Knudsen Christmas

 Every year we go to the cabin for Christmas to spend it with Brad's family.  Since my family isn't around to watch us open our gifts, we open them before we head to the cabin so we have less to take up there and back.  It's become a fun tradition and it's nice to be able to spread out the gifts a little for more enjoyment.  This year Alex bought us all gifts from her classroom store with "money" she's earned by doing extra credit.  She got Brad a new Christmas tie and me an ornament.  Johnny also made me a new bracelet (below).

 My parents got the kids these signs for their rooms.

 Johnny got lots of legos and Alex got lots of books.

 Johnny's favorite kind of book are seek and find books and these are the monster of all seek and find books.

 Alex made Johnny an "I can read" book for him about Tom and Jerry and made him a tessellation of him surfing a wave.

Ice Skating

First trip to the ice skating rink.  Alex was nervous (as expected) and Johnny was a maniac (as expected).  He would ask me to pull him along as fast as I could and let go so he could catch some speed, or spin him around in a circle.  He fell down more times than I can count but he also improved a ton and was skating better than any of us by the end.  He asked if we could put a skating rink in our next home, or at least in his room.  It was hard pulling him away, but the rest of us were getting sore ankles.  We had a lot of fun though (and thank goodness for camera phones). 

And I know, I know...Christmas picture right?  I'm getting there, these were taken a couple of weeks ago. 

Alex's 9th Birthday

I know this is very late...sorry Mom.  Here are some highlights from Alex's 9th Birthday.  The day before her birthday I hung nails on her wall above her bed.  She had posters up there already so I just put the posters back up so she wouldn't see the nails.  Then while she was sleeping that night I went in and hung some elephant pictures I printed and framed for her room (she loves elephants).  She was very surprised in the morning.

Brad brought her home a bouquet of flowers after work which made her day.  Then we had a pizza party with family that evening, it's so nice to have lots of family around to celebrate with!



Johnny was very excited about his gift for Alex, a big rotating disco light.  It was a hit at the party.  She also got teensiest pet shop, a fashion drawing book, fairy chapter books, "high" heels, her own suitcase, a new purple soccer ball, paint by number posters, and a new pink scooter.

And Christmas is just around the corner.   :o)

She helped me make rainbow cupcakes, delish! 

Kind of funny that we all wore Alex's favorite colors for her birthday and she picked out a blue and green outfit for herself.  Another year older, but still my baby girl.  Love you Alex!

Family

I am thankful for my family!

Derby...Part 2

 Painting the Mystery Machine took a lot of patience.  Alex did a great job with it though and she was very proud of what she had created.  The girls made derby hats for them to wear at the race and fancy ties for their Dad's to wear.  Alex came home with two awards!  One for "the most mysterious" and one for "the Dad's favorite".  The girl's favorite was the one with all of the Littlest Pet Shop on top.  :o)  First place went to the Oregon Ducks car and second place went to the BSU car.  Go figure...  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall with my camera that night.  I will have to check with her leaders to see if they have a picture of all of the cars.  So much fun!