knoernschild.org » Holidays

Here comes the Easter Bunny

karl — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:18:06 +0000

The boys woke up to find presents from the easter bunny waiting on the kitchen table

Kyle shows off his new Perry the Platypus shirt

My very own tape measure

The easter egg hunt begins

Kyle finds an egg that Spike was trying to eat

Ian knows what my favorite is

Here's mommy's favorite

Comparing the haul

A white Christmas, one day late

karl — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:15:43 +0000

Christmas Eve and Christmas day it was raining here, so all of our snow melted. We didn’t have to wait long, though. Last night it started snowing and didn’t stop until this evening. We ended up with at least 10 inches of beautiful, fluffy snow. One day late, but worth the wait.

Christmas cookies!

karl — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:52:38 +0000

On the day after Christmas, not quite sick of cookies yet, we made and decorated cutout cookies with the boys. Cookies, sticky icing, a dozen cans of sprinkles, what could possibly go wrong?

Merry Christmas!

karl — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:56:48 +0000

Christmas Eve:

This year Katra and I wrapped our gifts for each other using Furoshiki, or the Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping. The fabric can be used over and over, and allows you to wrap in some pretty elaborate styles.

A beautiful example of Katra's wrapping

Another one Katra wrapped. For this one she sewed two sheets of fabric together back to back.

A small box I wrapped for Katra

Kyle woke up (at about 6:30 am) to find his stocking laying next to him, stuffed full of toys.

The first sighting of the huge pile of presents under the tree

Ian checking out his stocking

Dr. Kyle makes a house call

hmmmm...let me see....You need a band-aid. " title="19858" width="500" height="335" class="size-full wp-image-1294" />

hmmmm...let me see....You need a band-aid.

Kyle flies the Bat-Copter

Ian! To the Bat-Cave!!

When I asked Katra to get a spoon for me, she was surprised to find this new silverware drawer divider I made for her. The wood is maple (to match the drawer box) with cherry inlay (to match our cabinet doors). The bottom is black velvet over foam board. If you look closely, you can see that the divider pieces (with the inlay) are not straight on the top – I made them with a gentle curve down towards the front of the drawer.

Close-up of the drawer divider.

Now, whenever Katra opens the silverware drawer, I hear a happy little giggle.

Christmas 2009 at Lyon Farm

karl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:08:21 +0000

We made our annual trip to Lyon Farm for their Christmas celebration. We ate roasted chestnuts, saw a blacksmith working, and the boys did some crafts and saw Santa Claus.

Kyle saw Santa standing outside the general store from all the way across the yard, then ran full speed all the way there. Once inside he went right to Santa, sat on his lap and told him he wanted 'batman and a slinky' for Christmas.

Ian was a little afraid at first, but after Santa had convinced Katra to sit on his lap with Ian on hers, Ian sat on Santa's lap all by himself...

...and was rewarded with his first-ever candy cane. He liked it at first, but once he got to the more pepperminty center, decided it wasn't so great after all.

In the old schoolhouse, Kyle made a Christmas cracker (which was really just tissue paper over a toilet paper roll) and Ian made an ornament.

Kyle shows off his cracker outside the general store

Ian running to show me the ornament he made ALL BY HIMSELF!

The artiste proudly shows off his work

I photograph Kyle as he photographs his cracker (while watching me photograph him)

The blacksmith forging a hook

Kyle shows off the cookie he decorated in the train depot

A couple of hobos who snuck into the train caboose

Ian examines the water pump while Kyle (naturally) takes a picture

Is it Monday again already?

Kyle and Ian listen as The Night Before Christmas is read to them

Ready for a hayride!

Can I take it home? Pleeeeease? " title="19766" width="500" height="335" class="size-full wp-image-1277" />

Can I take it home? Pleeeeease?

Halloween 2009

karl — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:01:16 +0000

Halloween began this year with Kyle’s school parties on Thursday. Since he is in the diagnostic program, he had two parties, one with his morning class and one with his afternoon class. He also marched in two parades.

While we were waiting for the parade to start, Ian had some fun with some other kids his age:

Only 2 years old, and already chasing cheerleaders around...

The afternoon parade included all grades, so it went on for quite a while. Kyle proudly marched along in the beautiful Harry Potter robes mommy had made for him.

Kyle (Harry Potter) with his aide

On Saturday (Halloween), we went over to the high school, where they had games, prizes and bounce houses for the kids to play in. Later in the afternoon, we went out for trick-or-treating, and came back with a ginormous bag of candy.

Wand at the ready, in case any monsters show up

LUMOS!

Ka-CHOW!!

Look out! Behind you!

Kuipers Farm

karl — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:02:01 +0000

Today we went out to Kuipers Farm, which is about 30 minutes northwest of here. We visited all the attractions, went on a hayride, then bought a pumpkin and some apples.

The leaves were just beginning to change this weekend

Entrance to the Maize Maze

Just before we became hopelessly lost in the corn maze

What's better than a tractor tire? A MOUNTAIN of tractor tires!

A pumpkin totem pole. A few of the pumpkins weren't looking so good anymore

Ian picking some play apples. They were held on with velcro, just like the real thing.

Kyle on the bounce pillow

All abord!

The choo-choo train engineer

Kyle rides the tire horse

I've heard of sand castles, but... corn castles?

Through the cornstalk cavern

That well-known farm work animal, the peacock.

Kyle pumps some water while I wash our pumpkin

Look out! It's a giant robotic farmer!!

Relaxing in the cafe while we wait for our lunch

Easter!

karl — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:13:07 +0000

Katra decorates the Easter cake. You'll just have to imagine it's in the shape of a lamb.

Kyle puts carrots out for the Easter Bunny

Ian was a little confused about who the carrots were for

Kyle puts the carrots on the back step for the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny was very busy this year

Kyle on Easter morning

Ian picked up each egg and put it in Kyle's basket. The path of eggs led the way to...

Easter presents!!!

Christmas II

karl — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:30:38 +0000

Daddy can take a trip to Missouri any time he wants, if he brings back PRESENTS! This time I brought back some Christmas/Birthday presents from Aunt Chris, Uncle Mike, and the boys.

Kyle offers Ian some present opening tips

Anything with cars is my new favorite toy.

Wook, see???!?

Deeply immersed in his newest book

Look, Mommy and Daddy, it makes NOISES!

Inspecting each other's loot

Merry Christmas!

karl — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:48:30 +0000

Lots of Christmas photos in the photo gallery.