Annika was all about the sticker chart. The puffy stickers were her favorite. Way to go, big girl!
The wrapped up binky. . . ready to be delivered to baby boys and girls who need it more than Annika. 
A gift from the "postman" who came overnight. 
Could it be a Dora scooter?!
I should have given my binky to the postman years ago. . .
10 years ago it was Shanda and me - best friends enjoying life in Miami. What happened?! 
9 month 0ld Noel checking out the "big girls." She is one smart girl - strategically positioned so that Lauren is unable to poke her eye out. 
Annika and Garrison are VERY focused on the task at hand - bubble blowing. Garrison was kind enough to take a break from throwing the ball in the hoop (over and over and over again) to blow bubbles with Annnika. 
Thousands of daffodils in bloom at Shaw Nature Reserve.
If you look carefully, you can see a Spring Peeper. These frogs were all over the place and were "peeping" so loud and high-pitched that I had to cover my ears. 
The new kids area at Shaw. 
On a different day we picked up Daddy from work and had a picnic lunch at a nearby park. 
On Sunday Karl and I ran the St. Louis half marathon together (he was very gracious to run with me). We trained for about 10 weeks. We ran the same race the year Annika was born. Two children, 4 years, and less training resulted in being about 10 minutes slower than last time, but we still (barely) met my goal of under 2 hours.
Saturday was such a beautiful day that we decided to go downtown to see the Cardinals play. Annika thinks the ballpark is a giant ice cream shop since we get ice cream whenever we go (we only went once last year, but she remembered). We only lasted 15 minutes in our seats a year ago (thanks to Lauren) but this time we made it until the 7th inning. Woo-hoo! Oh yeah, I almost forgot - the Cardinals won the game! 
Pablo Pollack.
Pablo Pollack's goofy older sister.
McDonald's picnic lunch. Yum!
We knew it was going to happen at some point. . .Annika's first birthday party at a "party place." Annika is sitting next to the birthday girl (my cousin's 2 year old daughter) at the end of the table. Pizza, tokens, skee ball, and giant hippos spell FUN! 
Future Nascar stars. Annika refused to participate until she saw Lauren having so much fun.
Annika loved dipping the eggs and then re-dipping the eggs and then re-dipping the eggs, and then re-dipping the eggs. . . you get the idea. Hmm - I wonder why the eggs turned out brown?
Lauren learned quickly that she had to pick up the eggs in a hurry if she wanted any. Here she is looking over her shoulder to make sure the competition isn't too close. She ended up with 4 - just like her sister. 
Easter Sunday dresses. It was too cold for outdoor photos. 
This picture is out of order - sorry. The Easter Egg Hunt at our park. In less than 5 minutes all of the eggs were gone. 
Nightly teeth brushing ritual. Lauren stands on the potty and Annika stands on the stool. Annika brushes her teeth while Lauren chews on the toothpaste. 
Reading is always more enjoyable when sitting on a box of diapers. 
I couldn't believe my eyes. . . I finally stumbled upon something free! Any volunteers to help me transport it? 
Is this seat taken? 
Sisters.
The bridge near Art Hill. One of our favorite places in St. Louis. 
Peek a boo! 
Ringing the bells at the Botanical Garden.
Suson Park with "Aunt" Ashley. Notice that I chose not to position myself between the dog and the cow. 
Hiking at Shaw Nature Reserve. 
Annika's birth announcement photo. 
March 16, 2005
March, 2006
March, 2007
"Painting" fun. March, 2008
