Christmastime in St. Louis

Annual advent calendar. Annika and Lauren alternated b/w who got to blow out the advent candle and who got to do the advent calendar. Next year things will get more complicated!

The girls were pretty excited to sort through the presents.

Hmmm. Maybe we should have gone and cut down a tree?

I love opening stockings on Christmas morning - everyone in pj's with crazy, uncombed hair.

Annika's favorite present. . .a new dress. Whose child is she again?

Annika and Lauren went on their first sleepover. Ashley, Deana, and Allison invited them overnight - and they made it! Having mac and cheese with hotdogs, girl movies, and chocolate chip pancakes helped make it a success.

Everyone's still smiling!

Wembley (1993-2009)

After 16 years, it was time to put Wembley down. She was one of the greatest dogs ever.

This was Wembley's couch.

When Wembley's couch wasn't available, Annika made a good substitute.

Until she was gone, we didn't realize how convenient it was to have a dog around to clean up the floor after meals with little kiddos.

Wembley loved Christmas. She would sniff all the presents until she found hers, drag it out from under the tree and rip it open - all with a big grin on her face.

Wembley also loved road trips - especially with Karl.

Wembley had some wheels in her younger days.

We were not above using Wembley as a prop for practical jokes. This was back in 2002 when there was a mail bombing scare.

This is the first time I brought her in for a summer shave. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry b/c she looked so different.

Wembly was not a big fan of being picked up. That never stopped Karl, though. :-)

As Annika got older, the roles reversed. . .now Annika was the one on top. Such a good dog - never complained about the girls sitting on her, pulling her hair and tail, poking her eyes, etc. (insert dog torture).

Karl insisted on getting a picture of Wembley near the twins . . .the minute we walked in the door from the hospital.

Every night Wembley faithfully waited at the door for Karl to come home. She would stand there from 4:45 until he walked through the door around 5:30.

One last walk for the greatest dog ever (Karl's words). You will be missed, Wembley!

Christmas programs

EVERY program of any kind up until this year Annika has walked right into my arms as she moves toward the front of any performance venue. This year she has undergone a complete transformation. She can't wait to be up front and show us what she has learned.

Here she is singing with joy. We had a couple of different Sunday School teachers tell us how much they enjoyed watching Annika sing her heart out in practice.

I spy Annika and Lauren. Can you? Lauren was actually supposed to leave the stage with the other 2 and 3 year olds after the first 2 songs. She stayed and enjoyed every minute of it.

A church program isn't complete without food and fellowship afterwards.

Annika and Lauren's preschool had a day called "Santa's House" which all the parents were invited to attend. Here they are making crafts at one of the 5 classroom stations.

One of the stations was Annika's class performing the story of Jesus' birth. Annika was so excited to be an angel. She even had lines to learn. The school administator was the narrator. They did a great job.

The teachers were kind enough to let Lauren be a fill-in shepherd.

A "multitude" of angels.

The wisemen, the angels, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus.

Lauren's nametag. She didn't want her picture taken.

The last station was "Santa's House." As a family we're introducing Santa as a modern representation of Saint Nicholas. Annika was very excited to meet Santa. Here she is in "line."

"Santa, I would like jewlery for Christmas."

Lauren was almost as frightened of Santa's big white beard as she is of the Easter Bunny.

December Happenings

Jonathan and Sage kindly gave us some "create your own Christmas cards." Annika loved deciding what to put on the outside of each card. She did a great job - there was only one that ended up upside down!

I know, I know. . .why do you need a snow sled for babies when you live in St. Louis? Well, I couldn't resist this craigslist item knowing that we are heading to Michigan for a week. Hopefully, I'll have some action snow photos soon!

Christmas cookies. . . they (the cookies, that is) were barely recognizable after I let Annika and Lauren apply the sprinkles.

The best Christmas present - a box!

No furniture blockade is going to stop this determined crawler.

So I leave the house for an hour. I come home and Karl says, "Audrey stood up by the gate." Go figure - she does it for the first time when I'm gone. I'm with her almost every day, all day and she pulls herself up when I'm not around. She better not do that with walking!

Annika has decided that now that she is 5 she is big enough to carry the babies around. Sometimes Audrey likes to be Annika's doll. . .other times she does not and yes, she lets Annika know which way she is feeling.

I think we may need to establish some "baby carrying" rules.

Ready to head off to church. . .

Lauren always asks Annika if she can come over to her (Annika's) bed, but Annika usually says no. Last night Lauren decided to try another tactic and ask Annika if she would come into her (Lauren's) bed. It looks like Annika said yes. Again, we may need to establish some new rules. This time related to "sleeping in a bed big enough for 2."

Out and about

Last week Friday night Ashley, Deana, and Allison came over to watch the kids while Karl and I went to the Basilica to hear Christmas music. It was our first time leaving all 4 kids for an entire evening with someone other than grandparents. As you can see, they had a great time.

On Saturday night we took Annika and Lauren with us to a Christmas party. Parents of friends of ours hosted it - complete with neighborhood carriage rides! Annika and Lauren loved it.

Giant horse! He had a name, but I don't remember. . .sorry, big guy.