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!