where?)! The usual fabulous time was had, only as an added bonus this year we actually had good weather! I am so blessed and grateful to have such a special relationship with Mom, and for a husband who sends me off on a girl's trip! Scrabble, wine, good food, and shopping... Heaven!

Grandpa, I caught a big one!!

It was our kind of fishing... You drop the pole in, a fish jumps on, you pull it out, and Grandpa takes it off the hook and throws it back in!! What a great way to spend a Saturday morning, Thanks Grandpa!!

Waaaaa!! The first day of school!!

But we weren't ready for summer to be over! Okay, so be it, but I can't believe how fast they're growing! Sarah's in third grade, Matthew's a big pre-k'er this year! I'm so proud of them!

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo...

We waited until everyone else was back at school and we pretty much had the zoo to ourselves! Matthew's favorite was riding the train, Sarah's was playing hide and seek with the walrus!

Lake Michigan... Why don't we go there more often??

You can almost pretend you're at the ocean, and it's only a three hour drive away! What a great weekend with the Middaugh family! Sarah and Sarah Jean are two peas in a pod, and Matthew and Zane enjoyed each other as well! We even pushed through some rain on Saturday to go bowling and to a small town children's museum! We always spend the weekend talking abut how we should do it more often.... maybe next year?

Yes, the mama actually got to relax for a bit!