Maia at Louis L'Amour's typewriter.

Pose? Me? Oh, OK...

Don't worry Maia, I'll drive. I've seen it done on TV!

Hidatsa Indian Village

We made a stop at an Indian Burial Village and checked out the museum and the other sights, and the kids took advantage of their favorite thing at National Parks - the Junior Ranger program.

If I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner...

Ella had some fun across the street at the grocery store while the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile was in town.

Teddy Roosevelt National Park

We went for a hike today in Teddy Roosevelt National Park, about an hour from our home. Don't we live in a beautiful place?!?!

Grace

Pitch, Hit and Run

The kids took part in the Jaycees Pitch, Hit and Run today, and had lots of fun.

New Town

We took a little trek to New Town, just because. We had a picnic and played in the park.

Ella's latest painting

Ella has been taking water color painting classes a few times a year for about two years now, and wanted to share her latest painting with everyone. The scan doesn't do this piece justice AT ALL, but you can sort of get the idea. She is really becoming quite good!

The classes work like this - there are two sessions, one where they start the painting, and a second session where they finish it. They usually do three sessions in a row, and today she is starting the final class for this round.

Pageant Princesses

Maia and Ella took part in the Little Miss Williston pageant today - don't they look gorgeous?

Halfway down the stairs...

Ella recited a selection of poems by A.A. Milne, including "Halfway down."

Talented blonde

For her talent, Maia sang Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi," totally dressed the part. Adorable, right?

Time out for snuggles

After a long day of playing and activity, Maia and Jimmy snuggle up on the floor for a cuddle.

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas today - Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Sindy, Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Cindy all came over. Grandpa made us a big breakfast, then we opened presents. We all got what we asked Santa for, and more!

Ella got the Care Bear she has been dreaming of, Maia got her fancy big girl hoop earrings, and Cameron got a model car. We also got lots of other things!
Our family gift was a Wii, which we have really been wanting, and then at the end of the gift giving was one last special gift...

Ella

Cameron

Maia

Let's get this thing open!

One happy girl

Here Wii go....

Trying everything out, we all got together in a game of Wii Golf. We love this gift!

Scavenger Hunt

After all of the gifts were opened, we found out there was JUST ONE more. But we had to go on a special scavenger hunt to discover what our last gift could be. So we donned our coats, and went out to find the clues.

Quite the riddle

The first clues were hidden throughout the house and the yard. We rushed out and got them, then brought them back to try to figure out the mystery. They said:

Congratulations Cameron, Maia and Ella Rose!

This Christmas, you have participated in one of the most important children's movements of your time.

The goal - to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves.

But how to do it?

How do you empower children around the world to take full advantage of every opportunity this world has to offer?

We puzzled over the question, then went off to find the next clue, where we learned:

One Laptop Per Child

A donation has been made in your name to a very special program which is putting laptops in the hands of children in third world countries all over the world.

To learn more about these children, visit their blogs and videos at http://laptop.org/en/children/learning/

But there's more!!!

Wow, that's pretty cool. But more could there be? Off we were again, to find the next hint.

Mystery Revealed

And then came the final clue, and the mystery was revealed! It said:

Thank you!

To thank you for your generous donation, you will also be receiving a laptop of your very own. Your laptop will arrive in early January, once the child who will be the recipient of your generosity has received their very special gift.

With love,

From Mom and Dad,

Grandma Sindy and Grandpa Jerry

And Jeff

It's a Wonderful Life

Cameron performed in his first play this holiday, acting as Tommy Bailey in the Entertainment, Inc! production of "It's a Wonderful Life."

He had a really wonderful time with the experience, and learned lots about the process of community theater.

Birthday party

Ella and a group of her friends gathered at Million Dollar Lanes today for to celebrate her seventh birthday. She had lots of fun, and commemorated the day with a gift from the bowling alley of a special bowling pin!

Cutting her cake

Ella and Abbie having cake

Having some cake and goodies

Little bowlers

They say it's your birthday...

Today's the day - Ella is seven!!!

Her party isn't until Saturday, but she got to open a few special gifts from out of town.

This one was from Gran and Granddad in New Zealand. As she was pulling open the paper she said, "I'm so excited, Gran's gifts are always good!"

A baby doll for a baby doll

A baby doll and all the accessories - just what I wanted! The baby's name is Jane.

Happy Halloween

Cameron, Ella and Maia show off their Halloween costumes before going out for the evening to take in the All-City Halloween Party.

Cameron is the bad guy from Scary Movie, Ella is Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean, and Maia is the dead bride.

A little background on Maia's costume - apparently she became a member of the undead when she decided to try to lick the frosting off the bride and groom on the top of her wedding cake, but choked on it and passed on.

Ella's art

Ella made this "bowling ball" with her iron-on beads, but decided a photo was better, because then she could reuse the beads.

Long distance interview

Maia's teacher recently assigned her the task of interviewing "the oldest" person in her family. Since Granddad Richard is 108, she of course thought he was the perfect choice. Only problem? He is in Whangaparaoa, New Zealand, and she is miles and miles away in North Dakota.

Enter the internet.

Maia and Granddad were able to hook up via instant messenger, webcam and yahoo phone - a full package allowing them to be face to face (sort of), hear each other's voices and interact through the interview.

She had a long list of questions, including what he liked to do when he was her age, how much things cost when he was her age and where he grew up. The process was so interesting it grew a crowd - not long into it, there were three very interested children sitting on the edge of their chairs, one of them frantically taking notes. She could barely keep up, but she loved every minute of it!

Big thanks to Granddad for such a special evening.

Third grade health fair

Maia took part in the Mercy Medical Center Health Fair, an annual event for third graders. She had lots of fun (even though it was educational!!), learning about the health risks of smoking, local emergency workers and much more.

Plus she got the cute t-shirt.

Miss North Dakota

This has been a very exciting week for Maia. This week, she took part in the Little Sisters program during the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant. As part of the program, each girl is matched up with a contestant to be sisters for the week.
Maia was matched up with an incredibly sweet 17-year-old big sister named Megan. She loved every minute of their time together!

Allison Irgens, Maia's personal hair dresser, helps her get ready before the show.

Maia and her big sister, Miss James River Valley Megan Ockert of Cathay, N.D. What a gorgeous pair!

Maia (green dress) and Megan (black dress) unwind after Friday's preliminary competition with some dancing at the Miss N.D. gala.

Joining in to do the Macarena with the other contestants and Little Sisters.

Getting ready to go on stage - Maia smiles for the camera next to her spot in the dressing room.

Maia presents Megan with a rose during the evening gown portion of the competition.

Maia (yellow hat, second from left) and the other Little Sisters play dress-up during their special musical number during the pageant.

Gloves, necklaces, bracelets and heels - what fun to play dress up for the crowd!

Megan and Maia say their good-byes - and Megan signs Maia's program from the event. They had such a good time together!

Maia with Miss North Dakota 2007 Annette Olson.

Our friend Amanda (Alea Photography) did a great photoshoot of us this winter, and she has the pictures available for sale on her Web site.

They are gorgeous, and you should really check them out!

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf4009c8ca2f

Big day for Ella!

This has been a very, very big day for the baby of the family.

It was the last day of kindergarten (woo-hoo! Here I come first grade!), she lost a tooth and went to a birthday party.

Does it get any better when you're six?