7-8 Years Old
 On March 3, 2011 it was Grandparents Day at Morgan's First Grade Class. |
 She has such a bright and beautiful classroom. |
 The desks are all lined up in rows. |
 Morgan's desk has her name on it. |
 They have a full schedule of wonderful things to learn. |
 Morgan especially loves reading. |
 Grandpa and Grandma love to visit Morgan's classroom. |
 Her first grade teacher, Mrs. Koester is really nice. |
 She has been teaching at Bloomington Lutheran School since 2006. |
 Morgan was the Student of the Day and is really happy about it. Way to go Morgan! |
 On May 12, 2011 grades 1-4 presented their play Rainbow Review. |
 The stage was beautifully decorated. |
 It was the story of Noah's Ark and the students had wonderful costumes. Morgan's first grade class had Swans, Bumblebees, dogs, Cheetahs, Raccoons, Monkeys and Robins. |
 Morgan was a Robin. |
 Daddy sewed her wonderful costume and she looked really cute. |
 She sang and danced. You are great Morgan! |
 They sang "You have been chosen", Don't miss the boat", "Two by Two", "Please don't rock the boat", Messenger of hope" and Rainbow Review". |
 On May 27, 2011 Morgan had Track and Field Day. |
 She has great friends in first grade and loves school. |
 On June 18, 2011, Joshua turned five years old. |
 He is getting to be such a big boy! |
 Daddy loves having these birthday parties. |
 And Grandma is crazy about spending time with Morgan and Joshua. |
 Grandma and Joshua love each other. |
 The same is true of Grandpa and Joshua! |
 And Grandma Sil loves them both too! |
 Uncle Paul loves Joshua's parties. |
 And so do Rachel and Kurt. Everyone loves Joshua! |
 Many pictures were taken. Morgan likes taking pictures with her princess camera. |
 What a fun brother and sister. |
 Then it was present opening time. Grandpa and Grandma gave Joshua a Giant Search and Find book. |
 He loved all of his presents. |
 Now for cake and cupcake time. The theme of his birthday this year is Toy Story, which he loves. |
 Daddy helps Josh blow out the candles. |
 Chocolate ice cream really hits the spot. |
 Grandpa and Grandma Sil enjoyed the cake and also watching Josh. |
 He really liked playing with the dragon castle. |
 And looking at his birthday cards. Happy 5th Birthday Joshua. |
 Also in June 2011, was Vacation Bible School. |
 It was a big group of kids at Bloomington Lutheran Church and Mommy helped. |
 Morgan and Mommy do High Fives! |
 They are good buddies and had matching T-shirts. |
 Morgan enjoys a blue snack. |
 She poses with the dolphin sign. God's Word is Comforting. |
 Kids can be goofy and Morgan loved panning for the camera with her friends. |
 Michelle and the kids loved Vacation Bible School. |
 On July 3, 2011, Paul and Lindy were married. It was a happy day. |
 Morgan was the flower girl. |
 On July 8, 2011, Lauren and Levi visited MN from CA and spent a wonderful day in Shakopee. |
 Morgan and Levi spent most of the day in the pool. |
 Grandpa fixed the deck. |
 While Grandma, Josh and Jake just enjoyed the day. |
 In October, Morgan spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma's house, one of the fun things she loves doing. |
 She especially loves to play with dolls and the king/queen at the candy shop. Morgan orchestrates what they say and do. |
 Since Grandma is teaching LEGOS, Morgan made some earings. |
 And loved playing with the pneumatic robot hand. |
 I can pick up a wheel, she laughed. |
 On October 15, 2011, the Hopkins Fire Department had an open house, which Grandma, Morgan and Lion enjoyed. |
 Morgan got to hold the fire hose. |
 And spray it on a burning building model. |
 We all got to ride up on the ladder truck bucket. |
 They took us up 60 feet above the ground. |
 One of the fun things we saw being that high up was the playground that Morgan really loved. |
 We used to come here often when Morgan and Josh came to Grandma and Grandpa's house every day. |
 She especially loves the climbing walls. |
 "Haaaa Haaaa Grandma. Look at me! ", laughed Morgan. "This is SOO much fun." |
 After the Fire Dept. open house and the playground, Morgan and Grandma come home and woke up all the Muffys. |
 They all got dressed for Winter, which Morgan thought would be fun. "A Santa suit for you", she said. |
 "I love these Muffys." |
 The Muffys and Lulu went sledding. |
 And the Arctic Muffy rode on Oastie while the other friends watched. |
 Surrounded by Muffys, Morgan again played Candy Store. |
 She loved to taunt the King with Hissy Sissy. The King is such a goofy character in Morgan's plays. |
 Hissy Sissy squashed the King. |
 "I love Hissy Sissy", Morgan said. "Thank you again Auntie Char and Uncle Bruce for giving him to me. |
