Visiting Santa

Merry Christmas from the Leopolds

Our Christmas card. "Peace" seemed to be our focus this year. Together Doug and I feel that life is too short to not live it to the fullest, focus on the important things, and most of all: share how you feel with the people in your life. This has been a great year, but filled with many difficult times. Together we as a family spent a wonderful vacation at the "happiest place on earth". We had the best time. Traveling together was one of the highlights of the trips. I of course would not fly, so we drove. Some of the best times of the vacation was visiting the state visitor centers and just spending time together in the car. Then the vacation itself will forever be a wonderful memory for all of us. This year also brought to us the beginning of a new adventure, the building of our new house. Getting to that point was a long and stressful event. The house finally sold right at the last weeks of the contract. A bitter sweet moment. Now we are spending a lot of "quality family time" in the small rent house. Of course the difficult times were there too. This is the year we lost Doug's mentor, business partner and best friend. Chris will always have a special place in our lives. He left an unforgettable impression. We were not aware of just how close Brett had become to him. They spent a lot of time together while he was at the shop when school was out over the past 5 years. Brett has had taken it the hardest. As a parent, helping your child grieve is one of the most difficult things I could have imagined. I always knew he was a gentle soul, but watching him hurt was the most painful thing I have ever done so far as a parent. Through the past year we as a family have grown closer, stronger, and really focused on us and our goals as a family. Putting first things first with God as the leader, we could not have wished for anything better. With this focus we have been able to make it during the difficult times. Looking towards 2009, we are already facing obstacles. My dad is to have open heart surgery again. Yet there are some bright moments in store as well. Brett will be leaving elementary school and going onto the next phase of his life, intermediate school. Zach is growing as a reader. Doug's business is expanding at a incredible pace. I see it as my goal and duty to keep all of them happy, well, and safe. So as we go forward as a family, we will continue with the same priority: PEACE. We will put God forward, keep friends and each other close, and express our love everyday to each other. So for this holiday season and the upcoming new year, we truly wish you PEACE. May you have inner peace and we as a community be able to live in peace together. Merry Christmas to all and Peace on Earth.- Doug, Laurie, Brett and Zach Leopold

It's Begining to Look A Lot Like Christmas....

Brett's class party! Brett enjoyed a Christmas station rotation..... this is where he made candy cane reindeer.

Brett showing his donut hole snowman. (right before eating it.....) No, all the stations were not food. There was a memory game, word puzzle and a pass the bag game. He had a blast.

Zach had his grade level party on Thursday. They enjoyed cookie making, reindeer food, stocking relay, ice skating and freeze dance/frosty says. Here is Zach with the "bestest" first grade teacher ever.... Mrs. Byrne. She is loving, nurturing, and very supportive of Zach. She is extremely patient ( a trait that comes in real handy when dealing with Zach.) She has helped him grow and mature. He loves to read and enjoys school because of her.

Here is Zach showing off his reindeer food bag. The kids filled it with the food and then decorated it. How cute is that. This is the station we hosted.

Here is Zach showing off his Santa side......he just got out of the bath, the beard is a bubble one, he was very proud. We quickly got his little Santa suit and put it up to him to get the pic. He could not stop laughing! He shaped the beard, but what you don't see is that the bubbles are completely around his head. The tub was also filled with suds.

Snow!!!!!

It has been snowing most of the afternoon. It was a mix snow/sleet when I went to work at 6am, was clear most of the day, but by the time we were headed home after school, it was a very heavy and steady snow fall. Here is Brett and Zach with Gizmo enjoying the white yard.

Yes, this picture was taken in College Station Texas! How awsome is this, and just in time for Brett's birthday. (we are crossing our fingers for a "snow day" tomorrow to really have a ball on his 10th birthday.)

Letters FROM Santa.....

Wow! Brett and Zach just sent their letters to Santa a few weeks ago. They received letters from Santa this past weekend. Santa wrote special and very personal letters to each of them. They both are on the "good list". They each received a special sticker that said they made the good list. (much to my and Doug's surprise :)) Both boys were reminded to wake mom and dad up BEFORE opening the gifts. They are counting down to Christmas with our new Advent calender, loved their traditional gift from St. Nicholas of a new ornament, and continue to count the presents under the tree. Merry Christmas.

Special Person's Day

Zach's class gave a turkey day performance. Zach was a pig. He was very proud of his line...."We are fat, we are able, we want to be on the Thanksgiving day table".

Brett also had a preformance in his classroom. He was a pilgram. After the performance, they served their special person some yummy treats.