Grandparents Day - Teensy Tots

Grandma Marjorie and "GranDee" joined us for Grandparents' Day at Arnold's Teensy Tots class at Calvary (Brad and Rick were both in New Orleans/Baton Rouge for Ole Miss/LSU). They were with us for this event for Emma Claire, too, a couple of years ago. How lucky Arnold and Emma Claire are to know Marjorie.

The topic was "Holiday Traditions". We talked about what traditions we had growing up and about how traditions are important. We also made a "memory box" for Arnold.

As a family, we are still establishing traditions of our own. One, thus far, has been making the annual drive South for Christmas. We celebrate Thanksgiving with the Kadues'. My happiest traditions growing up were: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, picking out the tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorating it the following Sunday, opening a "few" presents on Christmas Eve, moving the kitchen table to make room for Santa presents (3 chairs on my side and 3 on Greta's). It will be fun to see what develops for our family over the years.

The Bickersons: Concert tonight

The Bickersons: Concert tonight

This was my favorite choir piece... beautiful.

The Bickersons: Throw yourself into the spirit of Thanksgiving

The Bickersons: Throw yourself into the spirit of Thanksgiving

Very pregnant Amber and I (due on 12/22 with baby boy!) went to the concert. It was outstanding. I have to say, I am definitely a fan of Jeralyn Steele. Her voice sends chills all over. My personal favorite was her rendition of "This Little Light of Mine".

It was fun to see Whitney perform. When I pointed her out to Amber, she said that she was in her "top 3 guesses". Said she was looking at faces that could be runners :-).

A side note - Amber called me after we parted ways to our cars and said that there was this car that nearly hit her as she was leaving the parking ramp - she got a look at who it was. Garrison Keillor himself. Wouldn't that have been something.

Welcome Winter

It has been a few weeks now since we got our first big snow, but I have to post some pictures. Emma Claire was super excited. When she woke up to the snow, she told Brad she was "all done sleeping now" and that she wanted to "go ice skating in the snow". She was too excited to eat breakfast. We put on the snow gear over the PJs and out she and Brad went! Our first snowman of the year was born before 8am. I am quite sure we had the first snowman in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, he toppled over after a few hours (before I could get a picture of him). He sported a Master's baseball cap, a celery nose and grape eyes.

To see winter through a child's eyes... I was again reminded that my children are growing up Minnesotans. Winter and snow will be a way of life for them and are sure to produce lots of fun memories.

Snow Photos...

My Friend Bean

"Bean" came into the picture yesterday. She is Emma Claire and Tuna's friend/sister. Our dilemma this morning was how we were going to get the barrette to stay in Tuna's hair. (she is going to sunday school with us).

Arnold is Doing More Now

Emma Claire: "Arnold can doos more now!"

My Friend Tuna

I have waited for the day that Emma Claire has an imaginary friend. Well, I have been introduced to her in the past couple of days. Her imaginary friend is her "sister". Her name is "Tuna". They have been playing together all morning. They went on a boat ride earlier. "You should come along, Mama", says Emma Claire.

More to come on this, topic, no doubt.