A little basketball....

More pics to come!

Handsome Dude

Justin

...Bieber, that is.

Bennett came running with his pants (Toy Story pajamas, by the way) so low all you could see his underwear.

"Just call me Biebs," says Bennett.

Really?!?

I hope by the time Bennett is a teenager that trend won't be popular.

Concussed State

That is what Mason is in after his basketball game last night.

I am so happy it wasn't more serious. The scan came back looking good. Just no basketball until Monday and no school today.

Thank God it wasn't worse....and thank God we are a fairly healthy family.

Thanksgiving Day 2011

Jane and Brooke loving each other up. I think these two look more alike than Jane and I do.

The Christmas Card shoot....this seems to have become a yearly tradition that Brooke LOVES!

This is what we call payback.

Joan, Deb, Steve, and Bill....four of the eight Vangsness siblings. If Steve wants to know what he will look like in 13 years, he should just look at my Dad.

Lynn and Brittany. Look at Brittany's lashes. They are real. *Sigh*

How cute! It is so much fun to have babies around. It is hard to believe Braxton is going to be a year old in just a couple of days. Last year at Thanksgiving, we had a baby shower for Amanda.

Two of the three tables...

Baby Braxton celebrating his first Thanksgiving....love the blue eyes

. 

A Message from Santa

Click here to see a message to Bennett from Santa Claus

Finding the perfect tree....

Finding the perfect tree shouldn't be too difficult, should it? Well...that is what I think every year, but somehow we end up with fighting--way more than we should. This should be a happy time, right? Well, this year I had a great idea. I told the kids that Mason only has four years left before her graduates from high school (gulp!)...so he can pick out this years, Alex next, Larkin the year after, and Bennett the one after.

Well, there wasn't AS MUCH fighting, but there was still fighting. I won't even go into the details, let's just say I hope the other kids learn from Mason's mistakes.... Here are a few pictures from a cold, snowless day in December.

This shows Mr. B's smile....he really wasn't smiling the whole time. He was either complaining that Mason "gots to pick out the tree and it is not fair" or that he had to "go whiss." His words, not mine.

Jerry, Alex, Larkin, and Bennett on the search for the perfect tree.....maybe this was the start to our problem. Where is Mason???

A cute picture of Alex with the saw....he is always such a good helper. But again, it isn't Alex who is picking out the tree. I wonder where Mason is??



Oh yes, of course. There he is. I am positive he is not texting though. He is googling types of Christmas trees. What do you think??

And this is the (beautiful?!) tree he picked out. Crooked trunk, mangled branches and dead spots. What is there not to love? Right? I will post a picture of it in our house all decorated soon.

Here is a picture that reminds me of my childhood....riding in the back of the pick up. It is one of those things you find fun unless you HAVE to ride back there (with a puking dog or an older brother who is pinching you and you can't open the window to the front because you have met your quota of telling on him......anyway...).

So much fun.

I've started. And I can't stop.

Zonta...Year 3

Sara, Becca, and I have gone to the Zonta House in St. Cloud for three years. This year Sara's mom, Diane joined us. We have so much fun looking at the decor, dreaming of a new house, and then spending a little money at Crafts Direct!
Here we are about to enter Crafts Direct! I know I can't wait until next year!!

Halloween!

We had so much fun on Halloween trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with Thomas and Deb! here are some pics....even if they are a little late!

Larkin, Bennett, and Thomas

Larkin, the witch

Bennett and Thomas...the power ranger and ninja.

Hunting Week One

Mason, Alex, Larkin, and I went deer hunting this past weekend with my dad, sister, and cousin. We had a great time even though the winds were 45 mph at times and we didn't get any deer. Here is a picture before we left. I was already cold.

Alex was kind of tired....he got a nap in on the way from one spot to the next on Sunday morning.

Lance, Jane, Bill, Larkin, Mason, Alex, and Kelly.

Larkin's first time deer hunting.

Grandpa Bill and Alex sitting in the deer stand. Jerry went hunting "up north"....I guess I am not even sure where that is.... and he got this buck. The boys are determined even more now to get one next weekend when they go again!

A Little Volleyball

Sara and I went to Tara's volleyball game (along with our kiddos) last night. It was fun to see her even if it was only for a few minutes!

Love This Picture

New Year, New Schools!

Mason started high school, Alex started middle school, and Bennett started kindergarten! Even Larkin has a new school she is attending this year for 4th grade! Happy 2011-2012 school year everyone!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Another year....

Of school has started. Today was filled with meetings, scheduling, and catching up with friends I didn't see over the summer. There was a different energy at school today...and with all of the changes that took place over the summer I hope it continues throughout the year. Here is my favorite picture from last school year. Jerry reads to the kids a lot before bed and this was Larkin and Bennett's first day of school...Larkin was sleeping after two pages and Bennett loved that we were reading a Christmas story in September. Happy 2011-2012, everyone!!

Sara.....this test post is for you.

And it worked, right?

Swimming with the Schreifels Crew!

Lake George!

For the 2nd year, my good friends and I got together with our kids for a playdate at a splashpad. Every year our group grows with new ones...this year it was Baby Luke that was added to the group. Next year, Baby Nora will join us and maybe one or two more?!?! You never know!!


Taylor (8 1/2) and Larkin (9 1/2)

Bennett in one of of his two "happy moments" during the day. At times I felt like I had a newborn dealing with him! :)Bennett and Brayden (both 6 years old)

Hayden (14 months)

Bennett (16 months)

The whole gang! Bennett, Cooper, Cameron, Taylor, Hayden (in stroller), Larkin (holding Luke), Brayden, Addison, and Luke!

Meadowbrook 4th of July

We had a great 4th of July at Meadowbrook with the Vangsness Family! We had the parade in the morning, a potluck for lunch, and then some swimming time in the afternoon!

Here is Bennett--looking like he was in pain, but really was enjoying himself !

Great Grandpa Dwayne and Great Grandma Zina with Brynn during the parade.

Brynn!

Bennett enjoying the lake (in his shorts). He is becoming more and more brave as the summer goes on!

Brynn jumped in with a great catch by Auntie Jane!

Becky and Brian have joined us for many years (five, maybe?!) and this is Nicolas' first 4th of July! What a cute family!