"I'm this big!" Chet and Joel, comparing height. Brina and I dressed our boys like twins on accident. Aren't they cute? Two mischief-makers, looking for trouble. 

Awww, a hug. These boys are only 3 1/2 months apart in age, but look at the difference in size! It always amazes me. 

Mom and Dad this past weekend. They came to our house for Rich's retirement party. It was so good to have them here. After they left I cried. 

Our house after a heavy snow. I thought it looked so beautiful and peaceful. The collie in the picture isn't ours, (I don't even know his name) but he comes to visit a few times a week. He's huge, but very gentle.  

We finally got a new dining room set, so I had to take pictures of our kids at the old table. The new one still looks huge to me...it will fit six people (before we put the leaves in), plus everyone's plates, PLUS food!! All at the same time. I'll post a picture of our new table later. I haven't taken it's photo yet. It's a bit shy, always hiding under a tablecloth. 

Joel and Clayton were a two-man band, with Clayton on the drums and Joel on the maracas. It was cute, but I don't really encourage it since it's a good way for me to get a headache. 

The following pictures are in the wrong order. Pretend they come after the Thanksgiving pictures. We drove down to Jerry and Sabrina's house the Friday after and stayed until Sunday. It was the first time we'd been to Winona in six months...we'd had a busy, busy summer with packing and moving and trying to make our new house more like home. 

Mom with Clayton, their last grandbaby so far. He looks so precious when he's sleeping. He is when he's awake too, but then he's more of a precious whiner. 

Joel, my sweet dear almost-3-year-old. He looks as if he'd never get into trouble, so sweet and innocent is he. Wow, is that ever changing now that his birthday is approaching. My laid-back little boy is starting to express some pretty strong opinions on what he will wear, what he will eat, toys Clayton can play with, and life in general. 

Brina started a fire in their woodstove as Chet looked on. He was trying to be a big helper but was mostly in the way. 

Cheston and Clayton on a sunny Saturday morning. 

John, Chet and Joel are engrossed in the Children's Picture Atlas.  

This year the Kavaloski Thanksgiving was at Lori and Todd's house. L-R: me, Sabrina, Judy, Joyce, Lori. Not pictured: Nichole. They were in Texas. 

Rebecca and Emily got to play with Lori's old Barbie dolls. They were neat to look at, but pretty musty. Joel was sitting by the girls while they played and had to move because he was sneezing so much. 

Rebecca got a new "My Little Pony" that was a big hit for a day and a half. Now it's in a special place with all her other toys that are seldom played with. 

Rebecca woke up with a croupy cough one morning, so I made this steam tent for her. Apparently it worked, because an hour later she got on the bus to go to school. I had assumed she'd be staying home that day but she had other ideas. 

Rebecca, Joel and Clayton by the deer Grandpa Rich shot. He's now in our freezer (the deer, I mean). I'm not sure when we'll get around to cooking some of the meat...it's not my favorite. 

Rebecca's cat mask that she made at school. I went to help out one day and got to do projects with the kids. 

Whoa!! X-rated. Joel, brushing his teeth. 

John and the kids at the pool. We stayed in a hotel called the Inn on Lake Superior up in Duluth last weekend. It's our favorite hotel up there...right on the lake, as the name implies! Plus they have s'mores every night and a huge breakfast in the morning. 

Clayton's awesome full-body profile. I love that baby fat! 

Joel looks tired. Whew! Swimming takes a lot out of a guy. 

Rebecca rinsing off down by the pool after our swim. 

Clayton by a ship's steering wheel in the museum in Duluth. We like to go there when we can because it's pretty interesting and it's free. Plus if the weather is bad down by the water it's a place to duck into. 

We watched this 1000 foot ore boat come through. The kids were intrigued. I suppose the ship traffic through the harbor will decrease really soon with winter coming on. 

The kids in front of something that came off a large ship. I'm not sure what it's called. Maybe someone could help me out?