Moving on Up - Graduating from Middle 1 & Little 2

Kylie and Neela have been at Foss Swim School for 18 months... and spent the entire time in Middle 1.  We have had Teacher Nate and Teacher Mike, and swim every chance we get... but the flips and back floats seemed to get the best of us!  

Well..... finally.... we PASSED!!!  We were ecstatic!!

Of course, Brooke is a little less fearless in the water.  This was her second session in Little 2 - and she's already moving up to Little 3.  She's the fish in the family!

We are so proud of our girls!

Minnesota Wild beating up the San Jose Sharks

Each year, Mommy and Daddy will take us to a Minnesota Wild game or two.  This year, they saved tickets for the game against San Jose (Aunt Renee's team).  

We walked in, and met Nordy immediately!  We LOVE Nordy!

Then, it was time to watch the game... and cheer!!

Of course, we did have to take an ice cream break... after the popcorn and pizza break!

Guess what?  Our team won!! :-) 

As Neela's text said, "Boo Sharks, Go Wild!"

Happy 40th Birthday, Daddy!

We always celebrate "big", and Daddy's 40th birthday was no exception!  We managed to get most of our Christmas decorations up, and told Mommy EXACTLY which birthday decorations Daddy needed.  We also made a few of our own at school... and invited a bunch of friends and neighbors to celebrate!

Here is Daddy in the hat we made him:

And with the birthday cookie we bought for him:

We ate cookies, snacks and celebrated for a long time - we had fun with our friends, and enjoyed helping Daddy celebrate!

Santa Claus is Coming to Woodbury (Lakes) 2013

It might not be Thanksgiving, but it IS the Saturday night Santa comes to Woodbury Lakes... and WE got to help bring him!  

After supper, we dressed for the occasion.  Since it's "MO-vember", we thought mustache Christmas T-shirts would be appropriate...

Of course, the "Stache your presents here" logos on the back were almost just as cool!!

We went to the fire station with Daddy, and rode on the fire truck to Woodbury Lakes.  Mommy met us there...

... and so did SANTA!!!

A bunch of fire "kids" got to ride on the lead truck that delivered Santa - including us!!

And... Neela's favorite part came next... fireworks!  

We watched them from the front bumper of the fire truck...

... with a few really awesome dance moves mixed in...

When the fireworks were done, we found Rudolph walking down the street...

...took a quick family photo by the fire truck...

... sprinted back to our car to warm up...

... went home to put on cozy PJs, have hot cocoa and sit by the fire place :-)

It's beginning to look (and feel) a LOT like Christmas!

And... #5!

Kylie can officially wish for her two front teeth for Christmas - she lost her 5th tooth today!

Thankful Brooke!

Each year, as we get closer to Thanksgiving, we work on projects at school about all the things we are thankful for!  Brooke's school has a Thanksgiving Feast for the families - and the kids make placemats.  This year, Brooke is thankful for "Mom and Dad"!

Problem Solving 11/15

When Mommy came home from London, she brought us a few gifts.  We each got a stuffed animal: Neela got a London "Big Eye Guy", Brooke got a "London Hello Kitty", and Kylie got a Hamley's bear.  She brought a few flavors of candy for us to try.  The "educational" toy she brought was a map of London, with a double-decker bus.  The pieces go together in over 50 ways, then the bus loops back and forth across the path.  Mommy told us all about the pictures on the puzzle she visited, and Kylie spent a lot of time problem solving and engineering pieces of the puzzle.  Neela and Brooke did not slack either :-)

Friday Night Ice Cream Celebration

It was a calm, quiet Friday night... so we decided to have a little ice cream celebration for all the good things happening at school and home.  Mommy found lots of extra toppings, whipped cream, and fun for us... just like our favorite restaurant!

Finally, Kylie lost #4!!!

Kylie's been waiting, and waiting, and waiting... and FINALLY... tooth #4 fell out!  

Right in the middle on top!

Welcome Home Mommy!

Mommy spent the last 8 days in London, England for work.  She saw lots of cool things - the London Eye, Windsor Castle, Reading Town Hall, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Hamley's toy store, many pubs, and don't forget, the QUEEN!!

While she was gone, we spent time watching the Steelers, in school and in Sioux City - but we were very excited for her to come home.  Neela worked on a banner for most of the days she was at school, so she didn't get sad at school.  Kylie and Brooke added some drawings, and Daddy hung it up so Mommy could see it when she walked in the door!

Happy Halloween 2013

It's the time of year to get all decked out in costumes, and go ask our neighbors for candy and sweets...  We love every holiday at the Estochen's, and Halloween is NO exception!!

The morning started with orange pancakes and bacon, with a side of pumpkin marshmallows.  Brooke was allowed to wear her costume to school, and the big sisters had a "black and orange festival" day!  SO.... off went Merida and the "Trick or Treat" girls!

The festivities kicked off with lunch at Middleton, followed by "flashlight" reading in the First Grade classrooms.  Mommy brought Subway for lunch, then Daddy went to Neela's room and Mommy went to Kylie's room.  We ate snacks, and read stories in the dark -- using our flashlights.  Kylie and Neela headed home with Daddy, and Mommy headed to work... then to the party at Brooke's school.  Mommy had to feel zombie brains, werewolf skin, skeleton bones, monster eyeballs!!! Eeewwww!  Then we ate some snacks, toured the classroom, and headed home.  

After hot dogs, we got dressed and ready to go...  

Meet Vanellope von Schweetz, Merida and the Lollipop Fairy!

Before we could head out, we posed with the finished Jack o' Lanterns... we did not see them until tonight!  Daddy carved them after he got home -- and we were already in bed!

Ready to go... Daddy took us (he was a construction worker), and Mommy stayed home to pass out to pass out candy!

Check out the candy in our neighborhood...

Of course, Mommy said "One piece of candy... I made you pizza!" :-)

Happy Halloween!!