New Years with the fam in Chicago

Happy New Year! Its always a great start to the new year when you get to spend it with family! We had such a great time with everyone this year. It was great to have Trevor back and two new members of the family- Thomas and Landon!



6 grandkids? When did that happen? ;0)


Since we had everyone together we had to do some family pictures!

With so many kids around we made it a goal to get them out of the house for a fun activity at least once a day...or more! They got a lot of train experiences: Lunch at the train cafe,
and a visit to a family friend's house who has a whole train city!

Everyone had such thoughtful gifts this year, too. My dad made this clock for us-just stunning! He's getting so talented with his woodworking hobby!

He shared his talents with all the guys and they each made a chess board. I love that is a totally unique one of a kind, complete with our family letter- S!

We had so many good times: treasure hunt to the troll's bridge, running from the troll (who sounded alot like Trevor I might add) after stealing all his chocolate coins!, playing at the park, reading stories, laughing, playing games,

celebrating birthdays, and more birthdays, oh and one more birthday, kids New Year party, Adult New Year party, reading last years predictions, writing new ones, bunco, fondue, white elephant, the kids begging to watch pinocchio over and over again, and lots of sewing and woodworking creations in Santas Little Workshop, AKA my parents basement.

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas Eve and day with family this year. It started out with fun activities, pizza, and a Christmas Eve program. Lizzie and Katie sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". Although, Lizzie got a case stage fright and would barely mouth the words. (Too bad considering she does a great job of it at home!) Noah played the piano. We played Christmas gift games. We listened to Christmas stories and the kids acted out the nativity scene. Julie made for a sweet angel and Lizzie a generous Wise Man. Grammy and Papa handed out their always exciting stocking gifts.

We left out some milk and cookies before putting the girls to bed. They were excited but not experienced enough to know to wake up before 8am Christmas morning (no complaints here).

Lizzie got a bike and Julie a princess castle. I loved watching the sparkle in their eyes all that day. Christmas morning is truly at its best when kids are around!

Office Christmas Party

This year's office Christmas party. A formal lunch at the country club. An ornament exchange game complete with stealing, stealing back, and hoping you pick a good one!

Its generally an office staff party but I attended this year to document the occasion. I probably could have taken nicer pictures had I any indoor lighting equipment, proper backdrop, more than 12 hours notice, and time to think about how to properly arrange 30 people. I learned a lot about taking a group photo- people get anxious to be done so you better know exactly where you're going to put them before that moment.

Dave informs me that these were alot better than the random snapshots taken by one of the Docs last year so at least there is that!

Christmas is coming!

So I jumped the gun for the picture's sake and added the manger and baby Jesus. Christmas is almost here and our hearts and home are 100% ready! We had a more adult celebration tonight with the family. Babysitter, dinner, movie. A little kid free time to prepare for the next two days that will be centered around the kids of course!

My mom designed and made this advent calendar for us and the kids love it!

100 Words!

Julie is 16 months old and nearing the 18 month mark! Its time to catch up on her latest milestones.

#1. She got a haircut.
More like a mere trimming of the bangs but still! We can see those big baby blues again.

#2. She says 100 words.

I wasn't on top of the whole hanging on her every new word thing quite like I was with the first child. She went through a period where she wasn't saying very many new words so I stopped counting and then a couple weeks ago I realized she had learned a ton of new words so we jumped from around 40 to 100 in one day! We celebrated by eating cupcakes and singing the "Happy 100 Words" song. Not really. We just ate cupcakes.

Its pretty fun to review the words she learned. They are actually in order of when she learned them. I love how quickly she learned to put two words together. Apple sauce in the top 10. Cookie Crisp in the top 20. Apple core in the top 30. Get down and all done in the top 50.

#3. She climbed out of her crib.

Julie is such a climber now its scary. I have to watch her carefully, especially around chairs and our tile floor.


One early morning I woke to the sound of a loud WHOMP!!! I run into Julie's room and she's sitting on the floor, outside the crib just like the picture below. Except instead of smiling she's crying hysterically. It gave her a good scare and she hasn't tried it since.
We always joke that Julie will be in a bed before Lizzie. Lizzie is not a climber at all so we haven't felt the need to switch her to a bed. Maybe we will "bed train" them together....

Meow's Story

When I put Lizzie down for a nap today I told her a mini story before leaving the room. It went something like this:

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Lizzie and she was so special that she got to go to Charlie Safari! She jumped and played all day with her cousins. She did so many fun things today and lived happily ever after." (It was so late and she needed an especially short one this time!!)

Then, before I could leave she said Meow wanted to tell a story and it went like this:

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful priness cat named Meow. She didn't go to Charlie Safari with Lizzie today. She stayed home all by herself. She stayed in bed. But she didn't cry! And then Lizzie came home and they lived happily ever after."

Lizzie is always so desperate for Meow to go everywhere she goes. No wonder! I guess she has visions of Meow alone and stifling back tears while her beloved Lizzie is away.

My Birthday

27?!! Life happens quickly. I can hardly believe that is my age. It sounds old to me. Yet, I am old enough to know that I am still young. Does that make sense?
I am so grateful for my parents who brought me into the world and raised me and look forward to the many years ahead with the privilege of raising my own kids!

Well, it was another great birthday. Dave spoiled me. He's good at that. He took me out for dinner at Benihanas followed by Cinderella musical at the 5th Ave. (the story was modernized and so comical!!) My birthday gift this year is my all time favorite. He created an advent calendar just for me! Each morning I have a suprise waiting for me- my favorite candies, coupon for a dishes free night, or a thoughtful note! I love it. The notes are so clever and correlate with the date and many times I get all teary eyed after reading them!

And my Birthday/Christmas gift (something I have been wanting for a long time) that was bought as a steal on Cyber Monday at less than half its normal cost: A 6 Quart Kitchen Aid Professional!!!! Here is the evidence that I presented to Dave as to why I needed one:

The other day I mixed up a QUADRUPLE batch of cookie dough in my new monster mixer. At that moment I knew I would never regret that purchase :). I've been baking up a storm: cupcakes, chocolates, cookies, and lots and lots of homemade bread!

Now, I made this homemade applesauce, apple-raspberry sauce, and apple-raspberry butter last month the old fashioned way with a Foley food mill but now that I have a Kitchen Aid there is an attachment that will make this even easier! This stuff made for great Christmas gifts! I remind Dave that this year's birthday gift is the gift that will keep on giving back to him and others :)