Ben's Christmas Program

Our first experience with a Christmas Program at preschool was last year, and it really didn't go well at all.  He sat down for most of it, didn't sing, and the worst part for mommy and daddy was he looked scared up there :(  This year he is one year older and is doing much better in school so we were hoping the Christmas program would go better as well.....and it did despite a trip to the doctor that day!  Ben woke up the night before and said his ear hurts.  The next morning he woke up and said his ear hurts again, but no temp, so I sent him to school so he wouldn't miss practice.  When I picked him up from school, he wasn't look to good so I took him to the doctor and she confirmed he did have an ear infection.  I gave him some tylenol and put him down for a nap and crossed my fingers.  When he got up he was doing much better.

That night I showed up early and got a spot right in front so Ben could see us.  It started a little slow....the first two songs Ben just stood there and didn't sing.  He looked around a little to see what the rest of the kids were doing.  Eventually he started doing the "actions" and then started singing by the end.  Guess he just needed a little warm up!  The girls loved watching Ben sing up on stage.  Hard to believe they are going to be up there next year too!!

Video is on the bottom....my first attempt at a little video editing!! 

Singing

Ben has always loved singing.  His memory for songs constantly amazes me.  Although he likes to make them up as well :)  This year my parents introduced the kids the "Muppets" and the muppet songs are their current favorites.  Ben's favorite is the "Rainbow Connection".  I have to say the sweet way that he sings one of the songs from my childhood really gets to me :)  The girls enjoy singing as well.  Whenever I put the girls to bed we always sing "You are my sunshine".

Flashback Santa 2011

Visit to Santa 2012

Last week we took the kids to downtown Macy's to visit Santa.  I had talked to the girls about sitting in Santa's lap and telling him what they wanted for Christmas, but all the while wondering if they would actually get on Santa's lap.  The girls did not want to sit on Santa's lap or even sit next to him unless mommy was there, but at least they weren't screaming like last year (a big improvement).  Ben told Santa he wanted the Polar Express train and "Blue Mountain Mystery" a Thomas movie.  (check and check).  Samantha and Allison asked for "pink" toys and "orange and purple" toys respectively.  Their favorite colors.  I think I have the pink and purple covered but where Allison came up with orange as her favorite color is beyond me.

Each year gets more fun with Ben.  We have been doing a countdown to Christmas/when Santa comes, the Elf on the Shelf tradition was started and they love to go look for him every morning and see where he has moved too, we have been watching lots of Christmas movies and reading Christmas books.  Ben over the last day has been asking questions about if we have a chimney and how Santa is going to get through the glass that is on our fireplace :)  One time he just stood there looking at it and you could see the wheels turning in his head trying to figure it out.  I never knew how many white lies I was going to have to tell him about this whole Santa bit :)  We are almost ready for Christmas next week!  

Staloch's in Santa's workshop

Snow Day!!

We took the kids out in the snow on Sunday morning.  It was so beautiful out.  We did some sleding, made snowballs, and made a snowman.  Allison was ready to go in first so I took her in while Ben and Samantha played outside with daddy.  Eventually Samantha wanted to come in too, but not Ben.  He stayed out until I made them come in for lunch.  We told him if he took a nap he could go outside again, which he did with Chris after supper when they cleaned off the driveway.  In total he was outside in the snow for 3 hours!!  It was so fun to watch them all.  Ben looked older somehow playing out there in the snow.  I did have to get him a new snow coat and pants.  He must have grown since September when I had him try on his pair from last year.  The first time he was out in the snow the pants weren't long enough and he kept getting snow in his boots!   I hope we get much more snow than last year so we can have lots more days of playing in the snow!

Ben turns 4!!

Ben's birthday was the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  On his actual birthday we took him out for dinner to a restaurant, which he loves, and he ordered what seems like his favorite food...pizza (takes after daddy I guess).  Then he got a cupcake with a candle for dessert.

On Sunday we had a small gathering of family and Ben got to open some gifts.  He was very excited for that part and the cake :)  I had asked him what kind of party he wanted and he said a "blue" party and he wanted a blue cake.  Since I can't order a cake (because of Allison's allergy) I made one and did some blue frosting with a train on top.  Ben loved it :)  

Happy Birthday to my wonderful boy Ben!  You get more fun and amazing every year!

