Family Pictures

I love how the colors turned out in our pictures. I really wanted to have our pictures taken at the Christmas tree farm but we asked them and they wouldn't let us. So, at the last minute we found some green grass at Oxbow park. Zola and Andrew were feeling really sick but we got a pretty good picture out of it anyways. We were so lucky on the second weekend in November to have such warm weather. Thanks to my friend Lexy Reber for taking our pictures. 

 Our Christmas card said this about our kids:

Dennis (7) is in first grade. His teacher is impressed with his work habits. He sits at the back of the room because the teacher knows that he will stay on task and get his work done quick, sometimes too quick. He loves sports. He plays soccer, ice hockey and baseball. He also swims and wrestles. This year he water skied for the first time. He got up on his first try and went about a mile. He started playing the piano this year and quickly caught on. Overall, he is a very fun kid full of energy. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day for him to do everything that he wants.

 Zola (3) goes to preschool two times a week. She started taking ballet this year and is loving it. The first few days she was two steps behind the teacher because she was so distracted by watching herself in that big mirror. She now follows along with the class and is learning some pretty moves. She loves to dance and sing as long as she thinks nobody is listening. Zola is very sensitive and shy.

 Andrew (1) is now walking. He looks like a little orangutan walking around with his wide stance, bent knees and waddle. He loves to throw balls- Future MLB player with his lefty throw. His facial expressions are remarkable and people comment on his cute dimples and deep scowl. He is a very easy going kid that keeps us smiling.

Christmas

Zola added her own personal message on a few of our Christmas cards. 

 We spend a lot of time in my sewing room in the month of December getting ready for Christmas. It seems that every January one of my resolutions needs to be to clean and organize that room.

 This kid helped me do some sewing... you can never start too early. :)

 What big sisters are for... teaching little boys how to do big kid things.

 Dennis was so excited about making things for people this Christmas that he made felt masks for all of the Kannas cousins. It was pretty fun watching him on Christmas morning just as eager for people to open the presents that he made as he was to open his presents. This mask is a sea monster.

 I feel quite lucky to have this guy in my life. He is the best.

 Because I have a problem... I make rules to how many gifts the kids are going to get... since we have Christmas morning with cousins at the cabin, we like to make it as fair as possible... and then I can't stick to the rules that I made. So, we had to open a few presents early at home. Gift giving must be one of my love languages because I REALLY get into it.

 Andrew got a rocking horse that he absolutely LOVED! Can you tell?

 Then we made the trek up to the cabin. Stuffed to the roof.

 Andrew looking at Santa. He was pretty big and red and loud.

 But, he was liking it much better once Santa gave him a BALL! His favorite. He played with that ball the whole night.

 Dennis and Santa.

 Zola and Santa. It was pretty cute. Zola knew just what to do when Santa called her name. Every time she would stand next to him and smile for a picture... even though, I only actually took one.

 a light saber and some care bears... and that green ball.

 Christmas morning with all the cousins (except Reed's family).

 Zola sent Santa an email with a picture of this exact unicorn. She was so happy to find it in her stocking.

 We love it when Daddy has time off and is around.

 ... another mask, made by Dennis. Yoda for James

 The best seat in the house- Grandpa's lap. There is a little competition with cousins around. Bode and Andrew had to share the role of cute baby. It was rough.

 Dennis got some Legos.

 The snow was so beautiful!

 Our new tradition of acting out the Nativity. Cast: Eva as the Angel, Zola as Mary, Matthew as Joseph, Dennis, James and Owen as Wisemen, Bode as a Shepherd and Andrew as a sheep.

 I love that Dennis took his hat off as he was kneeling at the manger. Such a great touch... I didn't even know he knew that he should do that.

 We got lots of pictures with Grandpa this year...

 We finally got snow! It wasn't quite safe to go out on the lake because it was such a warm fall and late winter that the ice wasn't quite thick enough. So, we did other things: sledding, skiing, broom ball at the rink (picture to come).

 It sure is beautiful.

 Opening our homemade gifts with the Funks!

 Here is Andrew opening his present from Baron. He got a cool race car.

 Holland opened her Pj's from Zola

 Zola opened little wooden people from Benson.

 Dennis opened a Fort kit from Myer. It was so cute how excited he was. It was fun because Dennis REALLY wanted to make a fort kit for Myer. But he had to choose between fort kit and marshmallow gun.

 Kristen opened a framed list of things we love about her... from Ryan.

We are so blessed.