The tooth fairy strikes again

 So, she keeps losing teeth, but the idea of the tooth fairy has run its course.  I think she may be starting a business based on tooth loss.

Dress up Days just keep on coming

Mismatch day done to the extreme.

8th grade wears yellow day..... nice

Crazy hair AND mismatch day

Super hero day and 8th grade wears orange

Pops Concert

The Middle School and High School combined for a spring Pops concert. They were told to wear WMCHS as their uniform! Lots of green, black and white!

Fulfilling the Christmas Present Promises

For the most part, we have more than enough 'stuff' at our house. We don't do much for Christmas presents for the kids anymore. We've been trying to do experiences instead.  Two years ago was a trampoline, last year was new bedrooms for everyone, and this year was winter fun: Cross Country Skiing, Ice Skating, Sledding, and Downhill skiing.

Cross Country skiing happened in North Muskegon at the Winter Sports Complex. It took some figuring out, but everyone got there - well with the exception of Maria. If you know her, you don't need to ask anymore.  Anika actually got a bloody nose out in the middle of the woods. We used Oak leaves for tissue and got it stopped. It didn't look good in the snow!  Later, we thought of the fact we should have just put a snowball on her nose!  I guess we're ready for the next time it happens.

The Sports Complex also has Luge and ice skating, and snow shoeing. We only participated in the ice skating. They actually ice a small trail through the woods, so off we went!

Sledding happened more than once, just down the road. The fluffy snow is always a good time. We generally last around an hour, but the fresh air is always good!

The following week we headed north of Grand Rapids to go down hill skiing, Michigan style. The hills aren't big, but it gave them all the experience again. We haven't been downhill skiing since we left MN.  Everyone did a great job. Anika and Matt had been skiing with the 8th grade class the week before, and Maria had gone skiing for a weekend with a classmate, so Jessica and Brandon were the only two 'new' to it again. It was cold but it was a good time.  Brandon went again the next weekend with a friend. Some day we'll head to Colorado and experience real mountains!

Birthdays

Some of the Christmas craziness is brought on by four birthdays. At our house we say.... mom, Jesus, Jessica, Anika.  Whew.

This year, we woke up Christmas morning just a bit off. No one felt great, so Jesus' birthday coffee cake waited to be eaten until two days later, but it was still yummy.  Jessica had been sick two days prior, finally moving, talking and being part of the world on Christmas Eve morning. We had a wonderful Christmas day at our friends where the kids were once again spoiled. This year they received new gloves, mittens, facemasks and books.

On Carla's birthday, we went to church and then on to Grand Rapids to celebrate with Aunt Kathy. First some ice skating and then some supper and games.

There is never a dull or quiet moment when Jessica is around. Her eyes sparkle all the fun she brings into a room, often bouncy and singing. She is pretty sure she wants to be a famous singing pop star some day.....  And she quite obviously is still in the 'let's be as silly as possible for pictures' phase. She loves clam chowder and marshmallow brownies. Happy 10th little girl!

Anika is growing up. Its been fun to see her personality and sense of humor develop. She is creative, always seeing the possible beauty in garbage or leftover items. She decorated the lunch room for their Christmas concert this year. She takes pictures of strange views that turn out amazing. She paints for fun. She encourages her dad's jokes (WHY OH WHY). She loves to play the flute and can't wait to get her braces off. She likes baked potatoes and candy cane pie, although Aldi changed the recipe this year, and we ended up throwing it away, it was that gross! Happy 14th birthday!

Christmas Cookies

We love Christmas Cutout cookies. These were made a bit AFTER Christmas, but they are just as fun to make, and especially to EAT!

Eburg Christmas

The E family got together one Saturday evening in early January. We missed Mark and Tammy and Ben and Jen, but we had fun with who we had! Anika spent a night with Elyse and Elizabeth and Brandon spent a night with Colton and Austin.

The E cousins minus the ones that are out of the country!

The E family minus two families