Happy 3__ birthday

we LOVEEE celebrating birthdays. The girls made mine super special this year :) 

everyone (but daddy) made the cake

 meticulously decorated it

 but ALL enjoyed (except Louisa)

Spirit week

This is National Lutheran Schools Week and the girls have had fun theme days… 

 Team jersey day… yes once again the Madea girls are the only students in ice hockey jerseys… 

Go Red Wings!

 "Wacky day" --- Cora represents all holidays and Emi is a polka-dotted diva!

Remember the cool cart Emi rode on last year? This year her class walks while holding a rope… pretty cute!

Girl's Night Out

Tonight I joined 17 other ladies from church for a "Painting with a Twist" party --- a canvas painting lesson with wine :) 

 Our set-up

 Working with the acrylic paints

 Ta-dah! It was fun to see how everyone's turned out… we had a ball and I look forward to doing it again sometime

On the mantle for now, but awaiting a lovely placement in the laundry room… these are just NOT my colors!

Happy 11 months, Louisa!

Her days as an infant are limited…. she's into exploring everything and is keeping us on our toes!

 Oof, a future of braces, we fear! But what a cute mug :) 

May they always be so caring...

So Emi has yet another ear infection and possibly croup, poor kid! She had to stay home from school today, so look what Cora made for her at school… so sweet!

Louisa walks, kinda...

The family witnessed Louisa's first assisted steps in the den today…and the dogs soon ran away and hid! We wonder how long until she doesn't need her stroller...

the "funnest" birthday party EVER!

Today we went to Donut Hutt for Caroline's 6th birthday party… it was right up our alley!

 The party started by decorating chef's hats

 Getting the agenda from the owner Rick

 Emi snuck this donut from Mrs. Sara in less than 10 minutes after arrival

 Washing hands before the process

 Kneading the dough (Greg more into it than Emi)

 Hands up and ready to beat the dough

Activating the yeast

 Louisa watching with Mr. Will

 Emi working her dough

 What a rolling pin!

 Cutting donuts

 Donuts getting "cooked"

 Carefully decorating with sprinkles

 ta-dah!

 Even Greg got to do it!

 The donut cake for the birthday girl

Posing with the birthday girl

Who needs toys?

A big box and a pack of markers is so much more fun!

 Even Lulu joins the fun

Ringing in the New Year

What a great way to say goodbye to 2013. We had a couple of families over for yummy, unhealthy appetizers and intended to celebrate New Year's in Greenland (at 9 pm rather than 12 am), but ended up saying cheers at EST instead.  EVERYONE slept well… 

Liam, Caroline, Emi, Cora & Mackenzie

 An impromptu talent show by the kids, as the adults played Cranium

YUM! Emi loves the sparkling wine (the only kid who did…)

Happy 2014 to all!