Jack and the Beanstalk

The local newspaper took video at one of our practices and posted it online.

You can read the full story here...

Children, adults take to the ‘beanstalk’ in Riverside

Pom Pom Clinic

Friday night Meg went to a Pom Pom clinic at Nazareth Academy. She and her friends had a great time. They learned a dance which they performed the next night at the JV basketball game. They were pretty adorable.

Visiting Anna Marie

Congratulations! Our good friends Christa and Bill had a baby girl, Anna Marie. She was 5 weeks early, but Mom and baby are doing great. We got to see Anna Marie a few days after she got home. She slept most of the time we were there. She is adorable. After the visit we took the kids to see the Hannah Montana movie. They loved that it was in 3-D.

Grandma with Meg and Zach

This weekend Grandma Chris made the trek to Chicago through all the mounds of snow. We all went to a birthday party for friends of Meg and Zach at Enchanted Castle. To get an idea of how grand enchanted castle is think of about 5 Chuckie Cheeses bound together by a banquet hall, go karts, mini golf, and laser tag.

Saturday night after mass we enjoyed some delicious Chicago Style deep dish from Giordanos and watched one of our family's favorite movies, Matlida.

Sunday, Meg's school had their annual Open house. Meg a wonderful time showing off her school to Zach and meeting the 1st grade teachers.

Zach, Doggy Doc

This weekend we headed over to the Hammel Family zoo to escape the cold (-22 with wind chill yikes!). Meg and Zach had a great time playing dress up. Meg was a doctor working hard on a young horse. Zach after saving a dog's life went back to working the phones as the Zoo Director.

We spent most of the rest of the weekend indoors. so on Sunday night we had our neighbors over to play a little Wii bowling.

A quick update

Meg lost her first tooth last week!

This weekend we had fun, but it was pretty busy...

Saturday

• Cleaned & put away Christmas
  
• Meg went to an Open Gym at Flying High
  
• Zach took a nap
  
• Chris and Elizabeth Sang at Mass
  
• Meg's friend came over for pizza and a movie
  
• Elizabeth is now on the St. Cletus School Board!
  

Sunday

• Elizabeth cantored 11am Mass
  
• Play Practice
  
• Chris, Meg & Zach got hair cuts
  

Christmas Whirlwind

We had another whirlwind Christmas. The kids had fun coming to work the morning of Christmas Eve. Then we headed down to Indy. Meg and Zach loved seeing their cousins and Grandma and Grandpa McLean. We got back to Grandma Chris’ house around 9pm that night. While Chris and the kids slept we went to Midnight Mass.

Christmas morning the kids were excited. They got lots of presents and they were very happy. Overall, it was a good Christmas, but too short. We were back home by 5:30pm Christmas night. Luckily our favorite Mexican restaurant was open so we could get some dinner before collapsing on the couch.

An Early Christmas Visitor

Grandpa Goellner drove up from St. Louis this weekend to spend some holiday time with the kids. On Thursday he saw Meg perform in her schools holiday show (click here). For Friday Elizabeth took the day off to hang out. Then Saturday we all went to the arboretum to enjoy the last bits of snow before they melted. That night we did our weekly pizza and a movie ritual. This week we watched Star Wars Episode 1. Meg and Zach got into it but Zach did say that he didn't like the guy with horns on his head (Darth Maul).

Check back on Christmas for our pictures of the kids ripping through brightly colored paper!