Christmas Day!

Christmas Day was also great! We slept in til about 8:30 got up to see what Santa had brought the kids, had a great breakfast. We all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and then Kaiden sang it again to a friend of ours who's birthday is the same day! I thought that was very sweet of him to think of that on his own! after that we opened presents and had munchies! We put together the things that needed assembling. Kaiden got a Telescope, Karsyn a Karaoke Machine, so we had singing performances though out the day! Also games of cards and putting together a puzzle were happening though out the day. The kids hit the jack pot this year with a lot of great gifts that the kids where in awe over! We had Christmas dinner watched a movie and then I hit the hay. It was such a relaxing laid back Christmas!

Kaiden & Karsyn Singing a song

Next up... my Dad & Karsyn

Christmas Dinner!

Christmas Eve!

We had a wonderful, laid back Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve we had a leisurely day filled with games, food and family. It was great!

Karsyn looking beautiful in her Christmas dress

Kaiden modeling part of the present that Karsyn got him.

Karsyn with her Great Grandma & Grandpa Nielsen before heading to the Christmas Eve service.

Playing cards!

This is Karsyn's Poker face. She was having a hard time not letting people know if she had a good hand or not. It still makes me laugh thinking about this!

I stole a kiss from Kaiden when he wasn't expecting it! I have to be a little sneaky in order to get my kisses now a days!

The Nutcraker Ballet!

A friend and I took our daughters to the Nutcracker ballet this year. It was so much fun to have a special girls night/Mommy & Daughter night. Karsyn really wanted to be on stage dancing with the dancers. She had seen the movie and looked at the book, so she was explaining to me what was going on which was pretty fun!

Here are some pics of the night!

This is Karsyn & Lilly before we left Madison.

Here is a couple pics from the performance!

By the end of the show Karsyn was out cold and I couldn't get her to wake up for anything.
It was pretty funny!

YEAR IN REVIEW!

Well we have a very busy year and it makes me wonder where the time has gone! I can not believe that we are a week and a half away from Christmas!

Mike and I did more traveling this year then I thought I would do in a lifetime, which was so exciting. It started out the end of February when Mom & Dad, and Mike & I got on a plane and headed to the land down under for my cousin Kelva’s wedding! It was such a beautiful wedding and a great experience. On our way home we stayed a couple days in Tokyo Japan, which was also so wonderful. Then with a lot of hard work Mike qualified for a Mediterranean cruise through work. He was the # 4 agent in the State and in the top 9% of the company nation wide. I was so proud of him! We headed to Barcelona Spain and boarded the Royal Caribbean cruise ship which took us through Italy, France and back to Spain. It was an unbelievable trip with Rome being the highlight!

Kaiden has had a full year as well! He spent his summer in baseball, riding his horse, swimming and helping us out! He is now in 3rd grade and also started his first year of football which he enjoyed very much. He got all A’s with one B on his report card and his teacher was a little concerned that he may be a little bored at school, so we have been trying keep him progressing at home as well. He is now reading full novels and has a hard time putting them down! He never ceases to amaze me. Wrestling will begin in January and he is looking forward to that as well as learning to snowboard in Montana with family in a few weeks.

Karsyn has also been a very busy girl. She was in her second year of T ball, and swimming lessons, riding horse and her bike this summer. This is the year she has really come out of her shell and has really progressed a lot in everything that she has participated in. She started Kindergarten this year, which she absolutely loves, and started gymnastics and loves that as well. Karsyn and I went to the Nut-cracker Ballet this year, which was so fun to share that experience with her. Alls she could say was how she wanted to be on stage dancing with them! It was very beautiful.

Mike is continuing to grow his business and still loves every minute of it. He spent his summer fishing in Walleye Tourney’s, spending time with friends at lakes around the area, and hanging out with the kids. Hunting season has also been very busy for us this. It has been a great year, and Mike has really enjoyed reacquainting with hunters that we see every year as well as new faces that he has gotten to get to know!

I have had a great year as well. I enjoyed seeing the sight from around the world, spending time with the kids at the pool and at all of their events. I am finding that my favorite sports are continually changing to what ever season it is and what event the kids are in. I can.t believe how fun it is to watch them out there! I am also still working with Mike at Farm Bureau, helping Mom during hunting season with cooking and cleaning. And most recently I started with AFLAC insurance company. I am excited for the holidays but am anything but prepared, but as usually I am sure that every thing will come together as they usually do!

From our house to yours we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Lots of Love, Michael, Shanley, Kaiden & Karsyn Dorris