HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY, MATTEA!!!

Today is our baby girl's 4th birthday. Can you believe it? None of us can believe she's four already. We sang her Happy Birthday this morning and she opened presents... all by 6:45am!!! She's taking pink cupcakes and princess coloring pages to preschool today. God is shining down on her today as well... the temperature is expected to reach 81 degrees today. Gotta love THAT in mid-November! I told Mattea that and she responded "So, is God bringing me presents, too???" Precious.

I just wanted to post some pics and a video since our family can't be here today to celebrate. We are looking forward to our visit to Iowa/Illinois/Wisconsin for Thanksgiving celebrations, another birthday celebration, a baby shower and lots of fun, family and friends!!!

Mattea's 4th Birthday Princess Party

Mattea's princess party for her 4th birthday was a success! We decorated the dining room with pictures of all of the Disney princesses, hung streamers from the arch and all the girls came dressed in princess costumes. We put make-up on all of the princesses, played games, did crafts, danced, ate cupcakes and they all helped Mattea open her gifts... as you can see from the picture! Jeff and the boys were a big help... no, they didn't run and hide when the girls showed up!!! It was a very fun day!

First snow

Yesterday, it was 62 degrees in the afternoon and today, we woke up to snow! Gotta love this Colorado weather. I'm sure the snow will be gone soon because the temperatures will continue to rise for the next week. For Mattea's birthday next Tuesday, the temperature is predicted to be a wonderful 71 degrees!!!

Roller hockey

Josh recently started playing roller hockey. After just three practices, they had their first game on Monday. Josh did really well... scoring 3 of the team's 9 goals. He can skate very well and can even go backwards. They play positions and he's really getting a good understanding of the game. His eyes light up and he holds his stick up over his head when he scores a goal. He's having a blast playing and we're having a blast watching him. He's #7 in a red shirt in the video.

Omaha Zoo

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Operation Christmas Child

I have been looking for a way to open my kids' eyes to the realization that there are kids in this world who don't have anywhere near the privileges that my kids have. This is especially in my thoughts near the holidays as my kids are putting together their extensive wish lists for Santa.

I discovered a project called "Operation Christmas Child" (OCC). OCC is a Christian ministry that sends shoe boxes full of toys, school supplies and hygiene items to children all over the world. Individuals and groups in countries from the United States to Austria participate every year in this wonderful charity. National Collection Week is November 17-24. I have decided that this will be a new tradition for my family. I plan on having each of my kids pack a shoebox for another child their same age and gender. I think it will be eye-opening and a great way to experience the joy of giving and sharing the true meaning of Christmas.

If you are interested, check out the details at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Halloween

Halloween was chaotic and fun like it is every year. Mattea was supposed to wear her new, beautiful Belle costume, but by the time we were ready to trick-or-treat, she had changed costumes several times and had ended up in her ballerina costume. She also changed her mind several times about whether or not she was going trick-or-treating. She ended up staying in her ballerina costume and passing out candy with Daddy.

Josh was supposed to be a ninja, but he didn't end up with the expensive, super cool ninja costume he wanted, so the night before Halloween, he boycotted that costume and borrowed the neighbor's football gear. I must say, he was a very cute football player... had all the girls chasing him! ; ) He and I went out with the neighbors - Donna, Jakob, Mikkel and Erik. We were out for almost 2 hours and the kids got a TON of candy. By the time we were done, their feet hurt and they were incredibly thirsty.

Alex wanted to go trick-or-treating by himself this year, but we vetoed that idea rather quickly. His best buddy was going to a church event, so he was "stuck" going along with Josh & I. That only lasted for 2 houses when he spotted a buddy from school. I let him tag along with him and his Dad. They hit a couple of blocks and then Alex headed home. Alex was dressed up as a scary goblin, but had to be a rapper/DJ for school since his mask was too scary.

Me? Yeah, I went in my everyday witch costume... added a few glow-in-the-dark necklaces and I was good to go. Left my broom at home this year! ; )