STORYBOOK LODGE!

Last weekend we went up to Storybook Lodge. We go up there every year with our TEACH homeschooling group. It was very fun and, suprisingly, very warm! Last year there was a onehundered degree difenrence from outside to the dining hall! There was, roughly, 20 families that came.

Here is a picture of everyone how came. This was right next to the Gym and dorms. Storybook is absolutly gorgeous! It has little houses that look like a shoe or a pumkin, or a small shack to represent the seven dwarves' house. The people who run the lodge do it completely on donations and faith.

This is the dining hall. The cooks are so dedicated in what they do and the food is always great. They have Bible study time before every meal and bless the food.

Here are some of the tables of people who wanted to say "Hi" to Camille and Stephanie. On the table above are Christian W, Mrs Walburg, Jessica W, Mrs Wilson, and Mr Walburg.

"Hi Camille and Stephanie!" Jessica S, Josie L, Kate K, Mr McKeen, Mrs. Kinzer, Marie L, Alissa and Amy S.

Here is Mr McKeen and Jono Newhoues playing "Are my Ears on Straight?" for the young children that had come. It was so cute!

Here are Abbi, Libby, Alissa, Amy and Jessica on the lake. It was so fun! We got to walk across the lake and got to some of the islands. It was so beautiful! Some people were even daring enough to sleep on the ice at night!

Here are all the quizzers that came up. From left to right, Tim W, Marie L, Me (Hope), Abbi, Ben W, Chris W, Leith W, and Libby N. Jeff was there also, but he didn't make it in time for the picture.

"AH! Its a BANANNA!!" I don't actually know what she was thinking for this picture, but I thought Libby looked cute.
On our way Home, we (meaning myself, mom, Abbi, Tim and Ben Wilson) stopped in Duluth. It was so gorgeous there! The waves from the lake had blown ice in thin layers on top of each other and the rocks surrounding the lake were incased in the ice! It was a very fun trip adn I am already looking forward to going again next year. -Hope :)

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?

Ben, I am sure, will be a professional artist when he grows up. Aren't you Benji?

Then, Abbi and I went on a Safari and saw two lions attacking a...It looked like a cow, except with weird horns. jk! We actually went to Cabella's in Rogers, MN. It was a very amazing place; if you like hunting.

And here is Jessica and I. Jess had just gotten her hair cut and 'styled' by my mom. She enjoyed the hair-cutting but not as much so on the hair-styling. ;) I hope she doesn't mind me saying that!

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 :)

Merry Christmas!!!

This season is definitely filled with a whole bunch of love! Since Christ showed His love to us we are to show it to others. These cousins seem to be doing a great job on passing on the cheer!

Our 3rd Annual Christmas Caroling gathering was very fun! We stopped by Walmart, Cub, Starbucks and a Nursing home.

Grandpa made the boys swords for Christmas. Therefore, we have nothing to fear because we have all of these little knights running around.

One of the cutest couples this season. - Dad and Mom.

All the Forsman kids had a great time making a gingerbread house. By the time it was finished, there was so much candy on the roof that it collapsed. oops! Who's idea was that Stephanie?

The cousins played an intense game of Apples to Apples on Christmas Eve.

Hailey, Hope, and Casey smiling beautifully. Do they look related?

Stephanie looking festive with her hat.

Hope entertained the relatives with her charming singing and guitar playing.

The Forman Family adult siblings and couples.

Elliott was thrilled to find a bike waiting for him on Christmas morning !

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!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas is coming...and we have snow!

Merry Christmas to everyone and anyone! We have finally finished the last of the Christmas Cards. Yeah! Here is our "Assembly line" in getting the cards done.

Here is Stephanie and mom doing the writing out of the addresses and stuffing of the envelopes. We actually wrote a newsletter this year, which was very exciting for myself (Hope) who loves to write.

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.

Here is Elliott peeking through one of their finished tunnels. It was a very impressive tunnel, even though I didn't personally go in it.

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

Winter Wonderland!

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening -

In the lane, snow is glistening -

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight -

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!