PRESENTS!!!!!

Here is your Christmas present to Zachary in full force! He has been working on the guitar for about two hours a day (sometimes more). He LOVES it!!!!! Thanks so much for giving us something to listen to, ha!

Zachary says: "I can play the whole song, but that would take six years to upload."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VRWQuiygOE&feature=youtu.be

Enjoy!

FINALLY!!!!!

Do you think winter is finally here?


Zachary's basketball tournament was postponed until tomorrow. That means we might be playing two games in a row.

The snow sure looks pretty! The flakes are HUGE!!!!!

TODAY!!!!!

Today is "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras." We don't usually celebrate holidays like this, but today we splurged.

We were buying milk yesterday and the box of Paczki's jumped into our shopping cart. Who's to argue with that?

Elyse's treat:


Enjoying our "Polish" heritage, ha!


Have a great "Fat Tuesday."

Z's Guitar!!!!!

Make sure you read the previous post, but Zachary wanted you all to hear this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=algPm4tOIio&feature=youtu.be

Zachary wants to know if you recognize the tune and how he did with it!

CRAZINESS!!!!!

Erin & Bristol stayed with us for a few weeks until Tobin acquired temporary housing. When the housing was found, we made arrangements to drive to Minot, ND. I decided to ride along with Erin to help with Bristol. Most of the ride, Bristol was a great passenger.

Singing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."


She does love that thumb and "bear."


Some scenery on our drive: Mall of America!


"Mountains, ha!"


More mountains:


After 15 1/2 hours of driving, we finally arrived at the house. Tobin wouldn't be home until 6:30 - the waiting time was awful hard on Erin. BUT, he finally got home. Here is the moment in action:


Tobin, Erin & Bristol: We are so glad that you are all together in one place!

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!!!

TOMORROW our little boy turns 14, yep, FOURTEEN!!!!!

We celebrated his birthday today at lunch. He ordered Baked Potato Pizza, Dr. Pepper, Coke Zero, Vanilla ice cream, and Chocolate Cookie Dough ice cream. He also asked for English Muffins, but they didn't make it out of the freezer. He asked for Lembas Bread too. I told him to make it (which he has several times), but he didn't feel like it. So, we left that out of the celebration.


A few weeks ago, he bought a new set of strings for his guitar. After a few days, the smallest string broke. So, today he got that new string, plus a complete set of strings, and (his favorite part) a tuner. The salesman tried to sell us a ukulele tuner - thankfully, Erin caught that. Now that Erin is leaving, he doesn't need her cell phone anymore to tune his guitar. YAY!

Waiting for presents...


Opening...


I think he likes this one...


Using his Christmas present to play "Monster Intro." Compare this to Skillet's "Monster." Did he come close?


Compare this to Switchfoot's "Dark Horses." Did he come close?


Heading out to Z's basketball game! Hoping for a win!

PART OF THE FAMILY!!!!!

Thirty-five percent of our family:


Aren't we gorgemous? Wish the rest of you were here!

WHAT?????

Guess what Bristol does when Elyse is in charge? Fun times!