12/2/06...Trimming the tree.

Tradition still holds - Annabelle places the angel on the tree top!

12/3/06...Annabelle ready for her "Big Deal" (name of the show) production at the Mall of America with the Wooddale Church Choir.

All of us before the show...Nathaniel was a little overstimulated!

Annabelle with a friend before the show.

The East Rotunda at Mall of America, where the show was performed.

12/8/06...It is hard to make out - but this is a bald eagle that I spotted from my kitchen window.  It was eating a fresh catch and is surrounded by black ravens which form a triangle around it.  I was astounded at how enormous it was!

Baking Christmas Cookies!

The reluctant birthday girl (that would be me).

more Christmas cookies!

Annabelle's Brownie troop caroling outside the historic Smith-Douglas-Moore house in Eden Prairie.  That is Nathaniel and me leading the chorus on the left.

Annabelle passing out homemade cookies inside the Smith- Douglas- Moore house (which is also a coffee house).  

Annabelle performing at "Christmas at Wooddale".  The children's choir is the mass of white at the front of the stage.  She did 3 shows over the weekend!

The concert was one of the best I've ever seen.  There was a full orchestra, handbells, choirs and wonderful music.  I was moved to tears!

A message from Nathaniel

Nathaniel with his "word wall".  We make a magnet for each new word he learns so he can make sentences.

The kids were excited to have a store bought cake for the party we hosted for our Bible study friends!

12/19...Nathaniel with "PB Bear".  PB belongs to Nathaniel's school.  We got to bring PB home overnight and chronicle our adventures in the class book!

12/21...The first snow - just in time for Christmas

Also just in time for Christmas - a flu-like bug struck both kids!

We were feeling well enough for a few carols on Christmas Eve. 

Reading by the fire Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Dinner - not very festive - the kids ate plain pasta - all that their tender tummies could handle.

Hanging the stockings

Christmas morning (notice the darkness outside the window.)

Opening gifts...

Nathaniel playing with his new Lego set.

Making green fettucine

Making our traditional green fettucine on Christmas Day!

Another tradition - making fortune cookies for New Years!