Christmas in Michigan (2)

A trip to G.R. isn't complete without a stop at Meijer Gardens.  The Children's Garden gate is always entertaining.

There's always some sort of drama on trips to see family.  Annika was in a sledding accident (could have had something to do with 4 people on the sled and riding directly over a drain going full speed) and couldn't put any weight on her foot.  It was quite the novelty to ride in a wheelchair. 

Love this picture!

A heated checkers battle between Daddy and Uncle Jay.  Jay's children "acted up" right as Daddy was about to win.  Hmmm.

The trains at night are very cool. 

Grandpa and Grandma's library is just down the street - and always worth a trip.  Audrey was fascinated by the moving bugs (Uncle Jay is using a magnet to move them). 

Cousins hanging out.

Audrey decided she wanted to take a break from the action and make herself comfortable.

Audrey and Sami love to "color."  It's great - as long as it's in a coloring book and not the walls, a library book or their clothing (hypothetically, of course).

Good times with Grandpa and Grandma!

Ring around the rosy has become a favorite night time game.

Karl decided he wanted to try and hold all four girls at once.  Here is his attempt.  Grandpa is supporting Annika in this photo.

Grandpa is barely supporting Annika, and Sami has given out.

Grandpa has let go of Annika and for one brief milli-second Karl had all 4 up in the air before Annika's feet hit the ground.

Remember my drama comment?  Well, on our way home from Michigan, we stopped at a rest area and I accidently let the rest room door swing shut on Lauren's face.  Oops.  Sorry, Lauren!  You are one tough cookie. 

Christmas in Michigan

First rest stop in central Illinois.

McDonald's play area is a hit once again!

We overlapped for only a day and a half with Cindy and her family.  Just enough time for Dr. White to take a "serious" look at some patients. 

All the cousins (minus Will and Sarah in California)

One of the first orders of business was writing a letter to Santa, letting him know that the goodies are for him and his reindeer.

Alex and Annika carefully made a plate of goodies and set out their notes. 

Wait a second. . .that's not Santa!

We somehow convinced them to stay away from the cookies milk. 

Annika, Lauren, David and Alex are ready and waiting for Santa to come!

Christmas morning - Santa must have been hungry.

Look at all those girls checking out each other's presents.

Audrey and Sami are practicing "stringing a farm" with Daddy.

Again, where did all these girls come from?  Grandma's lap needs to be a bit bigger. . .

The Double Stuff Orioles (Jay) were the big Fantasy Baseball winners this year.

Enjoying some of Grandma's yummy soup on Christmas Day.

Light one candle for Jesus!

David and Alex had spent lots of time working on "the fort" before we arrived.  Annika and Lauren quickly continued on where they had left off.

Hiking with Grandpa and Daddy behind Grandpa and Grandma's condo.  We saw 4 deer - and the girls didn't run away scared! 

I caught Daddy and Lauren hiding behind a tree waiting to scare Grandpa and Annika.

King of the Mountain went awry.

Lauren decided she didn't want anything to do with snow in her face.  Hence, she went in the back of every sled ride. 

Annika pulled Lauren up the hill.  I was impressed by both Annika's strength and Lauren's ability to convice Annika to pull her up. 

Yum yum.  Peppermint stick and hot cocoa.

Annika actually did pretty well on snowshoes this year (even with her hair hanging in her face the whole time).

Audrey didn't mind the snow.  Sami, on the other hand, was not a big fan.

Here is some serious fort construction.  The wheelbarrow as needed to transport snow blocks from across the street.

Uncle Jay should enter those Strongest Man competitions, eh?

Audrey wasn't intimidated by Uncle Jay's block size.

"B" and Audrey even got an assembly line going.

Apparently Audrey was hungry. . .

Just because I'm little, it doesn't mean I don't want to hang out in the fort. 

Wayne and JoAnn, our friends from our time in Minnesota with Annika, met us for lunch.

We spent an afternoon with Mrs. Shanda and family.  Here we are creating some crazy dancing elves.  Always a good time. . .

We also spent and afternoon hanging out with Mrs. Sue and Liesl and Annemarie.  Dress-up never gets old. 

St. Louis Christmas

 Since we were going to Michigan, we opened present a week before Christmas.  The girls didn't seem to mind. . .

 We tried skyping with Grandpa and Grandma Pollack but the twins were more than a little distracted (and we feared for the life of the computer). 

 New Cardinals hats to cheer on Albert.  Sami's opening an Elmo doll (yes, the same one Lauren opened a couple of years ago - shhhhh!).

 Lauren loves Graeme Base books - here she is soaking in The Water Hole. 

 Sami is very proud of her tower making abilities.

 Yes, this is the same doll Lauren received a couple of years ago (shhh - don't tell Audrey!).  Not sure what Annika is doing in this photo - please ignore. 

 Doesn't Karl look great in his new Buckeye snuggie?!

 Annika and Lauren were thrilled to receive new ballet outfits from Grandpa and Grandma Pollack.  The look was incomplete until. . . 

Joffrey Ballet (outdoor night show), here we come!

 Sami was fascinated by the heat blowing her hair. 

Lauren was kind enough to share her book with Annika.  The benefit was that Annika can now read it to her!