Thanksgiving in Minneapolis 2010

We spent Thanksgiving 2010 in Minneapolis and what a wonderful time we had.  We left a little early as we were to have bad weather in ND and MN on Wednesday.  That gave us a little extra time to do some fun things.  Here's a brief picture diary of our days there:



Day 1



Andy made a Kaelynn a guitar and mic stand out of tinker toys.  It kept her entertained for most of the day.  That's a good thing because she is getting something along those lines for Christmas :)



The baking began early on Wednesday.  Kaelynn helped make the popular pumpkin pie.  It was great.  Maybe if her singing career doesn't pan out, she can become a baker.  That profession is in her geneaology too. 

 Because we came down early, we were able to do something super fun on Wednesday evening.  We took the kids to their first NBA game.  We saw the Timberwolves play the San Antonio Spurs.  The game was very exciting and went into overtime.  Unfortunately the Wolves couldn't pull it out and lost the game, but it was a fun experience.  All of the kids really got into the game.  Connor was standing up screaming and cheering the entire last quarter and Kaelynn really got into the "howl-o-meter". 



Enjoying a snow cone treat!



 Day 2

Thanksgiving Day was a great day!  Gene's parents and sister came over to celebrate with us.  We had all of the traditional food including homemade Italian mostaccioli.  That's a tradition in Gene's italian family.  We have missed it the past few years, boy was it good!  



This is the best family picture we got :)  Looks like we will try a professional in the spring :)

We had the opportunity to spend lots of time with my sister Katie, her husband Rusty and their new son Declan.  He is so precious! 



 Day 3

Friday found us downtown at the Macy's 8th floor Christmas display and at the Holidazzle parade.  I (Kristi) grew up going to Daytons (now Macy's) to see their Christmas display.  It is animated and tells a story.  You walk through scenes and can't wait for the freshly made gingerbread cookies at the end.  This year the theme was A Day in the Life of an Elf.    



The elves baking the Christmas goodies!

  After the Macy's display, we walked around downtown for a while and got something to eat.  We then sat in the skyway for an hour and half waiting for the parade to start.  Brave Minnesotans stand outside to watch a half hour lit up parade.  We were not so brave as it was in the single digits.  In high school, the chamber singers group I was in performed in the parade.  I was able to show the kids which float I was on which looked the same as it did 15 years ago.  It was a fun way to start the holiday season!    


Here's a picture through the skyway window of one of the floats. Not great, but you get the point! 



We have so much to be thankful for!  We are very aware of the grace we are given each day, and for that we are thankful beyond words!  We pray your Thanksgiving was blessed!  

Spelling

The boys have homework every night.  Most of it is practicing spelling words.  As part of their homework they have to create a sentence for each spelling word in their best writing.  We are not supposed to help them with the spelling of any words in the sentence so they come up with some pretty interesting interpretations of words. 

In the beginning of the year the sentences were very basic, but they have evolved over the last few weeks into the following.  (The spelling word to be used is above the sentence and I am spelling them as he did.)   Here are some of Carson's sentences for this week:

let
Let us play at the purk.
Interpretation- Let us play at the park.

get
Get us help cus a lin is runin loos at the zoo.
Interpretation- Get us help because a lion is running loose at the zoo.

make
I make bred to eat for brefcist.
Interpretation- I make bread to eat for breakfast.

of
Specin of lins i like lins a lot. 
Interpretation- Speaking of lions, I like lions a lot. 

Pretty funny!!!!