Pirates!!!

Kathryn & Nene

ThankYou!

A great big thanks to family and friends for all the expressions of love this Christmas.

Christmas Clothes

It was so much fun to dress Anika and Kathryn in similar dresses this year. We were a family of Christmas green, but I only have pictures of the kiddos.

Snugglin'

Anika, Andrew and I enjoyed snuggling in our jammies and robes. (Andrew opened an early Christmas present in order to enjoy his camo nightwear from Bass Pro Shop.)

Christmas Cookies

Anika was delighted to welcome her friends, Samantha and Jackson, to help her decorate cookies. (I was happy to have my friend, Amy, come and share some adult conversation!)

Bonding with Kathryn

Kathryn continues to grow to our delight and amazement. She is so sweet and good-natured.

Basketball Hoop

Gift-giving came early for my kids! Our neighbors across the street pulled up to us last week and asked if we wanted a basketball hoop since their boys had outgrown it and never used it. They just wanted to give it away. So, Lloyd walked over and looked it over and then wheeled it over to our house. Andrew has looked out the back door every day since then and exclaimed, "My basketball hoop still THERE!"

Lion, Witch and Wardrobe

Anika caught part of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on TV the other day and was mesmerized. So, I let her watch the DVD -- with some parental involvement. She loved it! I'll never forget the moment she saw Aslan after he sacrificed himself. "He's ALIVE" she gasped in awe!

Since then, all she has played is Narnia. She is equals parts Susan/Lucy. Andrew is Peter. Mom is usually the White Witch (no comments on type-casting, please). When Anne visited, she joined in as well, since she is reading the Chronicles of Narnia right now.

Andrew shows off his sword and shield. Anika has her horn and her arrows slung across her back. Anne has a wand.

Christmas Lists

Anika and Andrew went to Hekman's and came back with a cute craft. They made their Christmas lists. They even made a list for Kathryn:-)

Scout

Just a cute moment with the dog. . .

Holiday Cheer

We are getting in the Christmas spirit around here. The tree is trimmed, the lights are twinkling outside, and Anika and Andrew are ecstatic at the surprise day had for them. He hung Christmas lights in their rooms. (Anika said she wanted to be able to see Christmas lights outside her window. Since we weren't able to make that happen, Dad hung them right in her room!)

We were going to go cut down our own but plans changed.

Gotta love getting a tree in 60 degree weather:-)

Waiting for fun

I had to get a picture of this, even though they turned out horrible. Andrew is patiently (?) waiting for his neighbor friends to get home from school. Every day last week, Nathan (13) and Anne (11) came and played with my kids. They LOVED it! Nathan and Anne are so creative.

Nathan made Andrew the "bad guy" that he requested:Anika & Anne made an impressive tent - (in spite of a few rampages by the 2 year-old brother):

Family Time

We enjoyed some family time during the holiday weekend. It was wonderful to just be together!

Anika took a picture of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. (We recorded it and watched it in the evening but it was still fun!)

Lloyd enjoys a rare relaxing moment:Anika smiles for the camera:Cheesy Andrew with marker on this face. (Ever since we allowed him to have his face painted with a Spider Man web, he likes to try it himself):Kathryn strikes a pose:Can't leave out our pooch, Scout: