More Birthday!

More presents!
Legos from Grammy & Granddaddy!
A dog and vet kit from Aunt Megan and Uncle Jonathon!
Lots of people made Charis' day special by playing, well wishes and presents. Thank you everyone for making this day so special!

Birthday Party

We celebrated Charis birthday with a party at my work in the Little House and invited some school and church friends and family.Fun with crafts.
Bubbles & Balloons!We also have a tradition of picking out a birthday book with Charis and reading it on her birthday. This year's book was The Empty Pot.Cake time!And of course playing outside and searching for bugs (fake ones to take home).Asleep on the way home.

5th Birthday Beginnings

Happy Birthday Charis!!!
Kris went to get Charis out of her room. She was instructed to call for us, not just come out like normal so that she would not ruin the surprise.Beta fish! She has really been wanting a fish, so she was really excited.Our good friends from Oregon, sent Charis a present and it was the first one she picked. It was Kids Carcassone. She loves it! Thanks Kenton, Katrina, Finn & Cedar! Camelbak from Daddy!And of course a special breakfast - she choose oatmeal so we made it special by adding peanut butter and nutella.Then time for one more surprise - a birthday dress from mommy!

Making Birthday invitations

Charis and I love making her birthday invitations. Lots of glitter and sparkles for her!

New park

Kris and Charis found a new fun park to play at.Having fun and being silly!

Holiday sing along

Charis school had a fun Holiday sing along. Everyone did great and it was fun to hear all the kids sing.I wish the video would load.

School B-day

At Charis' school they do a birthday celebration called celebration of life. The birthday girl gets to light a candle (it symbolizes the sun) on the table in the middle of the class and then hold a globe and slowly walk around the "sun" while the teacher tells the stories of the child's previous years of life.
Charis helped me make blueberry "cupcakes" and frosting from scratch the night before. And her teachers took pictures of the classroom celebration.

Charis' early Christmas present

We got Charis a loft bed for her very early Christmas present.
She wanted to help clean it so much that I gave her a rag and she had lots of fun. The things that she enjoys doing when she is not asked is hilarious.

Empty bowl and fresh food

Charis and I went to the new farmers market today and picked out four new bowls from the Empty bowl project and then got lots of fresh produce to fill the bowls. It was a fun trip and a good cause to teach Charis about.

Starting work on the new yard

So we finally got most of the grass out of our front yard and now it is time to plant.Thanks Nathan!

Good thing I have a daughter who likes to plant and garden with me.Or sometimes just being a kid outside.

Celebrating Christmas at Nana's

We went to Kansas for Thanksgiving and spent some time with my mom and sister and some time with almost all of Kris' family that all came from IL, TX and KS.

While we were at my mom's house she let the girls decorate the tree early so that Charis could join in.Between Nana, Debbie and Aunt Cecilia, Charis is always spoiled with gifts for her birthday and Christmas. This year among other things, she received lots of jewelry, a new CD clock and her first Legos. Thanks everyone! At Leah's we ate, played games and mostly talked. And Leah should win some award for being a great host and having roller skating for the kids in the basement.