Follow the Star

All of these pictures are dark and blurry...sorry about that! I had not replaced my memory card yet and Stephan's camera is not good in low light. Above is a picture Stephan took as the sun went down during a recent shopping trip in downtown Cedarburg. That morning after Sunday school practice, Norah and I had a fun shopping day in Cedarburg. She was so helpful and patient in all the shops. She let me hold her in the shops where I was most fearful of broken glass. I gave her the job of opening the door at each shop (she loves that) and did also promise we would end up sitting at one of the cute tables at Ashley's sweets shop and that she could pick out one special item. (usually a chocolate covered pretzel) The sky was full if big, soft flurries and it looked magical against the backdrop of the Christmas decorations up and down the main street. Later that day, Stephan and I had a shopping trip together. It was fun to hunt for the santa ornament he would enter into the Young/Eaton family ornament contest. It has to be a santa, cost less then $10, and be an actual tree ornament (not another decoration with a make shift hook). Stephan went to four stores. It was hard to find one under $10, our favorites seemed to be $12-14. He finally found the perfect one & came in first runner up in the contest! Not a bad showing for the first year. When we passed the florist in the picture above, he said "That looks like Christmas." The picture doesn't quite capture it, but the whole street twinkles and glows. I love it! I also accomplished my goal of buying everything local or handmade. I bought a few handmade items from etsy, but everything else was purchased in Cedarburg or Mequon. (Casey bought things from elsewhere though...we split our long list for shopping.) Have you heard about Project 3/50? It's the idea that if you shop at 3 favorite local stores and spend $50, you can help save local businesses.

The next day was finally the day of Norah's Sunday school Christmas show "Follow the Star." They sang four songs, played the bells, and some of the older children read and acted out parts of the Christmas story. During the rehearsals, I stayed out of sight because I distract her. It's actually quite hard for me to teach the 3rd graders because she wants me to be in her class. During the actual show during the church service, she spent the entire time waving to us in the audience! Grandpa and Grandma came too. I hope they could see her...it was a packed house!


All lined up and ready to go on stage....

Preschool Christmas Open House

Every year, Norah's school hosts an open house before Christmas. They decorate the school with cute Christmas and winter art made by the kids, a tree with ornaments made by the kids, paint faces with snow flakes, sing songs for the parents, and most exciting of all, Santa visits! (Yes, they also learn about Kwanza and Hanukkah. They made paper kinaras and menorahs that were on the wall in her class.)

Getting ready to sing Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Rudolph, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Norah was excited to see Santa. She said she did not know what she wanted him to bring her, but in the end asked for a book. (She also announced to anyone within earshot that she had to go #2--only she didn't say #2--right before she sat on his lap. I bet he was a little nervous!)

The day before the open house, I made two trips to the doctor with the kids. One was a planned appointment for Stephan and then we returned with Norah who had an ear infection. Poor peanut...she did not appear sick and had no fever, but she woke up from nap at school, she cried about her ear. She never cheered up so her teacher called because this was so unlike Norah. Sure enough, she had an infection. The receptionist at the doctor's office was surprised to see me return! Both the kids were measured by professionals and not wiggling against my kitchen wall so it was confirmed that Master Steve is 5'7. He also weighs 113 pounds now. I have no idea where he puts it. Norah weighs 34.5 pounds and stands 37.5 inches tall.

Last night was Casey's company holiday party. As usual, Joe and Lisa threw a lovely party at their home and a nearby restaurant. Fun was had by all, especially the kids who stayed at their house with a few high school age kids of Casey's coworkers. When I said that Norah could stay up, I never imagined we would get back at 11. The dinner was wonderful, but long. After we had been sitting, chatting and drinking for a while, I realized that we had not ordered dinner yet. Oh well, she loved every second of the attention from Helen and Sarah. Norah LOVES to spend time with big girls.

Little updates

(I have no idea why the blog looks the way it does...I emailed the woman who helped me make it to find out what happened.)

We are enjoying the snow and countdown to the holidays. There are many fun activities in Cedarburg like the community tree lighting, Christmas in the country, festive Friday eves, and visits from Santa. Our tree is up and decorated and the house is lit up outside. And Norah will be very sad when they stop playing Christmas songs on the radio. She loves to sing a long.

I took pictures of the community tree lighting and our time meeting two of Santa's deer, but the memory card for my camera mysteriously disappeared. It was a wet night, but we brought Stephan's friend a long for the fun and hot chocolate at our favorite local coffee shop Fiddleheads. (There are three independent coffee shops in a two block stretch with two of them right next to each other. When we moved here, I wondered how they could all survive. They all do really well though and have their own loyal customer base. It's hard to get people to stray from their favorite. My friend Megan only drinks at the Cedarburg Roastery and my friend Carrie prefers the Java House. And even though the Starbucks on the edge of downtown does very well--we do go there too--these three shops thrive, which is great. And probably more than you wanted to know, but we're big on coffee shops in our family. Once when Stephan made a map of where we live for a pen pal project at school, Blockbuster and the coffee shops made the map! The kids both LOVE to go to "the movie store" with Casey and sometimes pick out a muffin at the coffee shop.)

