Annika's 4th birthday

On November 30 we celebrated Annika's 4th birthday. Grandpa and Grandma, the McBrides, and Ashley, Deana, and Rachel joined us for the party. Once again these pictures are in reverse order. . . my apologies. Annika and Olivia are enjoying the cake and ice cream. Annika is definitely a big fan of both (Note the empty plate that has been scraped clean!).

Last year Annika was afraid of her candles. Way to go, Annika!

Mandy put her creative juices to work and gave both girls homemade skirts made from Daddy's dress shirts. The girls loved them. The birthday hat Annika has on is another of her creations. Thanks, Mandy!

Just in case you didn't hear, I am FOUR years old. This is an annual picture tradition with Ashley.

Making my birthday cake with Grandma. Licking the beaters is the best!

Finding the perfect tree. . .

This year's Christmas tree farm experience was a little anti-climatic. One of the first trees we saw was "the one." We still made it an official trip, of course, and searched for another half hour. 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.

November Happenings

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!

The Rozebooms come to St. Louis!

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. . .

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays!

Between Oct. 19 and Oct. 24 there are 8 birthdays of people I know and love. Karl and Lauren's are the 23rd and 24th. Needless to say, there was lots of partying to be done! This picture doesn't really fit the birthday theme, but I wanted to include it. Before I left for a meeting at church Karl said he was taking the kids to Forest Park for a picnic supper. My comment was, "Are you sure? Isn't it going to be cold and dark?" When I arrived home they were huddled on the porch, enjoying a wonderful picnic supper.

Lauren celebrating her birthday with Miss Rachel, Deana, and Ashley.

The McBrides hosted a birthday cook-out/camp-out (after much debate, indoors due to cold) for the girls to celebrate Olivia's birthday (the 23rd).

The 3 amigas.

One of these kids did not last very long in the tent. . .Lauren was next to me in bed in about 15 minutes.

On Lauren's birthday we took a trip to the zoo. A year ago she was scared to ride the animals on the carousel.

No, it's not Halloween. It's "be a zookeeper" in one of the kids areas at the zoo.

Can you tell someone just woke up and was suddenly put in her chair for her birthday celebration? Happy 2nd Birthday, Lauren!

Daddy's birthday pie complete with 2 special girls.

Weekend in Farmington

We had a fun weekend in Farmington with the McBrides. One of the highlights was a day trip to Elephant Rocks State Park.

At the summit!

The kids had so much fun climbing up the giant rocks.

Annika and her friend "cow" enjoying the pretty view. (Olivia, just between you and me, your momma dresses you funny.)

Fall Festivities

Princess Annika with her Halloween stash.

Trick or treating. . .for hot dogs?!

Annual trip to the pumkin farm. Can you tell the sun is in their eyes?

Yummy Fuji apples!

Making music with buddy Olivia at Shaw Nature Reserve.

Family Fun in North Carolina

We decided to take a family vacation to North Carolina to visit my sister Cindy and her family. They were given access to a beach house on Bald Head Island so they invited us to join them out there for the second half of the week. We had a great time! The salt marshes of Bald Head Island.
Aunt Cindy, Uncle Mark, David, Alex, and Danielle waving from the dock.

Annika insisted on flying her kite - rain or shine. So here is Lauren, attempting to fly a kite, in the rain.
Our windiest day on the island. Can you tell?
Climbing up the lighthouse - built in 1817.
Lauren, Alex, Annika and David.
The White family. . .

Everyone was up at 6:45 so we decided to "drive" to the beach to see the sunrise. It was a fun trip, despite not seeing the sunrise.
Cousin David reading stories to the girls.
Mark and Cindy were kind enough to watch the kids so Karl and I could go kayaking in the salt marsh. We saw osprey, stingray, dolphins, and crab - it was a great experience.

Bug bingo on a rainy day.

Annika keeping Danielle company on the beach.
This is as close as Annika would get to the waves.
Lauren loved holding baby Danielle. Just practicing for the future, right Lauren?
Aunt Cindy and Danielle on a hike through the salt marsh.
Our mode of transportation on the island - golf cart! Add myself, Uncle Mark, and David to this golf cart and we'll call it a full load. Yes, we did bottom out on steep hills. :-)

This gives you an idea of the crowd that hangs out on this island - those people in white are playing croquet on an offical croquet "field."
Alligator watching with Grandpa and Grandma Pollack. They came to visit for half a day.

Lauren didn't like the waves either. All of the grown-ups, though, did go in the water and play in the waves.

Hanging out on the ferry ride.
Fun in the tram on the way to the beach house.
Annika and Daddy walking the beach at sunset.
Beach time.