Matthew turns 6 with style!!

It's so cliche, "How time flies", isn't it? He's grown from a challenging (to say the least!) baby into a joyous, bright, remarkable young man, and we couldn't be more proud!


Bounce Planet, here we come!






Tim made the cake, and quite the cake it was! Several people thought it worthy of "Ace of Cakes" status! It was a scene from the Lego power miners!






The goofball insisted on putting his jacket on backwards!
Grammy and Grandpa gave Matthew a money counting bank! It was a big hit!

A beautiful picture isn't it! A show of love and gratitude wrapped up in one smile!


Matthew in his classroom, celebrating the big day!

2009 Mother Daughter Day!

It was a great afternoon with the Girls Scouts, I love you, Sarah!
This was our creative drawing entry... we took third place!



Sarah was on the planning committee for this special day, the girls were all very creative!

Laurel Hall was just beautiful, we couldn't have asked for a better venue! Thanks to the Gerard's for that!

It was a big first snow!

You know, if it has to snow, it might as well dump it!

...And then Santa came to town!!

I mean really, does it get any better than Christmas morning? Finding just what you wanted under the tree, the wonder of how it got there in the first place, surrounded by the people that you love most in the world? What a day to feel blessed, if not a little worn out by it all!

Wacky santa with attitude!

I think this picture just says it all!

An "Ace of Cakes" moment with Daddy!

I don't think Daddy will ever forget the lego crane!




Sarah and Matthew both shopped for Oma at the school's "gifts galore". They did a super job of picking just the right gift!

CFO for a day!

I was fortunate enough to participate in an awesome field trip with Sarah! The fourth graders went to JA Biztown, a really neat facility in town. The students get to run the town for the day, having spent weeks preparing with resumes and job interviews. Sarah was the Corporate Financial Officer of TKO Graphics, and did an INCREDIBLE job! Way to step up to the plate Sarah, I'm very proud of you. To top off the day, she was voted the town's "citizen of the day" award, and gave a speech to boot!

Gingerbread houses!

So these are the house from 2008, look how much difference a year makes!


One of our many traditions for Christmas, the kids houses are getting so sophisticated! It was a nice break in a winter otherwise filled with a lot of illness so far! Here's to a healthier holiday from now on!!

Decorate some, eat some....

Thanks Oma, for making such lovely cookies to decorate! It's what the kids did while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner, and by "kids" just note the pictures!


Aunt Alicia and Sarah with some finished product





This wasn't for amateurs!