Stephan has been a social butterfly. He is getting to be at he age when he wants to talk to his friends all the time. There are kids in middle school who love to hang OUT as in anywhere not at someone's house, wandering around, and probably doing what is considered loitering. (And I know through Steve that they get into a lot of trouble too.) Fortunately, Stephan's buddies are not like that. They are all sort of cute and nerdy in an endearing way (don't tell him I said that--he wouldn't get it) but are happy to be at our house/yard or the house/yard of one of one of his friends. I have trouble with him growing up (and he is literally GROWING and now 5'7!) and would not handle it well if he was one of the kids who left and went who knows where! He is looking forward to winter camp over spring break. His summer camp hosts winter camp with a trip to the ski hill for tubing, indoor archery, and a "New Year's Eve Eve Eve" party!

Norah is excited for her two Christmas shows--one at her school open house with a Santa and Snow Fairy visit and the other at church. They have four rehearsals over the next two weekends at church which thrills her. She loves to be on stage. I have been teaching 3rd grade sunday school and I am excited to see our show, Follow the Star, come together.

I love to watch Norah's learning process blossom before our eyes. Her reading (probably recognition) and spelling of small words continually expands. She can spell all the names of the people (and dogs) in our immediate family too. When she looks at book titles, she figures out which word is which because of the first letter of the word then those words are added to her reading (or recognition) list. I feel like we can see the wheels turning in her mind!

The Little Updates post turned into a long one! I hope to have new pictures tomorrow...maybe with Stephan's camera if I don't get out to buy a new card.

First snow!

Our first snow fell this Saturday. We did not get as much as the Milwaukee area south of us, but we had a couple of inches and enough for fun! On Friday night, Stephan had friends sleep over and they had a blast in the snow the following morning. They played army, built trenches, and even made a barricade across our street. They looked very surprised--and disappointed--when I told them they had to take it down, but it blocked the road. We (mostly Casey) worked hard this weekend to get the outside Christmas lights up and install new lights on the outside of the garage and in the front of the house. He found by word of mouth a local tree farm that delivers Christmas trees. We're waiting for our 8 footer to be delivered tonight. And then St. Nick will come during the night...not that I know what St. Nick has planned, but I predict that he will bring pj's and a sweet treat to the kids. We are all so excited about the Christmas season and the festive things planned this month in Cedarburg, at church and in school.

More from Thanksgiving

Big girl time with cousin Hannah

They built tents in Hannah's room & Norah made a little bed with all the pillows and blankets she could find. One of her favorite things at home and school is to make beds and sleeping bags.

(And thanks to Liza for snapping all of these cute photos!)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Casey's Aunt Elise's house. Pops, Liza, Elliot, and Grammy came too. Elise cooked a fantastic meal and Liza's pumpkin pie was gone in record time.

Casey, Uncle Elliot & Pops

Hannah was kind enough to let Norah raid her jewelry boxes

The kids table with Josh & Stephan

And although many have heard my story a million times, I can't make a record of our holiday without talking about my finger! I woke up Thanksgiving morning and ran in the local Turkey Trot 5k. (I bumped into a friend from DC there too!) Later that morning while Casey was out, I dropped a big stoneware mixing bowl in the sink. I reached down to catch it, but it broke in half and the thick side of the glass went into my finger. And the lights pretty much went out from there! My knees buckled and everything went hazy, but as I lay on the floor, I told myself not to pass out since I was home alone with the kids. Norah was my little nurse. She sprang into action and brought me water in a small metal mixing bowl (it was the closest cup-like item she could find). Then she dabbed my forehead with baby wipes and told me it would be ok. How incredible is that?! Stephan did his part too and started to make calls to Casey and Gramps for help. (He wanted to call 911, but I said no... wasn't that sick!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We have so much for which we are thankful!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

family weekend

Last weekend we missed Casey when he traveled for work. We made the rounds around town to visit family. We had a nice dinner with Gramps at the lake house (we missed you, Jude!), had a blast with Liza and the Warshauer kids (thanks for the invite, Liza, and for allowing me a little quiet errand time!), had lunch with Grammy (thanks for cooking!) , and dinner (yum, thanks for that too!) & park time with Grandma.

The weather was gorgeous! (Check out that static in Steve's hair!)

Stephan snapped this picture of Norah and the sunday school kids practicing for the family service day. Several services out of the year include singing and readings by the kids. On this day, they sang to the 3rd graders who were presented with their hard cover bibles and to a baby who was baptised. Norah's friend Larissa is to the left in the pink. She also enjoys playing with Audrey, Tessa and Kenzie who are not in the picture. She loves these friends and her sweet teachers, Miss Deb and Miss Mary. She regularly asks to go to sunday school on other days of the week.

Lily, Cassie, Noah, Skyler, Ben, Rachel

(We were missing Gavin, Sam and Sophia)

I have been teaching the 3rd graders. At St. Christopher's the parents would volunteer in the sunday school, but it was always a different group and there was not as organized of a curriculum. When I volunteered at Advent, I was happy to have one class that I will get to know all year and great materials for planning lessons. On this day, my co-teacher, Mandi, was gone, and I asked the kids if I could take their picture on their bible presentation day to show Mandi. I told them I would take a silly shot first to get it out of their system before the nice one.