Mary's birthday at school

Mary got to celebrate her birthday at school today.  She brought party favors for her classmates.  They made her a birthday book and drew pictures of presents they would like to give her.

Mary has been writing books to read to her kindergarten class.  The star of her current book is a snake whose birthday coincides with her "school birthday."  She finished it and took it to school today:

"Snake is Going to Lagoon," By Mary

"Once there was a snake.  It was its birthday today and it made its birthday hat."

"It's going to Lagoon!  It went on the Ladybug Bop."

"Then the snake went on the Ferris Wheel.  Then the snake went on the boat."

"Then the snake went on the Dragonfly swings.  Then the snake went on the Dragon roller coaster."

"Then the snake went home and had a birthday party."

Happy birthday, Tyson and Mary! 03.03.11

Mary and her cousin Tyson had a little birthday celebration together at the beginning of the month. Tyson turned four, and Mary will be six tomorrow. The kids had so much fun together.

 

  

 

 

My little buddy

Last week, the kids got cabin fever and begged to go outside and play.  I bundled them up and let them play on the swing set one afternoon while I watched them through the window and made dinner.  After a little while, Austin came through the back door and ran to me, tracking mud all over the floor.  He was holding a sand toy filled with mud, snow, and wood chips.

"Here you go, Mama!" he announced.  "It's your birthday!"

I replied, "Thank you, little buddy!"

He said, "You're berry welcome, little Mama!" and ran back out the door.  I laughed the whole time I scrubbed up the floor.  I love having a little boy.

Princess Mary

Mary went to a princess party today.  We had fun making this picture of her in front of Cinderella's Castle afterward.

Christmas activities

The kids had fun decorating the tree.  Although Austin broke about half of our "unbreakable" ornaments, the tree got tipped over a lot less this year.

 

 

 Mary got to be an angel in the primary Christmas program.  She was very excited and did a great job.

 The kids met Santa at the ward Christmas breakfast.

 

 

 We decorated cookies with cousins.  Thanks for the picture, Rachel!

The kids made gingerbread houses with Grandma Joy and Grandpa Wolf on Christmas Eve.

New pajamas on Christmas Eve!

Mary was so excited on Christmas Eve she stayed awake past midnight.

We hung our stockings...

...but we also put shoes in front of the fireplace for Sinterklaas to fill with candy.  Mary's kindergarten class learned about Christmas traditions around the world, and her favorite country was Holland.  She instructed us to put one of Daddy's shoes out for each child in the family.  "They're the biggest," she explained, "so we can get LOTS of candy.  I want the new baby to have a shoe, too, so he can have some candy, too.  You [Mom] can eat some so he can have a little taste."

Austin finally got his train set, which he has played with for about eight hours a day ever since.

The kids are also very attached to the Pillow Pets they received from Grandma and Grandpa Luke.

 At the Luke family Christmas dinner, the kids participated in a short Nativity play.  Mary was Mary, Anna was an angel with her cousin Claire (thanks for the pictures, Andrea!), and Austin was a shepherd.

 After Christmas, we went to the zoo and saw the lights at Temple Square.

 

Austin thought it was funny that the giraffes were eating Christmas trees.

 

Mary's first school portrait

Mary saw me posting this picture and said, "I got a picture taken.  I look beautiful!"  She certainly does.

Anna's portraits

Isn't she a doll?  We love this little angel!