Carolyn is 6!

I can't believe it. And on top of being six, she has finally gotten over the terrible 2s. That's no joke. She's been a rotten stinker for most of her life (mainly to her mom and dad). And not all the time. She goes back and forth. But for the past few months, she's been nearly 100% sweet! And super sweet too. She's very understanding (which rarely happened before), polite, helpful. It's amazing. We always knew she had it in her. And we're ecstatic that she's finally let out the sweetness fully!

(And I should note, we have always loved her and she really wasn't that bad. She was always sweet at daycare and super sweet at school. And many times, sweet at home. She just had a stubbornness in her sometimes).

1. Carolyn, how old are you today? 6
2. How does it feel to be 6? Great! Awesome! Great!
3. How was your day? Good
4. What do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned in life so far? I'm learning about, umm, no! Reading.
5. How do you think you’re different from a year ago? That I'm older and I'm bigger.
6. What’s your favorite thing about yourself? That I'm smart
7. How do you like Kindergarten? Great! Awesome! Great! Awesome! Super great! Why? Because it's so much fun!
8. Who’s your best friend? Audree, Olly, Lily and Morgan
9. What do you like learning about? I like to learn about animals. Do you have a favorite? Dolphins
10. Is there anything you’d do to improve your educational experience? What does that mean? (repeat) Did you just write, "what does that mean"?
11. Tell me about our family. That my family and Eleanor is a tattle-tail and Hank's so good and my mom and dad love me.
12. What do you like about having a sister?That sometimes she plays with me.
13. What's the worst thing about having a sister? That she be's mean to me sometimes.
14. What do you like about having a brother? That he is nice
15. In the past year, what have been some of your favorite books, movies, and music? Ponyella, Frozen, Spirit, Too-De-Ta
16. What’s your favorite TV show? I like...Don't write that! Uhhh! My favorite TV show is movies. I don't like any TV shows.
17. Okay, do you remember what you watched last night? I don't know what it's called. I can't read it. (something on her Nabi)
18. If you had a whole day to do anything you wanted, what would you do? I would do...I would lay in my bed and watch movies on my Nabi
19. What’s your favorite toy to play with? My Nabi!
20. What’s your favorite thing to do at school? Play recess. Recess. That's my favorite.
21. What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a teacher. What grade? Kindergarten
22. Do you think you’ll ever get married? Yeah!
23. Do you have someone in mind? Olly, Olly, Olly!
24. How old do you think you’ll be when you get married? How old are you? Okay, 36.
25. What have you learned about boys this year? Nothing
26. What’s your favorite food? There's so many choices. Okay, I'll tell you. My favorite food is CANDY!
27. And your favorite candy? Cotton candy
28. So what’s your favorite dessert? Go-gurt, no! Ice cream!
29. Anything you’re scared of? I'm scared of the Dark Master
30. Anything else you’d like to say? No
31. Can you think of any questions I should have asked but didn’t? Uh uh. I can't think of any of them. Well there's one question you didn't ask. Where I like to be.
32. Where do you like to be? In Florida

Eleanor's 8th Birthday

Eight years ago, Matt and I became parents for the first time. Little Eleanor Jane has been a sweetie since day one. We love that girl and love that she's awesome and sweet and a great student and a nice sister and a loving little soul!

1. Eleanor, how old are you today? 8
2. How does it feel to be 8? The same as being 7.
   
3. How was your day? Awesome!
4. What was the weather like? Snowy
5. What do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned in life so far? Slow and steady always wins
6. How do you think you’re different from a year ago? I might be taller!
7. What’s your favorite thing about yourself? I like my hair, hehhee
8. How do you like 2nd grade? I want to stay in 2nd grade. Why? So I can still see all my teachers.
9. Who’s your best friend? Emma
10. What do you like learning about? I already know everything.
11. Is there anything you’d do to improve your educational experience? Um, I have no idea what that means.
12. Tell me about our family. Their names? Mom, Tara, Dad, Carolyn, Hank. Tell me about them. Carolyn hit me. What?
13. What do you like about having a sister? (no answer)
14. What's the worst thing about having a sister? That she hits me all the time.
15. What do you like about having a brother? He's funny :)
    
