First Lovin' Spoonfulls

A Happy Christmas

Elizabeth and McKinney love their new dolls!

The smile says it all.....

Such a blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

bumbo seats

Children's Christmas Service

This is the children's string ensemble from our church.  

They played

 "O Come Little Children" and "What Child is This"  with Jon

accompanying on the guitar.

"Was I a donkey or a camel?"  

-Jonathan, on the way home from the service

the picture of a good neighbor

"It looks like the Icy Planet of Hoth" 

 -Jon Caudill, during our winter storm Saturday night

This is our neighbor, Kyle, snow blowing our driveway after we 

shoveled deep snow 2 times in 2 days!  He's outside in -25 to -30 windchill.

In spite of the weather, we had a big weekend with a symphony rehearsal Friday night, 2 performances on Saturday, and the Children's Christmas Service at church last night.  Minnesotans are sturdy people.

Merry Christmas

Priceless!

Hands & Feet

McKinney

Elizabeth
 

Milestones

  This morning at 7am & 10 am when I went to pick up Elizabeth out of her crib she was on her tummy!  I know I put her down on her back.  So, even though I have not witnessed this, Elizabeth is rolling over!!  So thankful!

  We're soon off to Mayo 16 for E's helmet adjustment....

"Christmas Present"

"Christmas Present" 

Kingdom Kids Kindergarten

December 12, 2008

2:00

Jonathan's solo

Candy after the reception

  When Jonathan arrived at Kindergarten he told his teacher, "I have special clothes on today!".  He was so excited about his program!  It was such a blessing that Daddy was able to come for the program.  I am so thankful for Jon's  loving care, support, and presence as a father to our children.   

We all enjoyed watching Jonathan sing!

Thanksgiving Vacation

In the Slideshow there is a picture of Cracker Barrel in Bloomington, IL & a reference to a generous couple...this story is worth telling in detail!   The 1st night of our vacation (after eating breakfast & lunch in the car) we decided to enjoy a hot, country dinner at Cracker Barrel.  The restaurant was buzzing with lots of families and, after waiting for some time, we were seated at a table.  During our meal the waitress came to our table and said, "there was a couple sitting over at that table and they thought you looked like a nice family and so they wanted to pay for your meal and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving".  We were so overwhelmed!  I cannot tell you what that couple looks like (they asked the waitress to wait to tell us after they left) or why they picked out our family in this crowded restaurant but I can tell you that it blessed us immensely.  May God add his blessings to this dear couple for their generous hearts.

Sweet Elizabeth

Because of some asymmetry to Elizabeth's head she will be wearing a correctve helmet for the next few months.  I took the 3 children with me this morning to Mayo 16 for E's helmet fitting.  They all did so well!  Elizabeth will gradually work up to wearing the helmet 23 hours a day.  Today she only has to wear it for 1 hour on & then she gets 1 hour off.  This little girl is so sweet.  I'm holding her as I type and she isn't complaining a bit about her pink helmet.

Let it Snow

Kingdom Kids Guest Artist: Jonathan Caudill, cello

McKinney, Elizabeth and I visited Jonathan's Kindergarten classroom today.  We took Jonathan's cello so that he could play for his class.  Jonathan seemed the most excited about having his sisters at school!  He introduced them to his class and then said, "you can come and look at them".  The children gathered around the stroller and Elizabeth smiled and smiled.  McKinney was so interested in all the children, too.   Jonathan chose to play "Hot Cross Buns", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", and "Variation D".  He did a great job!  One little girl, his friend Haley, told Jonathan that when he played "Twinkle, Twinkle" she wanted to cry.  He had the most precious grin on his face while playing his pieces.  

Christmas Picture Photo Session

I worked on getting a picture of the 3 children today for our Christmas cards.  This picture was taken at the end of the photo session and I thought it was just so funny!!!  McKinney was done taking pictures and Jonathan was done listening to McKinney cry!  Thankfully, we did get a few good shots before the meltdowns.  

Milestones

got one!!!!

McKinney just rolled over from backto front.  Elizabeth and McKinney have found their thumbs...pictures coming soon.....

Here's McKinney!  Still working to get a photo of Elizabeth...

Meow Town

Meow Town

Written and Illustrated by:  

Jonathan Caudill, Age 5

"ONE THiM i WENT TO MEOWTOWN  

SOME CATS HAD BRITISH ACCENENTS

THEY SWiTCHTED RiGHT FROM MEOWS TO ENGLiSH

MEOWTOWN STRETCHED 100 MiLES

i MET LOTS OF CATS

THEN MEOWTOWN STOPED WHEN i GOT TO THE GRAND CANYON"

Symphony

It's another symphony week!  They titled this concert "French Bon Bons"

Saturday, November 15, 2008

7:30 p.m.

Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall

Herold: Overture to Zampa

Faure:  Elegy

Saint-Saens:  Cello Concerto No. 1

Anthony Ross, Cello

Ravel:  Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and Orchestra

Ravel:  Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe

5 Months Old

Good Morning, Girls!

