Entering MiniVan-dom

Well, we've finally done it.... we have finally grown up and given in to the mini-van. If you would have asked me just 3 years ago, I would have told you that I would NEVER have a mini-van, never-ever! But, alas, the alure of the mini-van is too great - cargo room for hauling around those things you need to get home from the store (i.e., the hardwood flooring that we are going to install in our dining room soon), to put more space btw the two children (so I don't have to say, "stop bothering your brother" so often), to have a newer car (not new tho-2005) because our cars are getting up there in car age, and a vehicle that will be comfortable and spacious enough for our family to take roadtrips. We are hoping to get out of the cities more often and see more of the country, as well as visit family more often. Who would like to be our first roadtrip destination?

Madelyn goes to see Madeline

Today Madelyn, Greyson, and I got the chance (thanks, Smith family!) to go see a play. A couple of months ago, Madelyn and I checked out the book about Madeline from the library and she LOVES it! Madelyn is pretty funny about the fact that their names aren't the same though - she is quick to tell anybody who pronounces Madeline (which rhymes with "clothes line") like her name, the right way to say it. Anyway, when we were asked to go see a play about Madeline, we couldn't say no. The play was about Madeline taking care of Miss Clavel and the other girls when the got sick on Christmas Eve and then about a man who shows up with flying magic rugs. Not the most Christian message, but it was fun! So here is Madelyn as Madeline....

And Greyson too!

REAL cajun food... in Minnesota??

We have had a family at our church that was driven out of Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina. They are true Louisianians. It has been nice to have people around that know a bit about where we come from (even though we *are not* true Louisianians, only kinda by our college choice). They have been here for about a year and a half and have now made the decision to move back to the Baton Rouge area. They will be gone by this time next month. I'm happy for them but sad for us, my family and my church. At church, they have jumped right in and have given of themselves since almost the moment they walked in the church. It has been so refreshing to see. Well, a few weeks ago this family invited us over for authentic cajun food! It didn't take but about 2 seconds for Ben and I to take them up on it. We haven't had true cajun food in SOOOOO long! And last Sunday when we got there, it really was cajun food - jambalya, gumbo, crawfish etoufee, crawfish stuffed pastries, bread pudding, bananas foster, and sweet tea..... it was AMAZING! Ben and I had to be rolled back out to our car and then we grumbled all the way home about how we ate WAY too much - but it was sooo worth it.... We will miss you, Louis, Annette, and Lana. Not just for your amazing culinary skills but for your dedication to and love for God and his people too.

Winter is REALLY here!

Well, there is no more denying it. Winter has shown us that it is really here with 0 degree temps the last week and about 6 inches of snow falling in last two days. I love it when it has first fallen - so crisp and white. After the kids woke up from their naps yesterday, I took them outside to play a little and they loved it. Greyson immediately started eating it and Madelyn was tromping everywhere she could to see the bootprints she left behind. This is the first winter that I can say I have been looking forward to. I'm looking forward to the sledding and snow angels and real snow cones.... The perks of living in Minnesota, I guess.