THE KIDS AT POLAR BOWL BOWLING

DANIEL GIVING SISSY TIPS ON HOW TO ROLL THE BALL

DANIEL'S BALL HEADING RIGHT TOWARD THE CENTER ( HE GOT TWO STRIKES IN THE GAME)

HAILEY GETTING BRAVE AND TRYING IT WITHOUT THE RAMP

HE WAS EXCITED AND HADNT EVEN KNOCKED PINS DOWN YET

ITS GONNA BE A STRIKE

HAILEY AND DANIEL WERE BOTH IN THE LEAD AND TIED AT ONE POINT OF THE GAME (DANIEL ACTUALLY WON WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE HAILEY 4 POINTS BEHIND IN SECOND IF MY CAMERA WOULDNT HAVE BROKEN ID HAVE A PICTURE OF THE FINAL SCORE)

PIRATE DANIEL

DANIEL PLAYING SKEE BALL ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAMES

HAILEY AND HER FRIEND ANDREW THE BIRTHDAY BOY AND HER BROTHER PLAYING A VIDEO GAME

SHE LOOKS SO GROWN UP IN THIS PICTURE

HAILEY AND HER NEW HANNAH MONTANA DOLL I LOVE THIS PICTURE

THE KIDS WERE EXCITED TO GET TOYS R US GIFT CARDS IN THE MAIL TODAY

THANK YOU WESTERKAMM FAMILY

We went to one of Hailey's friends Birthday Party today and it was at the bowling alley. Hailey had gone bowling 1 time before when she was much younger and Daniel a few times when He was younger. They have bowled on the Wii before but this was definitly different for them. They both had a blast. They did have bumpers up for them which made it a little easier as they could not get gutter balls. Daniel scored a 75 and was very excited with his 2 strikes and Hailey scored a 71. She got 1 strike and 2 spares. They had so much fun they want to go again. They each got a coupon in their party bags for 1 free game of bowling so I think we will take them again over winter break before Daddy has to leave. Also Thank You Joe, Alison, Ben, Lily, and Max the kids got your cards today with their Toys R Us gift cards as soon as the holiday rush dies down we will take them and they are excited to go pick out a new Ds game for their new systems. On the bad side of the day I dropped my 5 month old camera at the bowling alley today and it broke so We will be off to best buy in the morning, luckily I got the black tie 2 year warrenty on it so hopefully it will get sent in and repaired at no cost I just may be without a camera for a few weeks. Not a good time for this to happen with Justin leaving in 12 days hopefully it doesnt take long to fix and I get it back quickly. Like Justin said at least it wasnt my Iphone I would be out of luck if I dropped it and it broke.

THE LAST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

THE EIGHTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

THE KIDS WEARING THEIR HANUKKAH SHIRTS

THE KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS SAID THEY WERE GOOD SO I GUESS I DID A GOOD JOB

MAKING THE POTATO LATKES

OUR HANUKKAH DINNER

THEY GOT DANIEL THIS SHIRT AND IT CAME WITH A ROBOT RADIO WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS COOL

I LOVE THIS NEW DRESS AND JACKET MY PARENTS FOUND FOR MISS HAILEY

MIRANDA, HAILEY, AND HER HANNAH MONTANA DOLL

THEY ARE READY TO GO SHOPPING

THANK YOU UNCLE LARRY, AUNT JONI, JORDAN, AND HAYLEY THE KIDS WERE EXCITED WITH THEIR TOYS R US GIFT CARDS

DANIEL GOT A TALKING WOLVERINE ACTION FIGURE WOLVERINE IS HIS FAVORITE SUPER HERO

HAILEY AND HER LIFE SIZE SINGING HANNAH MONTANA DOLL

DANIEL GOT A WOLVERINE REMOTE CONTROL CAR HE THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER COOL

HAILEY GOT A STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DOLL

Tonight was Night Eight of Hanukkah and the last night. The kids lit the Menorah and then We got on the web cam with Grandpa and Grandma and they had two presents to open on the last night. Daniel opened a Wolverine talking action hero and a Wolverine remote control car. Wolverine is his favorite superhero so He was really excited. Hailey opened a Strawberry Shortcake doll and a life size Hannah Montana doll. The doll is almost as big as her. She was very excited as well she loves Hannah Montana. We also want to Thank Uncle Larry, Aunt Joni, Jordan and Hayley the kids opened their card as well tonight and were surprised to each find a gift card to Toys R Us. Right away Daniel said Awesome we can get another Ds game for our new Nintendo ds and we will take them to the store this week so they can do so. Thank You very much. The kids were wearing their personalized Hanukkah shirts tonight and helped me make some potato latkes for dinner. They actually came out pretty good. Even their Friends who joined us to try some Michael and Miranda said they were really good and wanted more. We had a great Hanukkah and now the kids are enjoying their winter break and playing with all their new toys from Santa and Hanukkah these past 8 nights. We plan on doing some special things over winter break before Daddy has to leave. A trip to Bulid A Bear, sledding at the ski hill, and going to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks are just a few things planned for their break.

THE SEVENTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

THE 7TH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH LIGHTING THE MENORAH

DANIEL ENJOYING HIS CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOP

HAILEY WITH HER MILEY CYRUS CD AND NI HI KAI LAN DS GAME

DANIEL WITH HIS IRON MAN DS GAME AND ALIENS AND THE ATTIC MOVIE THANK YOU SCHECTMAN FAMILY

Tonight was the 7th night of Hanukkah.We were able to get on the webcam with Uncle Stephen, Aunt Ronna, Cousin Matt and they even had their dog Phantom come to the web cam to say hello. Daniel opened a Nintendo ds game Iron Man and the movie Aliens In The Attic and Hailey opened a Ni Hi Kai Lan Nintendo ds game and the new Miley Cyrus Cd. Thank You very much to the Schectman Family.