Ready to open his presents 

Cool truck from Uncle Ryan

A little help from his sisters

Cake time!

Serious about his blue cake

Ben meets Button the Reindeer

A fun tradition at preschool is to have a reindeer come and visit each year.  Ben met Button last year too but this year the teachers took pictures for the parents.

12th Annual Friends Thanksgiving

The 12th annual Friends Thanksgiving was the weekend before Thanksgiving and it was our turn to host.  14 adults 14 kids makes for a crazy but fun house!  Such a wonderful tradition we look forward to every year.  We can't wait until all the kids are older and don't need so much help with things so we can get back to a little more socializing amongst the adults :) 

The girls having their Thanksgiving meal

Ben asked for ketchup to go with his turkey...takes after his uncle Nic!

Two tables of kids and this wasn't even all of them!

Kids having fun playing in the basement

Group photo, a few had left already

First Snow

When we got back to Victoria on Thanksgiving it had snowed.  The next morning Chris and Ben were going to go out and put up Christmas lights but the girls wanted to go out too.  They had fun playing in the snow even though it was cold out.  Ben is sad the snow is gone now.  I keep telling him there will be more but I hope I am right for his sake!

We did it!! Ran a 13.1 miles....crazy

 So this is a little late but here is our victory pic from our 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago.  As some of you know we barely made it to the race.  Not that we weren't ready for it in terms of training and preparation.....  in my opinion we over trained running 3x per week since June.  However the week leading up to the race our house got hit by the stomach flu.  Chris was traveling (always happens when he is gone).  Ben was sick, I got sick, (the week prior Allison and Chris had a little stomach bug but not as bad as the rest of us).  I was feeling better by a day or two before the race so we were good to go but then they day we were to leave for the race Samantha got sick and was throwing up every couple hours.  Since Chris and I were feeling okay we decided to head down for the race anyway (it was in Mankato).  Chris rode in the back of the van with Samantha with a bucket in case she got sick.  We had already cleaned out the car from a puke incident earlier in the week and didn't want to do it again!  We arrived without any more puking but she was still not feeling well.  

The next morning my dad dropped Chris and I off at the starting line.  It was pretty cold to start but it warmed up after awhile.  We had a great run.  We paced ourselves a little faster than we had trained at because we really wanted to finish in under 2 hours.  We did great and felt great almost the whole time.  The course was beautiful, we ran along some trails, out by Mount Kato, and did a loop through Sibley Park.  I started dragging around mile 10 but Chris helped push me on that last loop.  Our family was there at the end, and the grandparents brought the kiddos to the finish line.  They ended up bringing Samantha because they thought she was feeling better but shortly after we crossed the finish line she got sick again :(  We quickly headed home to shower, eat,  and rest.   It took a few days to fully recuperate from the run and our week of sickness. 

This was my first 1/2 marathon and it was Chris's second.  When he ran his about 10 years ago I trained with him a little and after about 5-6 miles I said that was enough I never wanted to run any further than that.  Never say never I guess!  It was a huge accomplishment.  I am very proud of both of us it was fun to train for it together..... but I am glad it is done so I can do something besides run every Saturday!  I went to yoga last night for the first time in months and it was a nice change.  By next spring I might be ready for a new challenge!

Thanks to all our family that came out to watch/support us!!  And special thanks to my parents who let us bring a sick kid who ended up sharing her germs with and passing the stomach flu along to 2 more.  Sorry mom and dad!!

Pumpkin Carving

We did pumpkin carving the night before Halloween.  Ben still didn't like digging out the guts of the pumpkin but the girls were interested, especially Allison.

Allison digging out her pumpkin seeds one at a time

The girls and their pumpkins

Daddy digging out Ben's pumpkin

Samantha was watching Allison.....and Allison excited to get a big scoop of seeds!

Ben and Daddy deciding what face to carve on his pumpkin.

Allison putting the pieces back in the pumpkin that we had just cut out.

Checking out our work!

3 kids and 3 pumpkins