Christmas

Christmas Eve we went to JcPenney and got family pictures with the entire Flaming family. Afterwards while walking through the mall, some stopped to get their photo in the small booths. Here is a side shot of Grandpa and Grandma Flaming with Morgen and Carsten.


We started celebrating Christmas eve at Bekah and Jess' house after the Christmas Eve service at church. After a delicious lasagna dinner we opened some presents.

Christmas morning Grandma Flaming made Zwiebach(German roll) with some aid from Morgen and Carsten.


Grandpa Flaming read the Christmas story.

Before our Ham dinner we got a picture of the group. It includes Jakes girlfriend, Meg.

Mmmm--finally it's time to eat!

Bekah's Birthday

Happy Birthday Bekah!!

Bekah's Birthday

We celebrated my sister Bekah's birthday yesterday. I hope she didn't mind the "kid friendly" version with cupcakes, party hats, etc. We had a great time and the kids entertained us.

Morgen

Our little "Snuggle Bunny"! That's what her shirt says. She looks so grown up.

First Snow

The kids enjoyed playing out in the first snow for the year!

Traditions

Aunt Bekah and Morgen make peppernuts--a Flaming tradition! Mmmm!

Thanksgiving

We spent our Thanksgiving in Grand Rapids, MN.
Lots of turkey, stuffing, pies and more! Mmmm!
Here's some pics from the weekend...

Snuggling with Grandpa Markgraf and Snickers!

Morgen, Katie, Kari, Nikki, and Carsten
The three in the middle are Eric's nephew Alan's kids.

Aunt Joni reading to Morgen and Michael(Joni's son)

Uncle Scott playing with Carsten

Important Business

Just trying to start early! He was reading a Cottage Living Magazine! Good reading material, for sure!

Snow

Morgen and Carsten were enjoying the snowfall as they found pictures in magazines to cut out.

News

For those who don't know, we are expecting Baby #3 next June! I've been quite sick for the past couple months, but it's starting to taper off. Yea! My family will be so happy to have wife and mom back to "normal".

the latest

Carsten's "looks" lately have been so funny! The other day I videoed him at the kitchen table. I was telling him to eat one more bite giving him "the look" and he was attempting to give me "the look" back, but it was too cute!

Uncle Jake came to visit and was helping Morgen frost some cookies with rainbows. Carsten helped eat the icing.

Tornado

When we went to Indiana last weekend we saw the evidence of the tornado that went through Nappanee, the town my parents live in. The tornado went within a mile of parents house out in the country and headed straight through town. My parents never got hit by it. Thank the Lord!

Funny

All of a sudden, the other day Morgen became obsessed with putting hair bows, clips, baretts, etc. in her hair. Yikes! This is the 3rd day and it's getting worse! Help! I hope this phase ends soon.

Family

Grandpa and Grandma Flaming

Aunt Anna

Playing

Helping Grandpa

Grandma's flowers

Playing in the cornfield makes for great entertainment

Flying

We flew to Chicago this past weekend and my parents picked us up. We spent the weekend in Indiana. The flight there and back was uneventful. Carsten slept both ways and Morgen talked the entire time. She enjoyed having pop that "the man" brought to us. She kept asking when we were going to fly, even when we were up in the air. She said it didn't feel like we were in the air.

Mudding

Today we went for a walk and stopped at our neighbor Brandon's house. He was playing in a big mud puddle in his back yard, so the kids joined him and had a blast. They were actually muddier than they appear in this picture. I had already removed Carsten's mud soaked jeans, and Morgen had it on her face and hair.

Imitating

Morgen was the teacher today. Carsten was the student. Morgen watches me teach piano and she was being a good imitator today. The other day I heard her saying "ready, set, play." She was giving Carsten stickers, so he must have played well. It's so funny how both of them have to have a book up on the stand, whether it's music or not. Morgen used to do that when she was Carsten's age. Now she puts up music, but Carsten doesn't care as long as it's a book.

Yesterday after supper, we read from a Bible Story book about baby Moses being put in the bulrushes. After Morgen was dismissed, she came back to the table with a basket with a care bear and blanket in it. She said it was her baby in the basket and she was going to go put it in the water. She was really listening to the story. Of course, after that Carsten came out with a plastic basket and a stuffed bear too. He copies Morgen alot right now.

Reading

Morgen wanted to hold Carsten and he actually let her. Isn't this cute?!!

Firepit

We enjoyed some time around the fire with my sisters Bekah and Jess the other night!

Morgen and Carsten loved the marshmallows!

It's not often I get a picture with Carsten. I really liked this one.

The moon was out and really pretty. The tree isn't necessarily so pretty, but we're working on that! We just planted it this year and it having a tough time settling in.

Cubbies

Morgen started Cubbies at church last week. She got her vest and bag this week and was so excited. She probably would have worn it to bed if I would have let her. She wanted it again in the morning when she got up. When I took a picture of Morgen in her outfit, Carsten wanted a to say cheese too, so here he is. : )

Playing

Playing

Carsten Jacob

Playing

Playing

Morgen is playing with the doll I had as a child. She is changing the diaper. Carsten decided he needed a better hat. What a hoot.

Growing

Morgen and Carsten have grown a bunch this summer.

Fall Harvest Apple Orchard

Last weekend we went to the Fall Harvest Apple Orchard in Delano. The kids loved it! There were lots of animals on the farm. We fed the goats, held little goats, saw a baby pig, went on a wagon ride, and played in a big bin of corn. We just missed being able to pick apples by a week, so we'll have to go back.