The royal princesses...

Emmy made these wonderful crowns for Ellie-Kate's upcoming princess birthday party, and they modeled them on January 14, 2011 (above) and January 13, 2011 (below).

Snow much fun!! January 11, 2011

Chelsea, Emmy, and Ellie-Kate hit the slopes in front of our house!


Ellie-Kate insisted on going down the hill "all by myself!!" She laughed all of the way down the hill, especially when the sled (and Ellie-Kate) kept going over the curb and into the street. Fortunately, her not-so-amused mommy was right there, watching out for cars and ready to get her right back into our yard :) From that moment on, Ellie-Kate had to wear a helmet when she got on the sled!!

Ellie-Kate and Emmy play on the sit-and-spin in the playroom :)

"I'm a big kid now!!" Ellie-Kate tries on Chelsea's rain boots before getting ready for sledding.

Belated Girl Scout Christmas party-- January 7, 2011

The girls in Emmy's Girl Scout troop show the presents that they wrapped for each other (as well as for the annual gift wrapping contest).

Pictures in Christmas dresses after January 2, 2011 service

Emmy-- age 10


Ellie-Kate-- age 2


Ellie-Kate, Emmy, and Chelsea

Emmy and Ellie-Kate

*Emmy couldn't wear her Christmas dress to church on Christmas Eve because she performed a solo on her cello. (She felt that pants would be a better option, given that she would be up on stage with her cello!) Thus, both of the girls wore their special dresses on January 2-- our first service after returning from Indiana. They both looked beautiful!!

Happy New Year with "our" Lindsey!! January 1, 2011

Emmy, Lindsey, and Ellie-Kate during a New Year's Day visit. We were so happy that Lindsey made time to see us when she was home for Christmas from Florida. We love you, Lindsey!!

New Year's Eve-- 12/31/10

Chelsea, Sophie, and Elena toast to a happy new year in 2011!!


Emmy and Roger finish out 2010 with a game of Huskeropoly!

*New Year's Eve was a bittersweet endeavor this year. Roger and I did our best to ensure that the girls had a good time, but I was ready to say good-bye to 2010. It had been a tough year with lots of sadness and challenges. However, Praise God that He promises to carry us through our valleys and to celebrate with us on the mountaintops. He did, indeed, bring us through to another year with a fresh new start. Thank you, Father, for allowing Ellie-Kate and me to overcome our health care adventures and to ring in 2011.

Emmy's Birthday trip to the Harlem Globetrotter game in Columbus-- 12/28/10

Emmy gets autograph from Zeus.


Emmy poses with Slick Willie.


Emmy poses with Big Easy, one of the players who competed on the Amazing Race!

The Globetrotters prepare for their game!

Emmy smiles with her new Globetrotter basketball :)

As her big birthday present, we treated Emmy to a Harlem Globetrotter game with Daddy on December 28, 2010. (In other words, she got to go by herself and without any of her siblings.) She had an amazing time, especially getting to actually meet some of the players.