 For Halloween, Daddy carved a lion pumpkin. What an artist! |
 Morgan dressed as a mouse and Josh was a lion. |
 On November 10, 2011, Morgan's school put on the play AmeriKids. She is now in 2nd Grade! |
 The stage was decorated with a beautiful flag quilt. |
 The kids were all dressed in red white and blue and some had great costumes of the founding fathers. |
 Morgan looked so pretty in red and blue. |
 She sang wonderfully as usual. What fun to go see her programs. |
 Thanksgiving 2011 was at the Neikirk house. Pete made a spectacular turkey, which everyone devoured. |
 Uncle Paul and Aunt Lindy relaxed after the big meal. |
 Mommy looked so pretty! |
 And Grandpa enjoyed the day. |
 Morgan showed off the really cool bag she made. |
 Morgan and Daddy cuddled on the sofa. |
 Morgan got goofy. |
 And Daddy retaliated with a tickle. |
 "Thanks for a wonderful Thanksgiving," smiled Grandpa and Grandma. "We love coming here." |
 On December 15th 2011, Hopkins had a holiday night. Everyone had dinner at Grandpa and Grandma's house before heading out. |
 Morgan lost one of her front teeth and the second one is loose. |
 Mommy, Joshua and Morgan really liked the reindeer and sleigh. |
 The reindeer had huge horns and were decked out in lights. |
 On December 17th 2011, it was Morgan's 2nd Grade Christmas Program. All of the children were dressed up in Christmas finery. |
 The Church was beautifully decorated. |
 Morgan is a wonderful singer. |
 And she wore a really pretty Christmas dress. |
 Mommy, Daddy and Joshua watched Morgan's show intently. |
 We waited patiently for pictures by the tree. |
 Grandma and Joshua spin to pass the time. He loves this. |
 "Hmmm," Daddy mused. "How will we ever get organized?" |
 Merry Christmas Everyone. What a beautiful picture! |
 "We love Morgan's Christmas Programs," agreed Josh and Grandma. |
 Daddy and Morgan look so great! |
 And so do Mommy and Morgan! |
 On December 18th, 2011 Hobby Acres had the annual Light the Night and Sleigh Ride. |
 Morgan came to enjoy the evening festivities. |
 After the sleigh ride, Morgan liked the tree swing. |
 She especially likes to spin on the swing.It was such a warm night that Morgan didn't even need snowpants. |
 Grandpa and Grandma's house was festive with the luminaries. |
 Christmas Eve was held at Grandpa and Grandma's house this year and Grandma had made snowman place mats for everyone. |
 Morgan liked her drawing and doodle books. She is such a good artist and loves to draw. |
 Mommy and Daddy also liked their presents and had a fun day. |
 Merry Christmas 2011 and Happy New Year love Grandpa and Grandma . |
 On January 13, 2012, Morgan turned 8 years old! |
 She had three of her best friends over for her party. Grace loved Morgan's party. |
 So did Maddie. |
 And Abbie. |
 Grandpa and Joshua liked to watch them. |
 "Hi Morgan," waved Josh. |
 Everyone made chocolate butterflies and Daddy helped. |
 They looked so festive and yummy when they were done. |
 Daddy also made chocolate truffles. |
 Jake wished he could have some too! But he watched the party patiently. |
 This year's cake was made entirely by Daddy. |
 It was an ice cream castle with butterflies and flowers made of chocolate. |
 Morgan loved her cake. |
 Mommy said, "What a wonderful creation Daddy!" |
 Lion agreed. "Roar roar," he said. |
 All her friends wished her a Happy Birthday. |
 They went upstairs and did some sword fighting on the Wii. |
 "Hit em Grace," Morgan laughed as she danced up and down. |
 While the girls were upstairs, Grandpa and Josh looked at his I Spy book. |
 Grandma wanted to look with him too. |
 Jake said, "Let me look too. This is a great book." |
 "Time for cake," said Mommy as she lit the candles. |
 After everyone sang Happy Birthday, they took the castle towers off the cake. |
 Daddy cut the cake and Mommy served the pieces. |
 Morgan licked the frosting on the front tower. "Yummy," she said. |
 The cake was layered with whipped cream frosting, strawberry ice cream, chocolate ice cream over an Oreo cookie crust. |
 Everyone loved this cake. |
 The girls made fashion dolls and personalized girl dolls. |
 Mommy cut out face pictures and put them in the dolls. |
 These dolls looked so great! |
 We loved making them, they all agreed. |
 Then it was time to open presents. |
 Morgan always reads the card before opening the present. |
 "What a great kit," Morgan said. "Thanks!" |
 Then she opened one from Grandpa and Grandma. |
 Josh was so excited. "What is it?" he asked. |
 It is a state quarter collection. Mommy and Daddy looked at the states and flags. |
 Happy 8th Birthday Morgan. We Love You! |