Martin Luther King Day

Claire and Nile 

Nile, Scott, and Claire, and Casen and Easton, who went ice skating with us

The kids were off school today so we decided to take them ice skating.  There is a new outdoor rink by us that we thought we would try out.  It was a small rink, in fact while we were putting our ice skates on the Zamboni driver crashed into the side glass wall and broke two panels.  They cleaned up the glass and then we were able to go skating.  Claire has gotten so much better.  She skates by herself and despite the cold temperature wanted to keep going.  She was the last one off the ice.  Then we tried out a new restaurant that one of our friends started called "the ingredient"  it was  fun place.  Lots of fresh ingredients.  We will be going back again.  Then Nile had a hockey game.  He played great even though their team lost.  We have about 9 more games in the next few weeks and then play-offs.   

Happy Birthday Claire!!!

Claire with some mini cupcakes she made and iced herself.

                     Claire all made up

  
Today is Claire's birthday.  She is growing up so fast.  We are having a birthday party this Saturday with friends from school.  She is so excited.  Last night, we had hair and makeup clinic for her dance class.  They are going to a competition next month and they want everyone to have the same hair and makeup.  She even has to wear fake eyelashes.  She loved the makeup and wanted to keep it on for awhile.  I took some pictures so I can remember how to do it.  She is trying to decide where she wants to go to dinner tonight.  We had to take Krispy Kreme doughnuts for her treat at school today and Scott volunteered to be one of the Watch D.O.G.S.  (dads of great students).  He is at the school all day volunteering.

HOW COME I SMELL NACHOS?

Brent, Nile, and Claire with Louie

Nile, Brent, Claire at the arch

Nile and Dahlia

Cousins Brent and Sophia

B with his Blues hockey jersey

Bailey and Nile

Drew, Sophia, and Claire Christmas Eve

Nile and Jason playing hockey on Christmas Eve with the Firths

We went St. Louis for Christmas this year.  Christmas Eve, Nile and my brother Jason went and played hockey with the Firth family at the ice rink, (they rent out the rink for friends to come play hockey). Then we went to aunt Sue's house for Christmas Eve and all the yummy food.  The kids acted out the nativity.   We had a good Christmas Day.  We were able to talk to my brother Jonathan who is serving a mission in Brazil.  Then we headed up to the Maddox's for Christmas dinner.  Later that week, we met my cousin's dog Dahlia, a bulldog.  Nile had fun hanging out with his second cousins.  We went to the Arch one day with Rob and Sarah (Scott's brother and his wife).  We went to the Blues game with all of the Maddox's on night.  The kids had a great time.  Brent didn't take his eyes off the ice.  He loved every minute of it.  After the game, the kids got to go down on the ice and shot a puck into the net.  On the way home, Nile said he wasn't feeling so well, next thing we know throw up was all over the car.  Claire had fallen asleep in the back seat and woke up saying,"HOW COME I SMELL NACHOS?"  It was lovely.  Needless to say he was sick all night long.  By New Year's he was feeling better so we headed up to spend the day with the Maddox's, playing the wii and hanging out.  At around 5pm Brent said I don't feel so well and he got sick.  Then a couple of hours it hit Claire.  My dad, brother-in-law Matt, and sister all ended up coming down with the same virus.  Luckily Scott or I haven't gotten the virus and hopefully it has passed us over.