It had been a long time since I have updated people on how are family is doing; to which I am sorry. I have been very busy lately and have not found any time to get online. Here are some things That have been going on. I have recently started working at Makers Healthy Market in Lindstrom. It is going very well and I am enjoying it. Stephanie went back to school at the beginning of this month. She is getting back into the mode of things quickly.We have also just returned from our Bible Quiz tournament in Lacrosse, Wisc. It went very well, but I am sad to say, due to a series of unfortunate events, my camera was left behind. So, now I have to wait until I can get the pictures of the trip from my fellow quizzers so that I can post more on that. 
Here, also, are some of the books we have been studying lately. 'Garfield,' 'Close to Home,' and 'Calvin and Hobbes.' lol. :) Not really, of course! We were all sitting on our couch reading them and mom took the picture. 
We have also been busy painting. Here, we have set up different kinds of jars. The boys had lots of fun painting 
them, since they have so many different shapes and designs. On the right is a painting Elliott did of the jars. Are they not beautiful?
Here, also, are some of the books we have been studying lately. 'Garfield,' 'Close to Home,' and 'Calvin and Hobbes.' lol. :) Not really, of course! We were all sitting on our couch reading them and mom took the picture. 
We have also been busy painting. Here, we have set up different kinds of jars. The boys had lots of fun painting 
them, since they have so many different shapes and designs. On the right is a painting Elliott did of the jars. Are they not beautiful?
Ben, I am sure, will be a professional artist when he grows up. Aren't you Benji?
The boys were excited that Ben came over with Jess. So excited, they decided to style their hair! Things can get pretty crazy at our house when the Wilson's are here. For instance, this very night, after the boys were put to bed, our sewage pipe burst! YIKES! Luckily for us, the Wilson's are great at cleaning! :) Well, we got the mess cleaned up and, over all, had a wonderful time!
Well, that is some of the things we have been up to lately. I will hopefully be posting on the Lacrosse quiz soon. ~Hope :)
Hope entertained the relatives with her charming singing and guitar playing.
All the boys were so excited! They woke up the house this morning at 6am sharp.
Hope got a stylish coat and gloves for Christmas.
Everyone had a great Christmas! Stephanie is enjoying being home for the holidays and Camille is missed dearly in Taiwan. Camille called early Christmas morning to wish us all Merry Christmas and the family was able to talk to her for awhile. We miss you Camille!!!
Abbi was the "sticker girl." She would put the christmasy stickers on the outside of the envelopes. 
Hope would put on stamps and put on our address. I was excited, because this year, we actually had stickers and so I didn't have to do it all by hand!
Here are Noah, Ben and Elliott doing puzzles as we finished the cards. Noah and Ben were getting quite frustrated with a certain turtle puzzle we have because they could not get all of the pieces to match (the puzzle is similar to a Rubik's cube). They finally gave up when they could smell the pizza dad was making.
Dad was the Chef of the night. He made pizza while we did the cards and also cheered us on from the sidelines. :) 
It has also been snowing really hard up here in the warm state of Minnesota. We have about a foot of snow now, but will probably get more nearing Christmas.
Noah, and the rest of they boys, are building a snow tunnel in the big pile of snow that the plow made in our driveway. Noah was digging a downward tunnel when I took his picture. 
After a really beautiful snowfall, I went for a walk and took some pictures of the snow. Here is a picture of a tree from our field.
I hope God will Bless you all through this joyful Holiday season celebrating His son's birth. Merry Christmas! ~Hope