16. In the past year, what have been some of your favorite books, movies, and music? Diary of  a Wimpy Kid, The Lego Movie, One Direction
17. What’s your favorite TV show? Good Luck Charlie, Spongebob and Ant Farm.
18. Okay, do you remember what you watched last night? Grown Ups
19. If you had a whole day to do anything you wanted, what would you do? I would take Emma and Caitlyn to a One Direction concert.
20. What’s your favorite toy to play with? My Nabi and rainbow loom
21. What’s your favorite thing to do at school? Journal and silent reading and I like math, kind of, too.
22. What do you want to be when you grow up? A vet a horse trainer or a teacher.
23. Do you think you’ll ever get married? Yeah!
24. How old do you think you’ll be when you get married? 20-something
25. What have you learned about boys this year? They like to chase people
26. What’s your favorite food? Uh, pizza? Chicken!
27. And your favorite candy? Chocolate
28. So what’s your favorite dessert? In the summer I like push pops and then every other time I like ice cream cones.
29. Anything you’re scared of? Sometimes I'm scared of boys. Like today I was. Emma and I were running for our lives.
30. Anything else you’d like to say? I like to ride my bike and laugh at Hank
31. Can you think of any questions I should have asked but didn’t? You never asked my 2nd best friend.
32. Who's your 2nd best friend? Zora

 

Finally! Warmth!

Mother Nature finally took pity on us and gave us a little sunshine and warmth on March 18th. We took full advantage by playing t-ball, riding bikes, and riding skateboards after school. Hurray!

Father Daughter Dance

Once again, Matt and the girls got all beautified and attended the Father Daughter Dance at Moccasin Elementary. Eleanor, again, spent much time running around with her girlfriends. And Carolyn was a wall flower. That is, until "Let It Go" from the Disney movie Frozen played. That got her and daddy dancing!

Coldest Winter EVER!

I'm not going to post actual stats but this winter has been rough. Major snow accumulation, a high number of days below zero, and just plain misery. Actually, I enjoy the snow days. The beauty of the total white snow cover. But come March, it was just like someone was playing a terrible joke on us all. The snow kept falling, the temperatures still freezing.

Christmas Time: Traditions, Cookies, Parties, Giving, Receiving, Love & Happiness

Christmas came early for this lady when the gorgeous Restoration Hardware chairs came that Matt ordered for me! Also a great gift for the kids: 3 huge boxes and tons of giant bubble wrap!

 We got a jump on our Swedish tradition and made a batch of pepparkokar to give the teachers, principal, secretary, and bus driver.

Hank and I surprised Carolyn at her Kindergarten Christmas party

And possibly beginning a new tradition, Nicole came over for a deliciously fun day of cookie baking!

This year, Christmas at Buddy and Jackie's was the Sunday prior to Christmas (they surprised the KC Ohlunds and had Christmas with them).

Hank really does love puppy Gus. It's the red sweater he thinks is "not cool" :(

Brody in Hanna's high heels :)

 Puppy Winnie spent the week with us. The kids just loved having her (all 5 days) and were helpful walking her (the first 24 hours). Puppies are a lot of work we found out. But darn cute they are!

Christmas with the daycare kids. All in their new cozy blankets from Sandy!

 

 And a great tradition is our late night, jammie and coffee drive looking at Christmas lights.

 To our surprise, the Jessie family put out lights again this year (the scaled down version though you can hardly tell).

Carolyn sneaking to get that last candy cane out of the tree

The LeRoy Family Christmas Eve party was such a grand affair as usual. We really enjoyed seeing Jeana and Nate's house and think they are great hosts. 

Christmas morning pepparkokar breakfast. Why not?