Freezing

Dangerously cold temperatures, thanks to the "Polar Vortex", makes it hard for cars to start up (we're thankful for our heated garage), closes schools (school close when the temperature drops under 25 degrees below zero), freezes doors (we chip ice daily and use hairdryers and space heaters to keep doors working) . . . and can instantly freeze boiling water! 

(Our coldest windchill this season: 65 degrees below zero.  Brrrr!)

Pine Wood Derby

This weekend, Kolpin's Cub Scout pack held its Pine Wood Derby.  Kolpin was so proud of his self-designed, self-built Lego car.  Our Boy Scouts volunteered and Mike worked the computer, entering race results.  It was a fun event!  Great job Kolpin!!!

I asked Mike to write something about the day . . . he labeled the pictures :)

Kolpin holds his car.

Car sits on shelf.

Addison struts.

 Many watch.

 

 Mike struggles to pay attention.

 Kolpin has unreasonable expectations.

"I lost?"

"Stop jumping around and pay attention!"

  Kolpin is excited.

Davis is not.

 

Burke turns it on for the camera.

 

Photo finish.

Ice

*Pictures by Tesfaye

Swim

Since watching Michael Phelps dominate the swim world in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, (at just 5 and 9 years of age) Burke has dreamed of swimming to fame and Olympic medal records.  He's watched video, read books, and decided he'd like to "sign up for the Olympics."  We've never been in a position to support this lofty dream.  He's a self-taught lake swimmer. 

This year, Burke joined our community's swim team!  Entering without previous coach instruction or race experience, he's a part of the junior squad.  This past month he's fine-tuned his freestyle stroke, learned backstroke, and is working on turns and dives.  He's hoping to learn breaststroke and butterfly too.  His first competition will be next weekend - he's so excited! 

This week, the team hosted a "Mock Meet," to give new swimmers practice in competition style.  He raced 25m freestyle, 25m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, and 4x50m (200m) freestyle relay.  He did so well!!!  In the 3 events with fellow beginners, Burke dominated.  In the 50m freestyle race, Burke hit the wall, climbed out of the pool, and was walked to the side before the next swimmer finished.  He was so fast!  In the 50m backstroke, raced alongside experienced swimmers, Burke was 2nd in his heat (and he's only practiced that stroke for a month!).  In the final 4x50m relay, Burke was pulled up to fill in an open spot with the experienced kids.  He swam the first leg and his team won the race! 

He was so nervous the whole night - but was so thrilled to have a taste of real competition.  This was a great learning opportunity and a very positive experience.  He can't wait for the first meet coming up soon! 

ELEVEN

Maegli, our feisty, imaginative, first girl (!); voracious reader, aspiring creative writer; ballet dancer, dramatic performer, strong personality; piano tinkerer, singer, collections keeper, solitude seeker; early riser, emotional roller coaster; generous gifter, thoughtful celebrator, creative activities planner (tea parties, talent shows, make-overs); big dreamer, bike rider, "snow mountain" expedition leader; easily frustrated, easily stressed, big plans, high expectations, easy target :( ; distinct fashion taste, book worm, speedy school worker; Lego "towns" builder, art creator, book maker . . . and she's ELEVEN!!!

Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

Favorites at 11:

food:  chinese food

drink:  mango juice

dessert:  ice cream (any kind except peanut butter)

fruit:  pear

veggie:  cucumber

restaurant:  Nest Coffee Shop

movie: Guardians of the Galaxy (that's my new favorite)

book: Harry Potter (I got to start "The Order of the Phoenix" this morning)

tv show:  Good Witch

song:  Christmas songs

color:  pink

superhero:  Gamora (from Guardians of the Galaxy)

sport: dance

toy:  Legos

animal:  panda.  I don't know why but pandas are like crazy cute.

 school subject:  math

indoor activity:  coloring and reading books and playing Legos

outdoor activity:  riding my bike, going to the playground, sledding

with sisters:  make-overs and tea parties

with brothers:  playing Legos mostly

with mom:  going out to dinner

with dad:  going out to breakfast

extracurricular:  theater camp

outing:  Mall of America.  I like going to malls and Mall of America has like everything.  

vacation destination:  the beach, of course

place I want to visit:  Africa

what I'm saving money for:  MP3 player and earrings  (I have $21.63)

most looking forward to this year:  going to the beach and getting my ears pierced

future career aspiration:  librarian.  Just a simple librarian.  Then I'd get to read books all the time.  