DANIEL'S KINDERGARDEN CLASS HOLIDAY STONE SOUP LUNCH

JUSTIN AND DANIEL AT HIS KINDERGARDEN LUNCH

DANIEL AND I AT HIS KINDERGARDEN LUNCH

DANIEL MADE THIS SPECIAL FOR US

A GIFT DANIEL MADE FOR JUSTIN AND I

DANIEL'S SELF PORTRAIT

SOME OF THE OTHER KIDS IN THE CLASS

DANIEL AND HIS FRIEND CADEN THAT SAT WITH US FOR LUNCH

DANIEL EATING HIS GINGERBREAD MAN COOKIE

DANIEL WATCHING THE PRINCIPAL TRY SOME OF THE SOUP

DANIEL TRYING THE STONE SOUP
Daniel's Kindergarden class had a holiday lunch today where the Parents were invited to come. The class made stone soup which was really good and the kids decorated their own gingerbread cookies and made some for the Moms and Dads too. Even the Principal of the school Mr Webb came to their room to try a bowl of the stone soup the class made. Daniel was very excited to have Justin and I there and introduced us to all his Friends. He also brought home a special wrapped present He made for us but We didnt open it yet cause Daddy had to go into work so We are planning on opening it tomorrow. All the kids had done self portraits in Art class and they were hanging in the room for decoration. I love DAniel's self portrait. He drew himself and made him wearing a wolverine T-shirt and even tried to spell Wolverine. I thought it was very good and very creative. Daniel and Hailey are officially on winter break now and home until January 4th. The one thing I really like about Daniel's Kindergarden teacher is she sent all the kids home with a homework folder filled with a bunch of work for them to do while on break. I think that is great so He keeps up with his learning cause its close to 3 weeks He will be home.

THE SIXTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

THE SIXTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

DADDY AND HAILEY WITH HER STYLIN SALON BARBIE DOLL

HAILEY PLAYING WITH HER NEW BARBIE DOLL

DADDY AND HAILEY STYLIN BARBIE'S HAIR

DANIEL VERY EXCITED HE REALLY WANTED THIS TRANSFORMERS TOY

DADDY PUTTING DANIEL'S TRANSFORMERS TRACK TOGETHER

HAILEY WEARING HER HANDMADE SANTA JEANS I THINK THEY ARE SO CUTE

DANIEL JAY

Tonight was the 6th night of Hanukkah and Justin was off today and because of very severe snow conditions all the kids after school activites were cancelled. It was actually a very quiet night which is a change cause We have been busy every day this past week.We were able to get on the web cam with My Parents while the kids opened their Hanukkah presents from them.Unfortunatley My laptop was acting up a bit and kept kicking us off skype but I think its working better now. Hailey opened a Barbie styling salon where she can actually wash and highlight Barbie's hair. It was really neat and fun watching Daddy playing Barbie's with Hailey. Daniel got a Transformers race car track set that He had really been wanting. The kids were actually in bed by 830pm tonight the earliest yet this whole week. Usually there bedtimes are 730pm on school nights but We had alot going on this week and tomorrow is there last day of school before they are off for two and a half weeks for winter break so we have been letting them stay up later then normal.

OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATING OUT 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

THERE WAS A FIREPLACE IN THE RESTAURANT

OUR ANNIVERSARY CAKE FOR DESSERT

JUSTIN AND I ENJOYING A ROMANTIC DINNER

CESEAR SALAD PREPARED TABLESIDE FROM SCRATCH BY THE CHEF

THE AMAZING CRABCAKE APPETIZER

THE RESTAURANT WHERE WE ATE

A BAG FROM ZALES WAS HANDED TO ME

WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS MR BEANS WAS CURIOUS TOO

MY BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND EARRINGS

CLOSE UP OF MY EARRINGS
We celebrated our 10 year Anniversary last night. It was a few weeks early but like the rest of the holidays We are celebrating early with Justin having to deploy soon. We had reservations for a 4 star restaurant in town that My Mom had actually discovered looking in a restaurant book of fine dining in anchorage. It's called the Marx Brothers Cafe. Well about an hour before we were ready to go to dinner Justin had gone out to run some errands and came back and surprised me with a bag and box from Zales. I opened it to find a beautiful pair of 1 carrot diamond earrings. I was so surprised. I had been having a very rough week with alot of disappointment and aggrevation from Justin's work and was definitly not expecting this and I was just speechless when I opened it. I felt a little guilty as I had gotten Justin two computer games for our Anniversary which We ended up taking back to Gamestop today cause Justin does not really like playing computer games. I wanted him to have some entertainment while He is deployed and something to keep him busy. Anyways We ended up back at Gamestop today and He got a DSi and a few games for it. They are really cool a little more advanced then the Nintendo DS which the kids have. He can actually get on the internet, download music, and take pictures with this one. The restaurant was out of this world. It is in an old historic house and inside only has 14 tables and most of the tables are for two. There are maybe 4 tables that were for 4. There is a fireplace inside and We were treated like royalty. First was the appetizer which Justin and I shared the Crabcake which was 100 percent real crabmeat. The waitor asked what we wanted to drink and I asked if they had coke or pepsi products. They looked at me funny and then replied We dont normally sell softdrinks We have beer or wine by the glass or bottle but they had some soda for the kitchen which they gave us on ice in wine glasses. Then The owner prepared a ceaser salad for two right in front of us tableside and He made it from scratch. Justin and I both had the venison(Deer meat) for our main course and then they gave us a complimentary warm berry crisp cake for our dessert. It was such a romantic dinner and special evening I got to spend with Justin. We have been through a long journey in the last 10 years with alot of up and downs, have two beautiful children together, and look forward to spending the rest of our lives together.