Shrek The Musical

We were blessed with two free tickets to the production Shrek The Musical through work and naturally we surprised Conner with his first theatrical experience. The seats were phenomenal and Conner just kept looking at me as we walked down, down and further down the main isle to our seats just 5 rows back center stage. This trek took a while because he was walking while staring up at the ceiling, hence a shot at the beautiful architecture of the Orpheum. We arrived about 30 minutes early and Conner was all over the place with constant chatter for me to "look at this Mommy or you've GOT to look at that!" He was just in awe, one of his favorites was the orchestra pit, but the look on his face when the lights started to dim and the curtains opened was just heart pounding, his eyes were popping out of his head and he spent the whole show on the edge of his seat.

At intermission he couldn't quite understand why they skipped so many scenes (he knows the first Shrek movie by heart and knew there was much more to come) so we explained what intermission was and that the actors needed a break and drink of water. We hit the restrooms and found winding lines out of each women's bathroom in the place. Luckily a very nice grandpa came by and Conner followed him in to the men's room, they came out just minutes later and he assured me Conner washed his hands very well!

The play started late and ran over 2.5 hours with the final curtain call being 10:45pm! The last number had the whole house on their feet dancin' to "I Believe!" with a thunderous cannon shot of confetti into the air above us! Conner said very loudly "Mommy we've GOT to get this movie" as if you could rent this production and take it home with you. After picking up some of the confetti to share with Brienna we made the long journey home. His eyes gave up the fight before we even left downtown and didn't even peek until morning. The vocals were just incredible, the 7 year old Fiona was so amazing she brought tears to your eyes! Donkey was a reincarnation of Eddie Murphy, incredible and Lord Farquad (sp?) stole the show, truly spectacular production and we feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to take our little man!

Yep, had to put a shot of the ceiling that had Conner so mesmerized!

He was so excited he could hardly sit still!

Just moments before Shrek opens the show!

Conner wanted a "cool" shot as he called it so he could show his friends, what????? I happily obliged him.....

On our way to check out the balcony before heading down to our seats, he just couldn't leave without a birds eye view from that balcony!

Conner looses his first teeth!!!

Yep, not just one, but TWO! He has had one supremely loose tooth since before Christmas and with a new one coming in behind it, we were all working hard to encourage him to pull it out. Lots of time passed & sure enough the one next to it became equally loose. We were getting to the point they either had to be pulled by him or a dentist. We made the appointment and hoped for the best. These parents didn't enjoy the thought of having to pay the dentist $146 per tooth, especially considering they were hanging on by a thread. Yet we wanted this experience to be good for Conner.

Monday before the dentist appointment came, it also happened to be Mommy's birthday, so as we walked him in to brush I hinted that it would be the best birthday gift ever if he would pull them out. His little heart just struggled with this, he was so scared it would hurt and bleed. Daddy suggested he help him brush just this once and Conner hesitantly let him, his little body knew something was up. Steve did a fantastic job, with just a little pressure, the first one was out!!!! Celebrations ensued, he was just beaming. What came next was pure brilliance, Steve took a napkin and asked Conner to sit on his lap so he could "dab" at the little bit of blood and stealthy took care of tooth # 2 without Conner even noticing! We are so proud of you Conner and thank you very much for doing it on my birthday, I will never forget how happy you were and excited for that tooth fairy to come!!!!!

The impossible task of getting him to open up and show off his missing teeth ended badly and thus this is the best shot we got. Bottom row, front two!

Noah's Birthday Party!

Noah's birthday celebration was held a the YMCA this year, what a fun place that is to have a birthday party! They set up a room and allow access to the jungle gym area, serve pizza and let you swim! A great time was had by all and everyone needed a nap after all this fun!

Noah, his cousin Brie and about 4 of his friends making a big splash!

All smiles for the b-day boy!

Carter is such a joy to photograph, he stayed until I got the perfect shot, Liv you're so lucky!!!!

Conner & his buddy Kyla!

The whole gang, what a troop we were!

Thole Family Christmas

What happens when you take 2 parents, 6 children, 5 spouses, and 9 grandchildren and throw them all together under one roof in the middle of winter? The Thole Family Christmas and what a blast it is! There's always an abundance of amazing dishes to feast on, and we say each year we'll cut back next year, not so much. Presents piled high under the tree, well what do expect with that many grandchildren! Lastly, the time spent with my brothers and sisters, parents, nieces and nephews celebrating Jesus' birthday, well, it's totally beyond priceless. Like we posted earlier, there is just something about going home for the holiday's.

Well here's the day as it unfolded, we snacked while waiting for the typical late comers, and we all know who you are. Then we actually share a meal, clean up, open presents in one big rip and screams of delight fest and finally ended the evening playing Phase 10. Mind you, the game in and of itself with 10+ players was enough to blow your mind, now add in the background some little snipers who were delighted to receive nerf machine guns from Grandpa & Grandma for Christmas. While you're trying to concentrate on attaining a phase a little dart would veer past your heads. The outcome, well poor uncle Jason, what a sport he was, didn't even hit a single phase and his shinning moment was to get below 75 points once when the hand went out. Many many moments of laughing so hard you couldn't breathe or had tears in our eyes. Family, what a glorious blessing and we couldn't have ended the season on a better note! Love you all dearly......

Side splitting fun!

Best buds caught playing dolls so nicely, they share extremely well! Lily & Evie you are so darn pretty!!!!

