Ice Storm Pictures for Lissa and More Holiday Celebrations..

Yesterday I was talking with my sister in OK about the ice storm there and I said that I don't think we've ever had one.  This morning I woke up to this: 

 It's beautiful:

 

We had a busy week of school and church and piano and dance celebrations.  Here are some highlights:

 Bruce had a piano recital yesterday afternoon:

We love his teacher!

 James had a fun party at his preschool: 

 Kate got to have a party at school also.     Last week she had a dance recital:

On Monday night we went with Jane and her violin teacher and one other student to a nursing home for her recital: 

 

 We got LOTS and LOTS of snow last week and then on Thursday is rained and rained and melted it all away.  I did get this picture of the boys and Susie Q playing- love it!

 At our ward Christmas party Bruce invited his friends and they got to meet Santa:

 * Kate got to decorate 3 Gingerbread houses this year:

Lunch With Santa

Last Saturday I took the kids to B's work for the fabulous Lunch With Santa!  

He arrived on a firetruck- an awesome tradition:

We got our faces painted 

and lots of balloon creations.

I also found these pictures on my camera...

 

 

Right now these cuties are painting and listening to the "Frozen" soundtrack.  We love having them here! 

When the Kids Get the Camera... & Malcolm Gadwell..

I just took the pictures off of my camera and I found lots of these kinds of pictures:
 

Yesterday afternoon these 2 worked really hard on puzzles:

Last Wednesday evening I took B out on a date (early b-day present.)  

We went to hear Malcolm Gladwell and he was a wonderful storyteller!  He talked a lot about his new book, here,  but did bring in parts of his other books too.  At the end there was a question/answer period with him.  It was an awesome time. 

Bruce is in the Friend!

My friend told me today that she saw Bruce in the "Friend" magazine.  He's on page 47: 

We think it's pretty cool.  

If you want to read the rest of "The Friend" click here: http://www.lds.org/friend/2013/11?lang=eng

Make Weak Things Become Strong...

   

  About five years ago I was pretty weak.  I was happy, faithful, willing to serve, and was called to be the Relief Society President in the Amherst Ward.  I was excited.  I had been president before and I was the 2nd Counselor for a while in the ward before we moved here.  

      The sisters here are amazing, talented, kind, and I learn so much from them every day.  I stayed busy.  I had a lot of phone calls to answer, visits to make, meetings to attend, and lots of lots of prayers.  But- I was blessed.  I have a wonderful husband and family that support me so much.  James wasn't even born when I was called so it's all he's known.  There were extremely hard moments when we had dear friends of ours pass away, but again I was supported with such wonderful friends who would give me hugs and cry with me.   

     

Yesterday I was released from the calling.  No more visiting teaching "re-arranging,"  no more order forms, no more monthly meeting and newsletters, no more "Welcome to the Ward" visits,  not until the next time at least :)

     I am stronger.  My testimony is stronger.  I still have a ways to go, but I am so happy that the Lord has molded me into who I am today. 

 I love to serve and I'm excited for what will come next.  I am REALLY excited about the flowers my mom and dad sent to me today.

The card read, "Your euphoria is well earned. Congratulations on the 5 years of remarkable and exemplary service to so many! Love Mom and Dad"

Our James is 4!!!

This little man LOVES his birthday and we've been celebrating all week :) 

On Sunday the primary sang to him and so he told us after church, "I'm 4 now!"  

Then during the week at preschool they gave him a hat and sang to him too- awesome.  He got to bring his WHOLE Skylander collection to show the kids.

But today was his real birthday and it started with presents:

Thank you Grandma Damstedt for the "Watermelon" Skylander- now he say's "thank you for the Watermelon guy" in all his prayers instead of asking for it.

This afternoon we went with some friends that came into town to "Monster Golf."   James has been waiting a long time to go here and we finally did it.  He was so excited.

For dinner he took us all to Ted's hotdogs.  Here he is with a beautiful friend:

Then we got a birthday doughnut from Paula's.   

We LOVE our James!!!!

Update for Grandma D...

Sorry that I haven't been very diligent in keeping up with all that we've been doing lately :)  

Here are some things:

* For 2 Saturdays we went to the UB football game:

 

 They had lots of games, mini-golf, rock climbing, and more all before the game.

 They had bands there playing before the game: Blue's Traveler and Cool and the Gang!

James went to the farm with his preschool!
He got to go on a hay ride and pick a pumpkin, play with goats, ride a pony, and see lots of animals.

 

 

Kate had picture day:                                                      Susie Q is getting bigger:

 My mom sent me this AWESOME Halloween quilt:

 

Bruce went on a field trip with his class to the downtown library: 
 

This morning James and I took a trip to the Grand Opening of Trader Joe's!

  I am so happy that we have one now- it will be very dangerous.

 

 And... Jane got her scored back from New York State tests last year- she is SOO smart and did awesome.  Great Work Jane!