January 2008 highlights

The first month of 2008 is almost in the books so I thought I would publish some of the highlights of January not already posted.

First, we had to take a picture of Megan in her Sunday winter clothes, since she so rarely lets us put them on her.

Michael had a few loose teeth that he thought were going to come out before Christmas, leading to great confusion if Santa and the toothfairy came on the same night. Well, they lasted well into January, coming out about 4 days apart at the end of January. He pulled both of them out him self also!

Rachel was now old enough to go to the "Daddy daughter" stake dances, so we both got to go and have a great time on her first "date". She got to practice shaving Daddy, and I got to "do her hair" for her. Finally we got to learn to swing dance, do the bunny hop and have fun!

Finally, Candice has been working with her friends at the gym "working her butt off" learning a bunch of new exercises and strength activities. This is her doing one of her head stands.

What does -12F look like?

We're in a bit of a cold spell in Lakeville, MN. The news says it's a high of -5F today and currenlty -18F. I took a picture of our thermometer outside which shows -12F, and a picture of our front door with frost on the metal (inside!!). When Candice cooks it the condensation makes a nice sheet of ice on the inside also.

New Years Day

Michael was excited because this was the first time he was able to stay up until midnight and watch the new years eve countdown. Daddy started the new year of right running a 5k at 11am. The temperature was a nice -3F with windchill of -19F! I ended up running my best time, but I went out too fast. Look for 166th place at the link below.
http://www.andersonraces.com/Results/pdrs08.htm

Christmas 2007

Christmas this year was about perfect up in MN. It had already snowed over a foot leading up to it, and then snowed big fluffy flakes all Christmas day. Luckily the kids all made the nice list, barely ;) . Attaching some of the pictures with the kids favorite thing. Michael got a Nerf Long Shot gun as tall as he is, Rachel got a shirt with her favorite cartoon character on it, and Megan got the Scooby Doo board game she wanted, among other things. Michael made a bread warmer in school and gave it to Mommy and Daddy for Christmas.

5 k Reindeer Run

Kris and I ran the Reindeer Run 5 k which looped around a lake in Minneapolis. It was 3 degrees and at least -15 with the wind chill. There looked to be over 2500 people there, some dressed in costumes. It was also the first heavy snow of the year that was just starting. When we started we ran along the windy side of the lake with snow blowing sideways right into our face. Kris thought his cheeks were going to need to be amputated. We finished right about 30 minutes, which was 4 minutes faster than my last one!

Aunt Andrea's Thanksgiving visit

Aunt Andrea was able to fly up to spend Thanksgiving with us, and was able to arrive just in time for the first snow fall of the season. This is our back yard the day she flew in.

Andrea also started running, so she did a few miles with me (Tom) in temperatures ranging from 9 to 24 degrees Farenheit. This is Andrea and Candice going for a jog Friday morning in 9 degrees. She loved it!

We put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Lilly has found her new favorite place to hide. The last picture is Andrea with the kids before coming to church with us on Sunday.

Autumn Leaves

Michael in the tree

Rachel in the leaves

Megan doesn't like laying in the leaves

Mommy

This summer Minnesota had a low rain summer, which caused alot of the leaves to turn color and fall off really quickly. In fact, they started turning color right before Halloween, then it got really windy and rainy for about a week, which blew all of the leaves of in one week. Candice had to go to the neighbors house down the street to take some pictures of the kids in the leaves this year.