Christmas Cookies

Maggie came over on Christmas Eve Day to help bake and decorate cookies with the boys. Jordan was a big help and Alex tried to help. He started with frosting the cookies Maggie brought with her and ended up eating a small taste, then took another bite...until he had eaten the whole bowl of frosting then chased the frosting with some water he spooned out of the dog's bowl.

School Christmas Concert

This year Jordan's school concert for Christmas was titled: "Jesus, God's Gift to Us at Christmas." They sang song from all over the world about God's great gift to all the world. Jordan and Julia posed for me outside in front of the beautiful Christmas tree set up in the church Narthex.

ECFE Holiday Open House 2

The main reason we went to the open house was to get a picture taken with Santa. Alex thought it was a good idea until he walked in! This is the picture we have for this year, hopefully this won't keep up. Jordan used to hide under the steps at our old church when Santa would come to our Christmas party there so his face in this picture just kills me...he knows Alex is scared but thinks it is funny because Santa is nice.

Jordan and another older sibling (a friend from school) play with the shaving cream that was put out for the younger kids...not sure who had more fun, the big kids or the little kids.
Alex giving Mrs. Pease a squeeze. He loves her!

ECFE Holiday Open House

Alex spraying shaving cream on a picture of Santa to make his beard. He loves playing with shaving cream and wants to shave with Chad in the morning every chance he gets so this station was especially fun for Alex.

Another of his favorite stations was the snow the teachers brought in to play with. Kendra liked it too. They played with the polar bears and timber wolves in the snow.
Alex with Ms. Johanna at the open house. One of his favorite teachers.
Mrs. Pease was wearing a light up necklace. Like Alex needed another reason to love her! Mrs. Pease has been a favorite of the Carew boys since we move to MN when Jordan was 3. She is the librarian that leads the toddler story hour on Wednesday mornings that we attend. She brings her guitar and lets us sing silly songs (Wheels on the Bus - A giraffe rides the bus in her version) and then plays our favorite song of all, "The Silly Dance Contest" buy Jim Gill. Alex loves to say "Pease Freeze" when the song tells us to freeze.

Tae Kwon Do - Jordan is an Orange Belt Now!

Jordan tested for his Orange Belt on Friday, Dec 7. He passed! And he got a special award for his good grades (all A's!). Here he is sparing / self defense forms with his instructor Adam.

Standing at attention between forms.
Jordan with Grand Master Ro and his regular instructor Scott.
The group of 7 from Litchfield Comm Ed that tested on Friday. Everyone passed!!

Snow!!!

Last weekend it finally snowed a measurable amount! Alex had been practicing playing in the dustings of snow we had earlier so he was ready.

Jordan played outside all day with Keats and Josh. They had been making plans all summer and fall for the layout of their fort so they needed to start right away!

Fall Fun

We have lucked out this year and haven't had any measurable snow yet so the kids can still play in the leaves. Alex says, "Pile" every time he walks out the door. He can't not walk thru the leaves when he is outside whether you want him to or not!

Halloween

Ok...I keep thinking I want to do this in order but I just haven't been motivated to get more of our trip pics on this site so I am going to put Halloween pics up instead. Jordan was Davey Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean and Alex was a spider.

Kendra was a skunk...we found this display while we were trick or treating and had to take a pic.
Alex with his candy at the end of the night...he learned a few new words that night...Halloween, treat, candy and not a new word, but his very favorite that night "MINE"

Haut Koenigsbourg

Haut Koenigsbourg is a 12th century castle which is in France...we spent most of our time in France.

Stella was Jordan's shadow...Stella kept telling Jordan "I love you Jordan".

The castle was taken over by renegade knights (to explain this to Jordan and Stella we told them renegade knights were like pirates on horses) in the 15th century and essentially destroyed. The castle was rebuilt in 1804-05 with items found in the rubble or from in the area.
The cannon still smelled like black powder.

Strassbourg

Pia, Stella, Jordan and I went to Strassbourg and climbed one of the towers...these are pictures from the first viewing area at 33 meters (about 100 feet). I chickened out and couldn't go up the rest of the way...Pia and the kids did so I will have to get the really high pictures from Pia. This was high enough for me! but the view was amazing.

Colmar

We are on our way! Jordan waiting patiently in the airport for our first flight of the day to Detroit, MI

Colmar, France also known as "Little Venice"

The first full day Jordan and I were awake in Europe was spent in Colmar with Pia and Stella our wonderful tour guides.

Enjoying the gondola ride thru "Little Venice"

Water Park Fun

Bryan was in town for the weekend of Sept 29. He stayed at a hotel in MSP with a small water park. We all had a great time in the water and it was great to see Bryan again!

Out for a Walk

Alex and Kendra love to meet Jordan at the bus after school. Dixie can't be left out of the fun either!