Hangin' with the Bierstedts

We spent some time with the Bierstedt cousins over the holidays. As usual, cuteness and chaos both ensued.

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Merry Christmas!

It wouldn't be Christmas without tears.

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Christmas Kid's Choir

Ben and Cameron sang in the Christmas kid's choir at church.  Ben is in the back on the left and Cameron is in the back middle.



Love,
Ben and Cameron

Mr. Red Belt

I graduated to my red belt in karate today.  I was expecting to have to wait until January, but I was able to demonstrate all of my blue belt skills in time.

Love,
Cameron

Random Art Projects

The end of the year is always a time when our teachers send home art that has been decorating the school.  Here is our collection -- mostly, it is Ainsley's work.

Ben's self (dot) portrait.

Ainsley's painted turkey.

What Ainsley is thankful for.

Ainsley's hand turkey.  She didn't like it because her teacher painted her hand.

Melted crayon turkey.

More things Ainsley is thankful for.

From the beginning of the year - they had to introduce themselves. Ainsley likes books, cousins, Hammy the hamster, Dora, and dancing.

Bejeweled Christmas tree!

Love,
Ben and Ainsley

My Holiday Program

My preschool had a holiday program and Mom and Dad came to see it.  They videotaped it so that you could see it too.  It is only 6 minutes long, so sit down and enjoy!

Here I am that morning.  Very excited!

Love,
Ainsley

Holidazzle!

We went to the Holidazzle with some friends this year.  It was cold and rainy, but we still had fun!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

A Rare Example of Collaboration

Here we are building the family gingerbread house together.

The finished product!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Field Trip to the State Capitol

Our school took a field trip to the Minnesota state capitol.  Dad came too and took some pictures.

Here's the view from the steps.  From right to left with your back to the capitol, here's the Cathedral of St. Paul,

The Minnesota National Guard Building, and

downtown St. Paul.

Inside the building, you walk right into the rotunda.

We had a guided tour that focused on the architectural history of the building.  It was pretty cool.

Facing the Supreme Court wing.

The House.

The last thing we found on our scavenger hunt.

"The Body."  My dad thought this was really funny, but couldn't explain why.

Love,
Ben

Happy Birthday, Benny!

Because of our schedules this year, Ben's birthday was pretty low-key.  Here we are opening his presents.  Hammy had fun.

Love,
Ben, Cameron, and Ainsley

Walk Against Hunger

We got up early on Thanksgiving, drove down to Mall of America, and walked to raise money and awareness for the hunger problem in the Twin Cities.  As the sponsors said, it's a nice way to "give back before giving thanks."

Love,
Ben and Cameron

A Walk in the Woods

Dad and I went on a walk in some woods near our house today.  It was nice to get out and get some fresh air.

Love,
Ainsley

A Visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Ben and I took Dad to the MIA yesterday to see the Chinese Terracotta Warriors.  While we couldn't take any pictures of them, we did take pictures of a bunch of other art we liked.  

Well, we were able to take a picture of this mini-replica.

I liked this one because it had a castle in it.

Benny studied Roy Lichtenstein in art class.

We just liked this one.

This one reminded Daddy of Will Curl.

This one was awesome.

Benny also studied  Piet Mondrian in art.

Ainsley liked this one because it was purple and pink and some other colors.

This one was like watching TV.

Big buildings downtown.

"Boys on the beach."  "But they're naked."  "But they're on a beach, Dad!"

Love,
Ainsley and Ben