PopPop & Kathy sent us a fun package last week. A game chest, princess shoes, and packing bubbles!!!! All wonderful fun! Kara loves her dress up shoes and even let her brothers try them out. (Simon was the best at walking in the heels :) What a nice sister! Note by Kara: kara

Each year our church's Awana program has a race where the kids (with the help of someone special - like dad or grandpa) work hard to build a small wooden racing machine! Even though, Jeff did great, he is hoping his machinist dad would come visit at this time of year next year (hear that, PopPop?).

Special buddies at the race. Notice Kara in the background and Simon giving Mr. Jeff (Garrett's dad) a SUPER hug :)!
"One day I'm all over this race business!"
They both came home with a trophy - Jacob 2nd for speed for his age group, and Keith's ingenious plan of making his car look like a trophy (it said on the bottom - "The Best Car Ever")! They both earned certificates for car design, as well. We were very proud of them.

For a couple of weeks the boys had Mondays off. We enjoyed a morning at the church gym (GREAT exercise during the winters in Montana). Keith and Jacob had purchased some oversized rollerblades several months ago at the local thrift store. For Christmas, they found all the gear for Kara. Jacob and Kara have really gotten the hang of it :)! (Keith enjoyed playing ball and building "forts" with the pool noodles they have in the storage closet, instead) Simon "spent" his Christmas money on a new tricycle. The one we had handed down through all the kids had been a bit too well used. At this point, he has more fun pushing it and putting things inside it's storage box than attempting to ride it. (didn't help that a sibling tried helping a bit too energetically and caused him to have a small tumble) He'll have many more opportunities to learn, I'm sure!

I promised a photo of the incredible painting my husband bought me for our anniversary. One of our camper's mom is the artist, and I love pretty much every painting I've seen of hers. This one is very special b/c of my favorite flower displayed SO beautifully, plus the fact that I don't have to go enjoy her work at a gallery or coffee shop. I can just walk down my very own hallway!!! If you want to check out more of her work, you can find her at www.kellyapgar.com