Evie having some downtime cuddles with Brienna while Conner masters his Star Wars game on his Leapster - yep still waiting for the late party goers!

Someone got herself a kitchen set!

Keegan is so methodical, he will sit and study things so intently, you can just see his mind working! I think he could look a little more like his Dad though, holy cows he's a total mini me of Andrew!

Never ending gourmet masterpieces, no one goes hungry!

Pre-celebration ramp up!

Brie hardly let this little gal's feet hit the floor!

Christmas with the Reese's

Papa going for a ride!

Ayden all bundled up

Making a snow fort

Are they tunnels or holes? Brie, Aubrey, & Jenna!

Surprise! Nana & Papa are taking them all on an adventure to the Minnesota Zoo!!!!

Nana & Papa's turn to open presents

Seth received this super cool huge magnifying glass, can't wait to use it on those bugs this summer, just don't start any fires!

Conner is all decked out for that cool season opener game - Go Twins!!!!!

Uncle Mitch, Bill, & Aunt Sarah holding down the couch....

Nana & Papa made fantastic photo books of the "cousin's adventure" they had this past summer! What great memories, awesome gift!!!

Pretty gals waiting patiently!

The whole gang!!!!

There is just something great about going home for the holiday's and none more so than to a parents house. We both feel great nostalgia when we go home to celebrate with our two families each year. Sunday morning we awoke to frosted trees already over loaded with the many inches of snow Minnesota has been treated to this year, what a beautiful sight to see on our way to Steve's childhood church, First Covenant. Familiar faces greeted us and it's always such an amazing pleasure to see Uncle Mitch sing with the praise and worship team.

An amazing brunch was enjoyed with egg bakes, french toast bakes, fruit and mimosa's, then the kids were allowed to open their stockings. I'm not sure where Nana shops, but she finds the craziest fun things for the kids each year, it's always exciting to watch what they pull out next. Nap times for some and further present opening ensued, snowmobiling, another spectacular meal of soups and in true Reese (the Stephen Reese family that is) tradition, an ER visit. Some have said we need to be more careful on Holidays and it appears they are right. Daddy took on a incline with his snowmobile and came down injuring his right knee. If you recall a recent Labor Day weekend, a similar altercation with a dirt bike yielded damage to his left knee. We'll be sure to watch ourselves (mainly Daddy) over the upcoming Easter and 4th of July celebrations.....

Over all it was still a great and magical time, spent with family celebrating the most wonderful gift of all, a little baby boy named Jesus!

Good Question.....

I gathered up the courage to volunteer at Church this year as one of the snack ladies in the Preschool & Kindergarten Sunday Pathfinders rooms, a much more intense job than I could ever imagine. You have no idea how serious these little tykes take their snacks, what they didn't tell me was that it's also our jobs to entertain the children until the teacher arrives, no small task when you're dealing with 3 year-olds that have to be pryed from their parents legs. Puzzles, crayons, and play dough help me accomplish this with ease.

The last class before Christmas was a huge birthday party for Jesus. A big hit, cupcakes, and not one, but two projects! Double the mess too, but it will forever be ingrained in my heart as the one time my little peanut broke out of his shy state of being. As the teacher asks the class who's birthday they're celebrating, a resounding cheer of "baby Jesus" erupted. What did my son say when everyone quieted down? Little Conner asked "When is God's birthday?" Silence........

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Daddy getting an upgrade to the basic razor....

More favorite recipes to try in her new cookbook

Just Dance 2, and boy are we glad it was on her list, it's just hysterical fun, I didn't know my kids could boogie that well.....

Star Wars for his new Leapster 2 - received a cool "AWESOME" from Conner

He wanted one just like his cousin Ayden's, looks like Santa was listening...

Why is it that after a very late night, parents think that their kids would sleep in just a little bit the next morning? Not my kids, and certainly not when that morning is one of their favorite days of the year, Christmas! My only hope was that they would at least wait until the sun came up! So in the early morning hours the kids came bounding up the stairs with excitement. Conner noticed that all that was left of the cookies and candy were crumbs and then headed to the garbage to see if Santa threw the wrappers away (from the chocolate candy) and when there weren't any he said he hoped Santa didn't throw them on the floor. Steve redirected him to the big window to see whether the deer had found his food they had sprinkled on the snow the night before (a school project he came home with, sprinkle the deer food so they have something to eat while waiting for Santa to come back up the chimney). Lo and behold, deer tracks! Santa had certainly come!

Stockings were the first order and boy do they make quick work of that process, time for a coffee break, and much needed at this early hour. The sun finally completes it's beautiful task of arriving and we move onto the presents. This year was the first year our household did NOT creatively adapt a favorite game to make present opening interesting. The reason, we broke down after a year of pleading from our eldest, and blessed them with a WII. They are a ton of fun and something the whole family can enjoy! My hubby surprised me with a much needed replacement in the camera area and bless him for finding a simple alternative, all automatic!

Pancakes, whipped topping, bacon, a yummy breakfast and a very late seafood extravaganza lunch and off to Willmar we go for more Christmas fun! Papa took us for a ride so that we could take in the lights display put on by a very nice young man, Chad Koosman. He does it every year and stands at the end of his driveway taking donations for the Salvation Army. Last year he raised over $20,000! A very fitting way to end to a very glorious day, Happy Birthday Jesus!