The Official Weiner Christmas Photos of 2008

They're not great, but hey - we didn't cooperate with Mom and Dad at all, so what did you expect?





Love,
Ben and Cameron

Santa's Early Delivery

Today, the doorbell rang and Santa was at the door. Only it turned out to not really be Santa, but instead was our mailman!





Love,
Ben and Cameron

Winter Time Sights from Around Our House

It's definitely winter in Maple Grove. Here is a sampling of some of the sights from around the house.

Ice crystals on the outside of the window



Let it snow!




Love,
Ben and Cameron

A Week of Christmas Themed School Projects

I'm done with school for the year (Ben still has two days), so I was busy as a bee with lots of Christmas themed school projects.

"Christmas Lights"


Candy Cane Story of Jesus


Fun with stickers manger scene


Snowman door hanger

Ringing the Bell

Today, we volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army, just like last year. This year was at a different store, but we still had a lot of fun. We were also quite tired and cold by the end, which is when this was taken.



If you weren't able to get out, but still want to help out, you can donate at our virtual kettle.

Love,
Ben and Cameron

My Christmas Ornament

I made this ornament in school and I was so excited about it, we hung it on the tree!



Love,
Cameron

Our Gingerbread Village

Last week, we built a gingerbread house. Then, this weekend at Lowe's, we each built wooden gingerbread houses. Then, we put them together and made a gingerbread village.


Love,
Ben and Cameron

Ben and Peanut at 7 years (plus a few weeks)

Here I am with Peanut, just a few weeks past my 7th birthday.



Love,
Ben

School Project Catch Up

You can tell we've been busy when we make a bunch of postings on the same day!

Here is a school project catch up. Here is an owl that Ben made in art and a Hickory Dickory Dock mouse that Cameron made in school.




Love,
Ben and Cameron

The Christmas County Spelling Bee

Daddy and I were in the Northwood Church presentation of the Christmas County Spelling Bee. I was in the chorus and Daddy was Judge Thomas.

I am in the middle of the 2nd row.


Here's Dad over to the side.


Love,
Ben

Cameron's School Pictures

I just got my school pictures for 2008. They took two poses, so here they both are.



Love,
Cameron

Joyful Noise Christmas Program 08

Yesterday, we had my Christmas program at Joyful Noise. It was a lot of fun. Here is a picture of me. Dad will try to post the video soon.


Love,
Cameron

My Marshmallow Tree

Today in school, I made a marshmallow tree. I got to take a bite from each of the marshmallows before I glued them.


Love,
Cameron

My Birthday Party

Today was my birthday party. It was supposed to be a few weeks ago, but I was sick and we moved it to today. We had it at the Medina Entertainment Center, in the bowling alley. Here are all of my friends that came.


We had three lanes of bowling fun. We bowled two games and then we we had lunch, cake and opened presents.





I had a lot of fun!



Love,
Ben

Visiting Santa with Hayden

Hayden, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jayson are in town for my birthday party with my friends. Hayden hadn't seen Santa yet, so we stopped by at the mall to see him. We know this guy was one of Santa's helpers, as we saw the real Santa at Borders for bedtime stories, but Hayden didn't notice the difference.


Love,
Ben and Cameron

Swingin' Nutcracker

Today, we went to the Swingin' Nutcracker at Orchestra Hall. It was part of the Target Free Family concerts, so if you ever shop at Target, thanks for the tickets. It was awesome!

Things started out in the lobby. They had volunteers helping kids learn about music. We got to look at violins that were demolished. Here, we learned how to play the cello.



Then, we learned about different kinds of jingle bells we might hear during the show.


Finally, we learned how to conduct the orchestra.


We were then ready to rock. The format of the concert was the Minnesota Orchestra would play a bit of the Nutcracker in a traditional form, usually accompanied by classical ballet dancers. Then, the group in the way back, the Orchestra Hall Jazz Ensemble would play a rockin' version of the same song, complete with jazz, swing or tap dancers.


It was pretty cool.

Love,
Ben and Cameron

Bedtime Stories with Santa 08

Last night, we went to listen to bedtime stories and hangout with Santa at the Borders in the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes.



We told him what we want for Christmas and now we just have to be good enough to get it!

Love,
Ben and Cameron

Humpty Dumpty

Today in school I made this Humpty Dumpty.



Love,
Cameron

Reading, Reading, Reading

Every night, my homework is to read a book (or a chapter in a bigger book). Daddy took this picture of me the other night.


Cameron sort of feels left out, so he makes up homework for himself. Tonight, it was reading Spiderman comic books.



Love,
Ben

Drawing Dinosaurs

Aunty Kate got me a kit about drawing dinosaurs. Cameron and I used it today to create some dino art.

Here we both are, hard at work.



Here are my drawings.



Here are Cameron's.



Love,
Ben

My 7th Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, and we were having dinner with the Murphys. Mom and Dad made a cake to resemble Michigan Stadium and brought it over there.

Here is the cake.


Here I am with it.


Here I am blowing out the candles.


Here I am with the Murphy kids as we are discussing which part we would each like to eat.


Since I was the birthday boy, I got to eat the "M" from midfield.



Love,
Ben