Sunday School Program

 Well, lest you think that we went through the entire Christmas season without pictures... Here is a post with pictures: Elizabeth took part in the Sunday School program at church. Which was a big deal because last year, she worked so hard on her part but got sick on the day of the program.  So... If there was one thing that we were healthy for this Christmas, I hoped it would be the program. And thankfully, we were.  :-) Here is a picture taken of my girl and I after the program... 

  And here is a picture of Beth that captured more of the pretty decorations: 

 Here is a picture of all of the kiddos from the program...can you find Beth's face in the crowd? 

A couple weeks before the program, we all had a field trip to a farm near Lake City where the kids dressed in Christmas costumes for a photo shoot in the barns and among the animals.  The pictures were then projected onto the wall behind the children as they recited their parts for the program.  One of the men from church was kind enough to create a video of all of the pictures set to the sound track of each of the children saying their verses.  Parents were given the opportunity to keep the video as a memento of the evening!  Excellent idea! Here is where I wanted to insert a clip from the official video of Beth saying her part...  But Windows Movie Maker and I are not friends...and making a video clip was an exercise in frustration that wasted a good chunk of my afternoon. So, for now, I reverted to the old fashioned way and just took a video with my camera.  You'll have to excuse the video quality, but hopefully you'll get the idea.  (Eventually, maybe Mike will have mercy on his technologically handicapped wife and create a clip from the actual video which would be far better.) 

. . . (:  Deleted  :) . . .

Update:  My hubby was kind enough to make a clip of the original for me...  Here's a much higher quality version of Elizabeth's clip from the video:

 

Elizabeth was slightly embarrassed by her expression in the video.  (Actually...more than slightly...)  I think she's coming around though.  Her expression of shock was supposed to be the babe in her womb leaping for joy...can you tell?  :-)

I'm so glad she got to take part in the program this year...it was yet another special memory from this year's Christmas...

It's a Wonderful Life

 The Rochester Assembly of God had a billboard near our home that we passed often advertising their performance of "It's a Wonderful Life". 

 Elizabeth wanted to see it so badly...so we decided rather spontaneously to go. Another missed photo opportunity, but another fun memory. I would have loved to have captured a shot of their set...it really was impressive.   But there's really no way I could have captured my favorite memory in pictures anyway--seeing the dark silhouette of my little girl sitting on the edge of her seat with an expression of pure delight--hanging on every word of every scene...  It was the first time she had seen/heard the story (besides an Adventures in Odyssey episode based on the movie).  She's at such a fun age--old enough to sit quietly and be attentive for an entire play but young enough to get caught up in the "fantasy world" of the story. Pictures can be seen here on the Assembly of God facebook page.

A Christmas Carol

 Our first "official" Christmas outing was to see the Northland Words Players:  

  We should have known it was a "big deal" when the tickets sold out so quickly...but we had no idea we were in for such a treat! The bad news is that I didn't bring my camera...because it really would have been an adventure worth capturing. The good news is that you can see pictures from past performances here and you can learn about the historic Mayowood Stone Barn here. Not captured in pictures were memories of Elizabeth dancing the night away after the play... Believe it or not, Mike even got in on the action.  Well...if you use the term "dancing" loosely, that is.  ;-) But it was a really great evening, and the Words Players put months of exhausting preparation into the performance.  Though lacking pictures, it was one of my favorite Christmas memories from 2011. 

Christmas 2011

 In contrast to last year's Christmas, this year--besides the occasional sniffle--we enjoyed good health throughout the holiday season.  What a blessing! We ventured out for a couple of Christmas plays... We drove around and took in the Christmas lights (several times)... And . . . We attended every single scheduled Christmas gathering... We are very thankful. I'm browsing through my pictures and I'll post a few highlights from our Christmas season soon...  

10th Birthday (part 2)

 Well, what would a 10 year old girl wish to do on the morning of her birthday? How about open her presents in her jammies?  

Beth Marie always wants to wake up to her presents on the morning of her birthday... She doesn't want to know how many presents she'll have, or even what kind of wrapping paper... She wants it all to be a surprise on her birthday morning. (Must take after her daddy.  Her Mommy can't stand surprises...) 

 Somebody else was also excited to open presents.  Gretchen had her nose in every one sniffing for something good.  She knows good things come in presents.  She didn't have any presents of her own (because it wasn't her birthday) but we did hide treats in a couple of the presents. Opening her Hayden doll (can you tell it was her favorite present?) 

(no acting, of course...) We then went to Rochester for a light lunch, and to pick up her birthday cake: 

(a chocolate carrot cake from Daube's . . .  They are the best. cake. ever.)

The cake was deposited at home, and then we ventured up to the Twin Cities for the day.

Beth wanted to visit the James J. Hill house. 

We enjoy touring mansions together, and Mike and I had visited this one without her.  (It's not unusual for Mike and I to see something and then visit a second time with Beth.)

After a leisurely tour of the grounds, we went to Mall of America for supper and shopping before heading home for cake.

Happy 10th year Beth Marie!  Your birthday is behind you, but I pray that you have a wonderful year ahead.  I love living life with you.  You are a precious companion.  It's so amazing to watch you grow--you're becoming such a beautiful young lady.  I am so thankful for the privilege of being your Mom.  I pray that our God will protect you, and preserve you, and guard your heart for Himself...I pray that you will see His goodness in all things, and that your heart will overflow with joy and gratitude...and I pray that you will allow His Spirit to teach you, and that you will walk in truth.  I love you Boo!

10th Birthday (part 1)

 And, along with 10 year pictures comes... The 10th Birthday!  

How is it possible that it was 10 years ago already when our little girl was born? Our only child . . . our miracle . . . Beth Marie. (Unless God intends to do another miracle--which could happen--but that seems less than likely as the years go by)  So, what are 10th birthdays like with an only child? Well... This year, her birthday fell on a Saturday...so we considered taking a trip.  But that didn't work out... So Daddy took Friday off anyway and we just had a special weekend as a family close to home.  We began by visiting the Northwoods Orchard just a few miles from home. And if you're wondering how tall Beth is this year, here's a photo to answer your question:  

 And her Daddy? 

 Cheater! Well, there was lots to see at the Northwoods Orchard... There were some hay bales to conquer: 

 There were some sweet bunnies to pet... 

 

And some goofy goats to feed:

And some pigs who wanted us to feed them...

(their pen was locked, but they kept running over and grunting toward their food bin...we were sorry to disappoint them...)

And there were some pretty amusing chickens, too...

All of which made us wish for a farm.  :-)

There were also 2 corn mazes...

...a 10 minute one, and an hour long one. 

We elected to do the 10 minute maze...and I think we pretty much dominated it...

But it was fun.  :-)

Then we went inside for fresh apple donuts.

Sorry...no pictures.

10 year pictures...

 I've been asked a few times if we did 10 year pictures, and if I planned to post them... And indeed I did plan to post them... And so here they are--a little later than I had planned...  

    (she looks so grown up in this one!  . . . . . . . . . .  and she looks like a little girl in this one)