my life in 25 years:   I'll have a husband, I'll live in a smallish beach house with about 4-bedrooms.  I'll have 3 kids and we'll live right next to the water, with a boardwalk and sand dunes and beach grass and palm trees.  And I'll be a librarian. My husband will work at a bakery.  He'll bring home pies and cupcakes and fresh smelling stuff.  I think that sounds like a very nice life.  

dislikes:  tomatoes, condiments, annoying people, poopy diapers, smelly trash, dirty underwear, crying babies, annoying brothers, walking Kota, getting a snowball in my face, getting snow down my boots, blisters, having to stop my book to do dishes or something, Addy messing with my stuff

likes:  cucumbers, books, snuggling in my bed on a cold day with warm blankets, fires, Christmas, birthdays, family, God, coloring, playing with Legos, cake, delicious meals, Writing and Rhetoric online class, authors who write good books, libraries, water when I'm thirsty, popsicles on a hot day, riding bikes, sledding, making snow people, writing fables, the beach, boogie boarding in big waves, Claire's, clothes, ice cream

For her 11th birthday:

french toast casserole and orange juice

chalk artwork sign by little sisters

Jimmy John's lunch out (with Mom and Hiwot)

Claire's - getting her EARS PIERCED!!!

coffee shop and Antique shopping

fancy painted nails (thanks Hiwot!)

dinner out with family - Chinese food

caramel and chocolate ice cream cake with brownie base

earrings . clothes . new swimsuit .  art kit . new books!

And Maegli got to start reading Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix - she started reading during breakfast!   It was a good day :)

Happy Birthday!!!

Two Front Teeth

A bit late for Christmas, but Dabney has lost her two front (bottom) teeth!!!

Dabney was very excited for a visit from the Tooth Fairy, carefully guarding this tooth till bedtime.  Our (not very reliant) Tooth Fairy did indeed come, giving money for both lost teeth ;)

(The Tooth Fairy didn't arrive for the first tooth - no tooth under the pillow was confusing - oops!) 

6 months

Our Dukes Templeton has been in our world for 6 months!!!
It's hard to imagine our family without this gorgeous little man - he is such a joy in our lives. 

Dukes at 19-1/2 months old:

jumps across the floor (3-4 two-footed jumps in a row)

BEST GIGGLE EVER!!!

loves to be tossed in the air (the higher the better)

gives the best ((HUGS))

(pats your back and squeezes back)

eats and eats and eats

climbs and climbs and climbs

sleeps 12 hours at night

takes 2 naps a day

loves milk, bananas, cheese, meat, bread, soups

messiest eater

messy boy

strong kid

wrestles away during diaper changes

loves bathtime

"talks" (mostly babbles, but is clearly "talking")

clearly communicates his desires 

(mostly asking for food and to be picked up)

loves to be held :)

sleeps with his Cloud Blanket

rips books (!)

likes to make noise

bang, bang, bang

follows simple directions

gives hugs to siblings (leans in)

shakes his crib

jumps in his crib

likes to play with water

claps his hand

dances to music

RUNS!!!

 mimic

sits in a lap to read a book

always takes off socks

loves to play chase

eats snow

clings to mama around new people

strokes daddy's beard

colors on paper

points to pictures

funny boy

 16 teeth (cut 8 new teeth this past month!)

gorgeous pouty lips

nebulizer 

busy, busy, busy

super expressive!

Dukes is a busy little one - he's incredibly hard to capture in photos! (and pictures hardly do this cutie justice!).  He has the best giggle ever (and still does his cartoonish chuckle when he's really happy).  He babbles and points and although has very few actual words, clearly communicates.  He's loud and strong!  He's a tough kid and loves to run, jump, climb, and be tossed high in the air (and fearlessly jumps off surfaces into waiting arms - watch out!).  He's very advanced physically!  He is a snuggler.  He asks to be picked up, like to sit in laps, gives the best tight hugs.  Sitting quietly through a church service is a struggle, but he sure is cute!  (Mom and Dukes usually end up moving to the back of the church after communion).

Dukes is a favorite of everyone in the family.  He fits in beautifully and is very affectionate and playful with us all.  He's still very cautious around new people (even familiar faces outside the family) - he clings to mom around others.  He changed hands several times in his first 13 months - him being a bit clingy is understandable and is actually a sign of healthy bonding with our family.  *We are looking forward to, God willing, finalizing his adoption soon!

We are so blessed to be his family :)

We love this sweet baby boy!!!