So much has happened since Christmas that this would be a crazy long post if I decided to update you all on everything so I'll be as quick as possible...sort of quick...maybe:)

Christmas was fun spending the holidays with family and friends here in Sioux Falls and Sioux City.  We were able to have over-night visits at both sets of grandparents and see siblings.  We enjoyed lots of sweets, treats, gifts and yummy meals.  Side note: I think one of the blessing for me personally was not having to cook for my own family.  That is defiantly selfish but I appreciated it non the less.  We spent New Years with my family in Sioux City (keeping up with our cosmic-bowling and sledding traditions) and spent time with our newest addition to the Schaap side of the family, Asher.  Asher John was a delight and I even got to babysit while his Dad and Mom snuck out for a quick date.

Found a fun surprise in Sioux Falls!! I bought chocolate of course:)

Snow Day

Sledding Hill

Asher and Sydney

Cosmic Bowling

Oh the fun of pink and blue hair:)

His favorite.

Tough in the Armor of God

This means it's really cold!

 The weather here has been colder than ever with the occasional snow flurries keeping things interesting.  We are getting used to dressing warmer and have reacquainted ourselves with long-johns, parkas, snow pants and boots. 

Preschool Days

School is going well.  Aaron started full-time preschool (with me) after Christmas and has proved that he was more than ready.  Everyday he eagerly asks what he 'gets' to do for school.  I do have to say it's encouraging to hear that he's enjoying it.  One of the goals that Sydney's Kindergarten teacher had for the kids last year was for them to leaving their first year 'liking' school.  She said that it's important for them to start their experience liking school.  I've kept this in the back of my mind and it's helped.  Now don't get me wrong, there are days they don't like school but the overall experience they are liking!  Thank you to a couple mom's who have helped encourage and instruct me along the way (Jenni & Stacy) and a great online resource-mom (Erika).

Northwest Iowa

Last weekend, we had a fun mini vacation day.  We drove to Northwest Iowa (only 1.5 hours away) and visited a the small town that "Mommy" went to college in and a neighboring town.  The weather was a warm 48 degrees so we stopped at a park to play.  We saw the Dutch influence in buildings, windmills, ate in the Dutch bakery and enjoyed Dutch pastries all day.  We stopped by the college and told the kids about where mommy went to college.  We even walked into the gym and they got to see mommy's picture hanging in the entry.  Suprisingly it's still there (that is until someone breaks my high-jump record:)  They loved it and thought it was funny that mommy looked so different and had short hair.  It was pretty funny.

We all had a good time getting out of town and when the day was over they were tired.  Here are a couple picks from our day.  Keep in mind, me being 99.5% Dutch was also a small factor in the enjoyment of the day.  I have a yummy heritage:)