This picture was actually taken a week later. . .Annika and Lauren had fun putting the ornaments on. 
A well-deserved snack break. 
Don't try this at home. 
Hmmm. What do you think? Is this the perfect tree? So close to the path??? Is it possible? Notice who we have pulling the wagon - good work, Annika!
We came, we saw, we conquered. 
Thanksgiving Day football! Annika didn't quite understand the concept of tackling, but we're working on it.
Poor horsey with a rider above and below. I'd be looking down too. . .
Grandma Pollacks star piano pupil! 
Annika's preschool sent home a paper suggesting that we place a popcorn kernel in a bowl every night in November to represent something for which we are thankful. On Thanksgiving Day we popped the popcorn. Lauren's favorite line was, "I'm thankful for. . . God!" 
2 cribs! There's no denying the reality now! 
Paul, Annemarie, Sue, and Liesl came to visit in early November. Sue and I have been friends since 7th grade! 
The Museum of Transportation - Big Trains!
It took quite a bit of convincing, but Annika finally had the courage to pull the train whistle. 
Dress-up time in the kids area. 
Big sister Annika forcing Lauren's neck in the direction of the bird. 
Sue and Paul brought some homemade playdoh along to play with on a cold, rainy day.
Lauren, Annika, and Liesl had a lot of fun hanging out together. 
Mr. Paul - the storyteller. 
Just chillin' to Mary Poppins. 
Notice who is doing the majority of the hugging here. Annika definitely likes her personal space. 
Just hangin' out. 
Sue came this weekend to run in the Race to Cure Lymphoma in St. Charles. She had never run a race before. A year ago she was battling Hodkins Lymphoma and I ran the race in her honor. It was very cold, but she did great. Notice Karl in the background - look at that lean into the corner! He ran the 10K so he had one more lap to go. 
After the race. . .
