Thankful People

We had a lovely November. It was filled with baking and celebrations and lots of talk about what we are thankful for! We of course, are thankful for our little family, and the time we get to spend together. We are thankful for our health and for the roof that is over our heads. 

We are thankful for the school experiences both girls are having--which challenge and nurture and inspire.

We are thankful for friends - and were so happy to celebrate our 11th annual Thanksgiving with Friends.

We are thankful for our larger family - and were blessed to spend time with Eric's family this Thanksgiving, and for technology which helps connect us to my family far away.

Each year, I feel like I love November a little bit more...It might just become my favorite month.

Here are just a couple of pictures from our month!

St. Martin's Day

Yesterday, we attended the St. Martin's Day Celebration in downtown St. Paul. 

At school, Annie has been learning songs for the occasion, and making her own lantern in art class (unfortunately, because she came home from school sick last week, she didn't get her lantern, so we picked up one for her to use there at the celebration). 

At the celebration, we got to see some of the older students from her school perform traditional German songs and dances, we ate tasty breads and Annie was delighted to run into classmates and teachers. 

Following the program, everyone headed outside with their lanterns for a procession led by a student pretending to be St. Martin--riding a beautiful white horse (Annie said seeing the white horse was her favorite part of the event). After the procession, we watched a skit about St. Martin and then we were ready to head off for a birthday dinner to celebrate Grandma Barb's birthday. 

Annie and Siri in Rice Park, with the Landmark Center in the background

Annie in the procession

Eric and Siri process

Annie walks with one of her classmates

Watching the skit about St. Martin

The Landmark Center

Annie and Siri and their storybook lanterns

October in Pictures

October in Minnesota is beautiful, and we thoroughly enjoyed it! It began with a visit from my parents, and included orchard trips, a visit to South Dakota, and much talk of and preparation for Halloween. Here is a quick look at this month:

Annie arrives at school and gets right to work as Siri says good-bye.

Siri waiting for her classroom to open

And then, heading out for a small group hike

The girls--as Laura and Mary--in their forest (note the trees on the ground). Annie is wearing my old Little House on the Prairie outfit, and Grandma made a new one for Siri so they can both be ready for life as pioneers

Siri loving her new outfit

Grandpa reading to Annie and Siri

Annie missing two teeth now!

Pedicure time

Siri enjoying her pedicure

Siri checks on her fairy door

At Minnehaha Creek

Annie and Siri practicing a song at church

Hiking along Minnehaha Creek

Sweet girls on a hike

And, in their nest of leaves

A trip to the orchard with Siri's class

Siri drops an apple into the apple cider press

Playing in the orchard

Silly cousins in South Dakota

A wonderful new cousin pastime--Cousin Elliott reading to the younger ones!

Halloween Party at church- Sleeping Beauty and our purple fairy at the fishing game

And, at the Halloween Party at Siri's preschool

Home from the story--ready to carve pumpkins

Siri draws her face on: she started with a skeleton, then called it Frankenstein, and ended with the Jolly Green Giant

Annie gutting her pumpkin

Daddy and Siri remove seeds

Have a wonderful Halloween week!

Train Trip

With beautiful September weather, leaves turning brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange (Annie says "they're so cute!"), and in need of a little break, last weekend we headed north to Duluth for a quick trip.

We arrived in time for dinner on Friday, and enjoyed a dinner in Canal Park. The girls were excited to spot the Lift Bridge and other familiar sites from our trip this summer. Then, we headed to a nearby hotel and we all headed to the bed.

After breakfast the next morning, we hung around the Duluth Public Library where the girls were quite impressed with the books.

Then, we headed to the Depot. We all enjoyed looking around the museum and agreed that we needed to come back sometime when we had more time.

It's Time for Preschool!

Our Siri Girl had her first full week of preschool last week and loved it! When we went in for the initial "Meet the Teacher" meeting, she didn't want me to set her down, and wouldn't make eye contact with the teacher, so I was a little nervous. 

But, I didn't need to worry. Here is Siri at 6:30am the morning school started--we had to convince her to take her backpack and boots off to eat breakfast.

Hooray! Time to get ready in the car. Well, almost. 

Siri was outside, waiting for Annie to be ready, for fifteen minutes.

 ...waiting...

 And then, finally, after dropping off Annie at kindergarten, we headed to preschool.

Siri was happy to greet the statues (but wouldn't look at me for a smile).

 And, to enter on her own...

 ...Finding her bunny cubby...She wouldn't stay still!

 She is in the Spruce Room, and has loved everything about school thus far. They've gone to the bee apiary to watch a bee keeper take care of the hives, to the farm to watch Farmer Don take care of the goats; she's played in the log house (her favorite place to visit when Annie was there), and has loved imaginative play in the classroom. It's been a blast to here her talk about things, and see her big smile upon arriving at school.

My sweet preschooler

And, Annie has been so excited for fall to be here. Whenever there are any leaves on the ground (not much, obviously at this point) she wants to head out and rake them up. She continues to love kindergarten, and we're starting to hear her work German into her daily vocabulary. 

 Annie's big news of the week? Her first tooth fell out during morning snack on Tuesday! I don't know how it stayed in so long, I've thought it was about to fall out for weeks. But, of course, that didn't diminish the excitement. Here she is with her tooth fairy pillow!