Week of December 3-9

We had a very fun week! It started out with Alexis loosing one of her front teeth. It had been hanging on for dear life for three weeks so it was a happy day to finally have it gone. She has two more working on coming out. You'll see a picture below of her new smile.

Alexis had her last swimming class this week. She can swim 10 yards by herself in the deep end and was the only one in her class to go off the diving board! It is her new favorite thing to go off the diving board. It was a huge fear for her and she has conquered it! It was great to watch.

On Saturday we went to cut down our own Christmas tree. We had our good friend, Brian Johnson, with us. It was a blast! The pictures below will show you the details. The tree is gorgeous and we had fun decorating it. Both girls loved hanging up the ornaments. Our tree looked small and perfect when we cut it down and we got home it was huge! I guess that is a typical first time homeowner experience: to get a tree way to big for your house. We still love it.

Saturday night was Ben's firm's Christmas party, or as Ben called it, the Foley prom. We got to get all dressed up, it was black-tie. We had a really good time. Just so you understand how ridiculously expensive and fancy it was, they had these plastic ice cubes with the firms name on it (Foley) and they lit up when put in your drink. Ben took four home for the girls! Audrey now must have her drinks with a blue ice cube in it.

Overall, a very fun week except that now Audrey and I are sick. Oh well. Hope you all had a great week too.

Family Update 12-3-06

Hello everyone!

I have recently acquired a digital camera and have decided to start a tradition of a weekly update of our family (mostly the girls) with pictures. I hope you all enjoy it.

This week we got our first snowstorm in WI. We got around 18 inches in seven hours. It was fast and amazing. School was cancelled for Alexis so we stayed home and played in the snow. We also watched movies and drank hot chocolate. We had such a fun time. It is now around 19 degress outside. It is getting colder and colder. I am wearing full outfits to bed (socks and sweatshirt included)! I am sure we will get used to it. Ben took Alexis sledding and they had a great time. We have yet to convince Audrey that sledding is fun so she stayed home with Mom.

Alexis is doing very well in first grade. She has made lots of friends and is really enjoying reading and writing. She's not enjoying math quite as much. She reads constantly and is reading books like Black Beauty on her own.

Audrey just turned three and started preschool. She loves her new friends and teachers. She goes twice a week for three hours. She feels like such a big girl and loves having her own backpack like Alexis.

I am enjoying my free time but still feeling really busy with taking care of a house and with my calling of Enrichment Counselor, which has me planning four big events during the year and lots of smaller ones each month. So I feel very challenged right now but happy.

Ben is really busy with work. He enjoys his work and colleages and we do get some fun perks. We get suite tickets to watch hockey and basketball games. Those are really fun to go to as a family.

Well, that about does it for now. Maybe I'll have more to report next week! Take care everyone.

Update November 2006

I just thought you would like to see some updated pictures of Alexis and Audrey. Alexis is almost seven and is in first grade and loving every minute of it. She is taking gymnastic and swim lessons and loves both of those as well. Audrey is just about to turn three and cute as ever. She has a fiery and funny personality. She will be starting pre-school soon and can't wait. Both are absolute joys and wonderful girls. Enjoy the pictures and I hope this message finds everyone healthy and happy.