Many Christmas celebrations!

Living back in Minnesota means celebrating holidays with family many times over. Grandma Karen flew back for a visit so the girls got to see her for a few days.

We actually celebrated Christmas Day at our house with Jon, Christa, Jeff, Elaina, Grandma Priscilla and Great Grandma Irene.

Bell loves to open presents! She helped many people open their gifts this year.

Breezy all dolled up.

My pretty girls in Christmas dresses.

Isabel on her horse from santa on Christmas morning. She was excited to find that santa had eaten the cookies and the reindeer ate the carrots.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Wayne's.

The girls and I before we went to the Sobiech Christmas at Kris's. The next day we went to Grandpa Steve's for another Christmas party.

The girls and I stayed in a hotel in Winona for several days while Scott was doing field training down there. They were worn out after a day of playing.

We went to Rochester to celebrate Becca's birthday with her and to meet baby Levi.

Isabel playing with Miles on his bunk bed at Becca's.

Breezy 8 months old, playing with a balloon.

The girls with their cousin Malachi.

Happy Holidays 2010

Our Christmas card photo in our backyard.

The girls with step cousin Cole.

With step cousin Jacob.

Taking a cocoa break in our front yard.

Sledding in our side yard.

Breezy and uncle Jonny napping.

Chasing Scotty from hotel to hotel during yet another field training leads to indoor sister play.

I turned around and found Isabel wearing her grandma's glasses while also using her pen and puzzle book.

Isabel literally fell asleep on her floor shortly after getting up in the morning.

Both girls love Isabel's new doll house! Breezy is getting so big and sitting up well (but mom is right there don't worry).

The girls are dressed up and ready for cousin Elaina's baptism.

Isabel in the emergency room for what turned out to be a self healed case of "nurse maid's elbow". Now whenever she has any little cut or ache she asks to go see "my doctor".

Isabel and uncle Jonny with his 7 pointer.

Uncle Jeffy with Brianna and Elaina. Hard to tell who is older now.

Breezy wearing Isabel's old hat with fur ruff from Martin Weiner our Alaska friend.

Close-up of Breezy's eyelashes.

Bell helping grandma make the often requested "m&m cookies".

Isabel looking fancy in her new winter coat.

All dressed up for Auntie Cheta's birthday gathering.

Halloween, Hunting, and Isabel turns 2!

Fall 2010 is defenitely living up to my expectations! Trick or treating with my kids for the first time, Isabel turning 2 and celebrating with friends and family, and a most memorable hunting season!
After not seeing a deer at either the morning or evening sits opening day, I opted for a more active hunt on Sunday. A sat in our front stand in the early morning, busting through ice and deep water at 0800 to try 2 other stands in the back. I was in the 3rd stand for maybe 25 minutes when I heard deer walking. I scoured the woods and spotted a deer, which I suspected was a doe but was ready to shoot regardless since I had tags for both. I ended up shooting her and the buck following her which turned out to be a 192# deer. A very exciting few minutes of hunting. My cousin Scott shot this 181# buck with very wide antlers the same day.

Isabel enjoys a second birthday celebration complete with another cake at Grandma Priscilla's. Isabel's 2nd Birthday celebration at auntie Christa's.

Presents!!!

Emmy lou (Snow white) celebrating Isabel's birthday.

Zoo keeper, monkey, and banana.

Halloween night Trick or Treating.

Ready to go trick or treating at Cub and Coborn's.

Trick or treating at downtown Elk River businesses.