Go Wildcats!

Matt had his first basketball game tonight.  His 7th grade team has 64 boys on it, divided into 7 groups.  Matt's team has 8 boys on it.  They definitely aren't the Red Hawks...some of the boys didn't even know how to dribble right (where is Coach Dan when you need him?).  Matt's skills are pretty high compared to some of the boys, but he needs to RUN a little faster.  His feet have been bothering him quite a bit, so we may need to get him some special insoles for his shoes.  Anyway, the Wachter Wildcats won 17-10 in a turnover, mistake-riddled game :).  Matt scored 4 points and had a couple of close shots that almost went in.  Next game is Thursday, and it will definitely be better.....because it can't get much worse :).

                                                                     

Matt and his BFF Isaiah

and this shot shows just how much shorter Matt is than pretty much the rest of his team.  We're hoping for a big growth spurt soon!

Happy Birthday Princess Grace!

Our sweet little Grace Elizabeth turned 7 today!  7...doesn't 7 seem so much older than 6?  She brought pink cupcakes to school today for her birthday treats, and got a pencil for taking one down to her principal....she knows how to butter her bread already :).  After school she got to open her presents, then we had cake after supper.  She got a new outfit, a set of Kit Kittredge books and a Little Mermaid tea set from Grandmother and Grandpa Kinney; a new bike from Grandma and Don; money (which she already spent :) ) from Grandpa Jim; money from Aunt Carol & Uncle Dale; a cute pink shirt, earrings, nail polish, & lip gloss from Aunt Ana & Uncle Randy; money from Aunt Heidi & Uncle Joel; pajamas for her American Girl Molly from Aunt Linda; & a Barbie camper, Barbie's, rainboots & raincoat & umbrella, and a new art kit from us.  Oh, and brother Tyler got her a pink Snuggie for Kids!  Pretty good to be Grace today I think! 
THANK YOU to everyone for all the nice gifts!  She really loved them all!

Cake Boss

Buddy our Cake Boss was at it again.  He wanted to make Grace a birthday cake so we headed to Hobby Lobby for fondant and fondant cutting tools.  He decided on this masterpiece, with pastel fondant, a make-up case, lipstick, powder compact, a credit card, a high-heeled shoe and a hairbrush.  We ate it tonight for Grace's bday and it was good!  Next up:  a fedora cake for Rich's bday :).

It's so cold...

that we have ice *inside* the windows.  I guess when it's -31 degrees there isn't much you can do about it.  How in the world did the pioneers do it??

These are the drifts by the front door.  You would think there were bushes under there, but there aren't.  Just lots and lots of snow!

And a few more

Noah sad because he couldn't play Eli's DS.  A story in pictures :):

And it's all better with a popsicle.

Our New Year's Eve party...we had a game tournament for the kids and the adults.  The bracket winners each won a $5 Target card!!

Grandma with the silly grandkids

Noah trying to hit the balloons with his party blower

Noah didn't win a gift card and was quite sad about it, so Grandma found an Old Chicago card and put it on a Target gift card paper...voila, a gift card!  Now Noah can embark on his World Beer Tour :).

More

BFF's Ava and Grace

Eli and Grace got Nintendo DS's for Christmas...this is how we usually found them!

Grace had a Strawberry Shortcake party and our own Cake Boss, Matt, made the cake.  He made everything from fondant and did a good job!!  Strawberry looks like she stayed out in the sun a little too long though :).

The Strawberry Shortcake girls

Mr. Trouble

Finding clues that would lead Grace to her present.....

A new bike!

Lots of catching up

We've traveled many miles since Dec. 24th....as usual my blog is behind.  Sunday 12/27 we finally took of for Ankeny, the weather delayed us a couple days unfortunately.  The roads were still pretty dicey that day, but we all made it.  We had Christmas with Grandma Cathy and Don the 27th, and took off for Galesburg to have Christmas with the Kinney's the 28th.  A brief one night stay and we were back in Ankeny the 29th.  We had a birthday party for Grace the 30th since we won't be around for G's real bday on Jan. 19th.  Then a New Year's Eve party at Grandma's the 31st, bowl games the 1st, and back to Bismarck the 2nd.  We got to Evansville, Minnesota (southeast of Fergus Falls a bit) and our van decided to die along the interstate.  We managed to crawl to an exit and crawl to a town.  They towed it to Moorhead and we spent the night w/Joel and Heidi while they fixed it at the dealership.  Meanwhile we had to get home so the kids could go back to school, so we rented a car....but our van is stuck over in Moorhead (it's fixed, we just have to find the time to go back and get it).  It was -31 when we woke up today, so I don't think today will be the day. 

On Christmas day, I got adventurous and made a turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, and rolls.  Yum.

Christmas at the Kinney's, with a full compliment of funny hats and funny family :)

Ben bugging the heck out of Tabitha with his Boxing Reindeer pen....Tabitha will find a different spot to sit next year, I'm sure :)

Tabitha and Melissa gave Grace a makeover.....her version of heaven!