Happy New Year!

Is it still appropriate to say happy new year 14 days in to January???? I hope everyone's year is off to a bang. Around here, it's been all we can do getting back into the school routines after such a wonderful Christmas break away from it all. But we're making it and are looking forward to all of the crazy changes that promise to come our way this year. Below are a few of the highlights from our Christmas (or at least the ones I caught on camera - I was a little lax this year).

One of many Star Wars toys that Nate got for Christmas. The beauty of it is he was this excited with every gift.

MariCagle was most excited to get Ruthie. She loves Ruthie and her outfits, especially their matching pajamas.

Gingerbread houses...a new tradition.

They're ready for the excitement of the new year in their Nebraska t's. If nothing else, it will definitely be exciting. :)

Visiting Santa

MariCagle and Nate have visited Santa on two occasions. The problem is that they ask for different things with each visit. MC has been somewhat consistent, but Nate is just all over the place. I hope Santa can keep up! This is probably my last post until after the new year so best wishes to everyone for a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!!!

More Christmas Cheer...

Here are a couple of MariCagle and Nate's pieces of work in the last couple weeks. They have Christmas on the brain. Don't we all? It's a the 'most wonderful time of the year' after all.

Nate's teacher helped him to make this wish list for Santa. He made it Friday morning and that evening we had already planned to watch 'Star Wars' episode IV that night for family movie night. After enjoying the movie, his list has expanded with all things Star Wars. Notice he is attempting to write his name in cursive. Cursive handwriting is MC's new obsession. She has some time before she actually begins this feat in school, but I guess it seems like a grown-up thing to do. And as usual, Nate likes to try everything MariCagle is trying.

MariCagle still enjoys drawing and writing a great deal. Her work now centers around Christmas. Below is one of my favorites that she's done recently. Hope everyone is having a very blessed Christmas season!!

Merry Christmas!

In honor of our last Christmas in Gainesville, we took Christmas card pictures in our Gator shirts complete with our family mascot Albert.

We wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year!!

Go Gators!

I have to say that the Gators have made our time here quite unforgettable or perhaps we have been their good luck charm. Since our arrival in 2004, they have won one football national championship, two basketball national championships, and barring any BCS computer mess-up, will vie for a second national football title!!! Wowwee! I hope we bring the same luck to the Cornhuskers.

Check out our Gator good luck charms through these 4 1/2 years...

Happy Thanksgiving Indeed!!!

As if we weren't thankful enough this year for our two wonderful, healthy children and absolutely fabulous family and friends...BRANDON GOT A JOB! We got the call Tuesday evening in route to visit the family for Thanksgiving festivities when the University of Nebraska called to make Brandon the offer. We were very pleased (that is an understatement) and Brandon was able to work out all the details making it official by Saturday. So come summer we'll be moving to Lincoln, Nebraska. It's a good thing we have plenty of time for all of this to settle in. But again, it was an especially blessed Thanksgiving for the Lockhart clan.

Below are a couple shots from our Thanksgiving fun (sorry I didn't take more)...

This is at Nate's 'mini feast' at school. The children all dressed as pilgrims or Indians (their choice) and we enjoyed a 'mini feast' that they had prepared for everyone. Nate was so proud of himself as he helped snap the green beans, wrap plasticware, make placemats and tablecloths, make homemade biscuits and roll up turkey for the feast. I told him I was going to let him start cooking every night!

Nana saved the wishbone for MariCagle and Nate to snap. Above they are ready to battle. Below you can see that Nate won. Though MariCagle swears that he used more than three fingers. :)

We are excited to get ready for Christmas. It is truly a wonderful time of the year! MariCagle and Nate have been working on their lists for Santa. With our news of Nebraska, they have added 'big fat coats,' mittens, scarves, and rolling suitcases. Go Cornhuskers!

School

I think I'm going to have to let MC start writing her own blog. She loves writing stories and her spelling is getting better and better every day. Here is her own account of 1st grade....

Despite her lack of enthusiasm for math, she is doing quite well, learning to add and subtract. And she is spot on with her 'love, love, love' of reading and writing and she is doing great at that too. We are so thankful that she likes school so much thanks to her fabulous teachers and friends.


Nate is loving school too. He's learning all about letters and numbers and really enjoys book club each morning. Book club is when the children bring a book from home each morning and share with their classmates their favorite parts. He has fantastic teachers and is doing all kinds of fun things with great friends. Here is one of his works from letter F week...