Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Belly:-)

A few of you have inquired recently about my expanding form. So here are a few pictures - I'm finally looking pregnant and not just chubby:-) (A big shout out to sister, Hil, for sending a box stuffed with maternity shirts - yeah!!!)

Monday, December 24, 2007

New "stuff"

A few of our favorite things. . .
The new play phone is great, but the Chex Mix - now there's something to get excited about:-)
Sharing? a moment. Anika has been playing for hours with her new paper dolls (clad in her new dress up gown and jewelry, of course).
Posing with her new denim dress and sweater.
Anika loved putting together her new puzzles.

Christmas Eve morning

Since Christmas around here gets quite hectic with Daddy preaching and other obligations, we decided to make Christmas Eve our family celebration and gift-giving day. Anika walked down the stairs this morning and said, "Presents!" Then she ran in to wake up Daddy. Daddy asked her who she thought left the presents. "I don't know. . . I think GOD!"
"Come on, Mom & Dad! There are presents waiting."


Christmas cookies

Anika and I baked and decorated Christmas cookies on Friday with help from Auntie Dana. Anika has certainly improved her technique from last year!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Restaurant Business

Our basement is transformed since we moved most of the youth group couches last night, but the kids are enjoying the extra room. What fun!!!

Anika is into the restaurant business. "You'll have the soup!"

Saturday, December 15, 2007

The Newest Wicker

If you would indulge us, we would like to introduce you to the newest Wicker:-) We had an ultrasound yesterday and I must say that I was more amazed than ever. I'm not sure if the hospital technology has improved or if I'm better at seeing the pictures or . . . The technician did say that one reason we got great pictures was something about the ratio of amniotic fluid to baby size or something like that. Regardless we were so blessed to see a healthy, active baby. (No, we didn't find out the sex).

Friday, December 14, 2007

Papa's Here

Anika and Andrew can't get enough of their Papa.


Fixer, Upper

Lloyd's dad is visiting for a few days -- not just for pleasure; we are putting him to work on our bathroom. There was a leak which caused our tiles to become soft so we needed to get it fixed before we sold the place. Now we wish we had done it years ago and enjoyed it ourselves:-) We put up really pretty and clean wall panels - mildew resistent! Here are a few shots of the progress. Dad is putting the finishing touches on it yet.

A View from the Sky

Lloyd took a recent, whirlwind trip to Ripon for 24 hrs or so. He shot a couple of beautiful pictures of Mr. Rainier from the plane. (I'm sure going to miss those mountains!)

Monday, December 10, 2007

Christmas Parade

Another Lighted Farm Implement Parade has come and gone. The kids really enjoyed it this year. It was quite cold but we bundled up as best we could and enjoyed the hot chocolate that our church handed out. It was a beautiful night and the snow began to fall just as the last float passed us by.


Church volunteers handing out free hot chocolate:

Anika and Andrew sat with their good friends Ryan and Tyler:

The kids favorite float was this steam tractor dressed up as Thomas the Train!




Thursday, November 29, 2007

Snowman Fun

We couldn't stay away from the snow so I bundled up the kids this morning. (As well as I could manage - we don't get much snow or rain so we were lacking in the waterproof pants/shoes department.) It didn't stop us from having a great time though. Most of the time we don't get great packing snow but today was different. Anika can't get over our snowman - she has to tell everyone that it has a black hat, a carrot nose, shovel hands, and rocks for a mouth. (Mom had a lot of fun too - until we had to come inside and take off layers of cold, wet clothing. . . ah, well.)

The "Big" Snow

I'm so excited. We haven't seen a snow like this in Sunnyside since the year we moved here. They were projecting 1-3 inchs but this morning they were saying 6-9. I think you can see by the pictures there there is more than 3 inchs:-) And it's still coming down. For those of you in the midwest, I know this isn't anything special but we sure are enjoying it. Even Scout can't get enough of it. (See her smiling in the picture!)


Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Weekend Fun

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we wanted to have some fun with our friend, Dana, and our kids. We had talked big - Seattle, etc. but we ended up heading for the Tricities. I was excited to take the kids to the Children's Museum. We planned to spend the morning there so that Andrew could still get his afternoon nap. Well, the best laid plans. . . They don't open until noon on Sat. So after adjusting our plans we just went to Chuck E. Cheese for fun and lunch. They had a blast and didn't miss the museum at all:-) Here are a few pics of the day - Dana isn't pictured since she was taking the pictures!




Anika was a precious big sister. Andrew has always been scared of the big slide but with her help he went down it - again and again and again. He couldn't quite manage climbing up by himself but she helped lift him up every time. After about the twelfth time, Anika said, "Andrew you follow me this time." She got pretty tired out lifting him up.








A Time for Everything. . .

A time of change for the Wickers. We've made the decision to accept Almond Valley's call to be their next pastor. It has been a hard few weeks as we've made the announcement and started plans to move. We would continue to covet your prayers as we make this transition.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Imagination

I'm loving this!!! Anika has watched only minimal TV since we returned from Oregon for Beppe's funeral. (With my less than wonderful first trimester, I'd been "plugging her in" way too much). Lately, her imagination has been occupying her. She puts on her costumes and plays and plays and plays. . .
Here she just finished making me a spectacular birthday cake. (This had to be done during Andrew's nap as it just called out for knocking over - even Anika had to try about a dozen times before it stayed up:-))

Anika is lighting the candles in this picture.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

It's True

Some of you guessed from my comment about the "3" on the rocking chair that we are expecting a new baby. Today Daddy, Anika, and Andrew joined Mommy to hear the heartbeat.
Our little princess, Anika, thought it was pretty cool. Her first question today when I told her we were going to the doctor was, "Is the baby going to come out?" She lives in her princess dresses and ballerina costumes so she is "pretty in pink" in this clip.

(I hope this works - you might need to turn the volume up)!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Harvest Fair Fun

Anika has been anxiously waiting for the opportunity to wear her "Little Mermaid" costume. And last night was the night:-) Anika was a mermaid and Andrew was a clown. He was not at all fond of the wig but he managed to keep it on for a picture or two. We went to the Harvest Fair, played games, and filled up on candy. Then we came home and had the youth group over for pizza and games -- and more candy. I didn't think my kids would ever go to sleep. It was a really fun evening.