"I've been extra good this year"

Jonathan, wearing a "Mr Incredible" costume, is perusing toy catalogs that just arrived in the mail.  With a pen in hand he just said, "How do you spell 'been'?  I wasn't sure if he was asking for the name "Ben" or the word "been".  I hesitated and he continued

 ".... like, 'I've been extra good this year'.  

He must be composing a letter to Santa. 

  (Mr. Incredible must have been trying to protect his super-hero status...he didn't want me to take his picture.)  

70's in November!

This fall has been so unusual for Minnesota!  Yesterday was in the 70's and we are supposed to have another warm day today!  Yesterday afternoon I took Jonathan, McKinney and Elizabeth to Zumbro Trail.  (This trail always reminds me of my dear friend, Jessica, and our many, many mornings of walking/running together!  What great memories!)  We walked the trail (Jonathan rode his bike) until it was time for Jonathan's swimming lesson at the YMCA.

  I've never lived in a place before where the weather dictated your activities like it does here in Minnesota.  I think this is how people survive the long winters and it is something I'm learning to do as well. 

Halloween

Jonathan's loot!

  My domestic goddess friend, Lori, brought these cute treats to Bible Study on Friday morning.  After picking up Jonathan from Kindergarten we ran to the grocery to buy the ingredients to make some, too.  The ghosts are Nutter Butter Cookies dipped in almond bark with little mini-chocolate chip eyes.  The hats are fudge stripe cookies with Hershey Kisses & orange frosting.  I think these will become a yearly tradition!

  We celebrated Halloween with the Daugherty family over at the Tilbert's home.  We all had dinner together and then the guys took all the big kids trick or treating around the neighborhood.  We had perfect weather!!  Jonathan had a great time and came back with a bucket full of candy!

  

Batman

Jonathan wanted to wear his Batman costume for our bike ride and visit to the park.  He was a bit disappointed about having to wear his helmet to ride rather than his Batman mask.  He still received many smiles and kind comments about his attire!  When we got to the park he quickly took off his helmet and put on his Batman mask.  I noticed that his mask was a little tight and so I asked him if it hurt his face.  Jonathan responded, "yes, at first it does hurt but you get used to it".   This little boy is such a treasure.  I love how me makes me laugh...

59th Street Halloween Party

This morning we invited the Mamas & Kiddos from our street over for a Halloween party!

holding hands

They do this on their own....I think it is so precious!

ready or not!

do you see it?  snow flurries!!  

the big picture

jon's saturday project

Douglas Trail in Autumn

This past weekend we cleaned out our garage and put the summer gear in the shed.  We now have the Pilot parked in the garage and are very close to getting the Versa in as well!  We'll be ready for winter this year!  The days to exercise outdoors are limited and so we're trying to get out as much as we can during these crisp fall days!  I took these pictures yesterday while we were on the trails.  Jonathan enjoyed riding his bike while I pushed Elizabeth and McKinney in the double stroller.  

symphony

I have enjoyed rehearsing the music for this upcoming concert on Saturday night! Symphony rehearsals & a concert make for a busy week for our family but I'm so thankful to have this opportunity to play!

Beethoven's Big Night and a Fifth

Saturday, October 18, 2008  7:30 P.M.

Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall

Beethoven:  Piano Concerto No. 4 in G

Horacio Nuguid, piano

Beethoven:  Choral Fantasy

Beethoven:  Symphony No. 5

Quarry Hill

When Jonathan had to miss his field trip on Wednesday we told him that we would do something special on Saturday as a family.  We gave him several options (pumpkin patch, quarry hill nature center, oxbow zoo) and he chose to go to Quarry Hill.  We had lunch at McDonalds (which has become a rare treat!) and then headed to the nature center.  We looked at the animals and took a little walk through the trails.  Then, when we arrived home, I made our annual apple pie with crumb topping - Yummy! 


 

Little Girls

This morning I didn't have my Friday Morning Side by Side Bible Study and so I assumed that Jonathan didn't have Kindergarten.  He was sleeping late and so I gave the girls baths and dressed them in their new fall duds (thank you Papa and Mimi!) and took a few pictures.  I love that this one gives perspective to their small size!  At 8:30, when we are usually loading up the car for Kindergarten, I had the thought that I might be wrong about Jonathan not having school today.  I went to the calendar and, sure enough, he DID have school today!!  I woke him up and we rushed and rushed and laughed and laughed and he made it to Kindergarten at 8:51 - only 1 minute late!  Thank goodness we live just a couple of minutes from the school.  When will my foggy brain clear up and return to normal?!

Emails to Daddy

Jonathan found outlook express on his computer (our old computer) and typed these emails to Daddy.  He doesn't have an internet connection on his computer and so I took pictures of the emails.  I love how he changed the fonts, text colors, and backgrounds!  Notice the special request in the last email? :)