Hockey Jamboree

Seeming absolutely appropriate for Hockey Day in MN, Meredith played in her first jamboree with Woodbury.  I can't even begin to tell you how excited she was.  Now a jamboree with a bunch of 5-year-olds isn't really a game but more of a scrimmage.  They send out 5 players at a time with 1 goalie and they each skate for 90 seconds before they send the next 5 players out.  They rotate goalies and at this age, there isn't a real goalie; not one that wears special pads, etc. 

Meredith skated really well!  No goals were scored by her, but I don't think her team even scored a goal?  Maybe they did.  They don't keep score:)

Here are a bunch of pictures from the Jamboree.  Meredith wears #15. 

She is in the middle of the picture here.  

She is second from the right on the bench in this picture.  

Here she is playing goalie.  

Some puck action around the net.  She made a really good block when she was goalie.  

Grandma and Grandpa Schwake came.  Here's Anna wearing her cute, new outfit she got for Christmas.  

Christmas

Well, we made it through the holidays.  I have a love-hate relationship with that time of year.  I do love the holidays.  I love the food, cookies, gifts, time of giving, Christmas lights, etc.  But I hate the crowds at Super Target when all I want to do is get some groceries.  I hate waiting 10 minutes just to park my car.  I actually did most of my shopping online this year and it was most pleasant!  

Anyhow, Christmas was good.  Meredith is back in school and she is having a great time having playdates with some other kids in the neighborhood.  We are in the process of registering her for kindergarten!  She loves playing hockey and we have seen so much improvement since she started back in October.  

Anna is talking up a storm.  She must have 15-20 words.  She even has a 2-word phrase - mo cwacka (more cracker).  Everything that is food is a cracker to her.  She giggles when she burps and farts.  It's fun to see her little personality develop.  She's stubborn.  She screeches all day long - basically whenever Meredith touches her.  She is teething all four of her 1st molars.  The two upper ones have cut through and the two bottom ones are hugely swollen and will probably pop through any day.  I just signed her up for a 2's program starting in the fall where Meredith goes to preschool.  How is she going to be old enough for that already???

Here are a few photos from Christmas.  Most are dark, out of focus,  and do not feature faces.  

Meredith, Anna, and cousin Bowen with Grandma.  

Opening a gift.  

Every year, Meredith passes out all the presents and Grandpa helps her read the tags.  

The three littles.  

The Hello Kitty umbrella was a huge hit.  

This was funny although you can't tell from the picture.  My cousin Mary Jo got a Coach purse and wallet as a gift and Anna came over and just started looking at it and crying.  

Christmas Day's loot from Santa.  After that, we Skyped with Grandma & Grandpa Carlson and Uncle Scott and opened more gifts.  Then Lois stopped in for a visit as well before we headed back to the farm.  

Again, trying to get a nice picture of the girls but this is the best I can get.