February 20 - Caleb Turns Three

This year we implemented the one-year-on, one-year-off system for "friend" parties on the kids' birthdays. This is the year off. However, since 3 is traditionally the year they have their first party with little friends, I couldn't skip it altogether for Caleb. So, the night before we had three families over for a simple celebration with pizza and cake. The birthday boy was very pleased.

assistant birthday cake baker / chief batter taster


train cake


happy boy

the most precious three-year-old in the world



beautiful Avery




fellow train-lover, Luke


(not pictured, cute little Katie)

Something always seems to come up on Caleb's birthday: year 1 was an ear infection and a huge dinner party the next night; year 2 was a family wedding the same day. This year we all were leaving the next morning to fly to Seattle for 10 days. But we still fit in a happy birthday breakfast before church and family presents and cake before bed.

We love you, Bubster!! Happy birthday!!

Basketball

This was Meg's first basketball season. She was excited to play and really enjoyed practices. Unfortunately, there were no other girls on her team or any of the teams they played. The pace of the 7 & 8-year-old league is much faster than the 4 to 6-year-olds, so she didn't have the ball very often, but she learned about the game and she did make a basket. Great job Meg!

It was fun to see Nate's basic skills increase from last year. He is much better at shooting, ball control and generally paying attention to the game while on the court. He did lots of scoring this season and his team had a winning record.

Daddy and Kate Time

The aquarium is a popular choice in our family for special outings.

Kate was very proud of her otter hat craft.

Sweet girl!

Big Snow

Well, the southeastern January snow storm is ancient history, but I thought these pictures were worth posting:

Ariel

Here's my parting shot from 2010 - Kate performing a duet with her "Ariel" necklace:

Christmas Part 3 - More Fun with the Veermans

We had a great week with the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!! We even enjoyed a few extra days with Paul and Darian due to airport-closing snow in the Northeast, and we packed lots of fun into our time together. In addition to much eating, drinking, reading, game playing, laptopping, and flight-rescheduling, here's a little sampling of our holiday:



Climbing
We spent one morning at a huge indoor facility. Nate and Bethany are real climbing aficionados so it was fun to see them in their element and they enjoyed sharing a hobby with all of us. It was such a hit with everyone that we went back for more after Chuck, Crista, Kylie, and Tyler arrived.

N & B show us the ropes.

This is the children's area with an auto-belay system. Before playing around here, Meg, Nate, and Kate made it all the way to the top of the (really high!) main wall. Meg is completely hooked; she learned to use the color-coded routes and just couldn't get enough.

Goofing around

Atlanta's first true white Christmas since 1880 (not counting a dusting in the 1970s). It started falling late Christmas afternoon and everything was covered by morning. Fun!

Kylie brought her new video camera and the kids had fun directing, filming, and acting in dramatic and silly productions.

Zip

Relaxing

Cousins

Tubing

Christmas Part 2 - Christmas Day

waiting to open stockings

Meg gave Grammy and Grampy her artwork from the class she took this fall.

Christmas lunch: grilled pheasant from Erik's hunting trip in October, served on his new platter (thanks Lynn and Dianne.)

Meg's friendship bracelet kit from Aunt Bethany and Uncle Nate

Caleb's tangram puzzles from Grammy & Grampy

(little) Nate's snap circuit set from Mommy & Daddy

Erik's beer making kit (actually from last year.)

Nate spent lots of time with the electric set.

Kate's Ariel jewelry from Daddy

Nate's chess set from Uncle Nate and Aunt Bethany