More Michigan Fun

Much of our Michigan trip was spent at home playing with Annaliese and Elias...and there were a lot of pictures taken. So here are a few more of the memories that were captured:

Elias...check out those big eyes!

 Annaliese was on the run...heading straight for the garage. But Grandpa caught her!

Annaliese is trying to take Elias' sock...not so sure how he feels about that!

 Annaliese and Elias playing 'together'

Doesn't she look cute all bundled up!

Bath time!

 Annaliese and Elias with Grandpa and Grandma at the airport

Cousins!!!

Christmas Party #3

On Sunday, we started the day by going to church. Grandma and Grandpa were eager to show off their grandbabies! Annaliese started out in the service with us, but it didn't take long for her to end up in the nursery. She just doesn't sit still anymore! And she's rather talkative, as well. 

After church, we had a delicious Christmas dinner and then opened up our Christmas presents.  My sisters and I exchange names each year, and this year Kyle and I had Kim and Thane; Kelsey and Ben had us. The challenge is always to come up with a gift that can be packed in a suitcase home! I'd say everyone did a pretty good job this year (although we did have to take an extra bag home with us!) 

 Uncle Ben and Auntie Kelsey

 Annaliese helping Grandma open her present

Annaliese gave Elias a new shirt...Grandpa wanted to see if it would fit!

 Kyle was given pie makers for camping...they were shipped directly to our house. But he was given the pie filling here!

Auntie Kim showing off her new bag. Grandma made it!

We all gave my parents tickets to see "Shrek: the Musical" which was playing locally...and we were able to go with them! Auntie Kim has never seen Shrek, so the night before the musical, we rented the movie so she would understand the story line. That movie is hilarious! And they did a really good job with the musical! 

Christmas Party #2

Our second Christmas party of the season was the Hendrick's Family Party...this year we all went to Uncle Glenn and Auntie Sherry's house for a breakfast brunch gathering. We had three different kinds of pancakes, several different toppings, sausage, yogurt with granola, hot chocolate, coffee, and several kinds of juice! 

It was cold outside! Annaliese could hardly move in her carseat after getting all bundled up...but at least she looked cute...and warm!

David, Lynette, Uncle Merle, Kim and Grandma visiting around the breakfast table

Annaliese was a big fan of the blueberries! And her fingers and lips were blue for the rest of the day!!

Apparently it's exhausting eating so much for breakfast...and Grandpa's lap is the perfect place for a power nap!

After we had all eaten more than enough, we put away the tables and moved on to presents. Most of the kiddos participated in a gift exchange which Annaliese slept through- but she was given a super soft, very cute stuffed monkey (thanks Brodan!) The adults each brought a $10 gift based on the theme "Something that makes you happy." We then played Christmas Bingo and proceeded with a gift exchange. For an idea of what makes us happy, here are a few of the gifts people brought: coffee, coffee mugs, wine, beer, a beer mug, pretzels (to go with the beer!), snowballs, plant food and bulbs and nail polish.

Grandma helping Johanna open her present from Annaliese

Cousin Kim and Alina

Since Annaliese was sleeping, I opened her present for her...see, isn't it cute!

 Auntie Kim with 'cousin' Brodan

 Grandpa and Elias

 Everyone gathered around for Christmas Bingo

Cousins Pam and Kelly with their son Emerson

In the end, I took home a bag of coffee beans and a bar of dark chocolate, and Kyle came home with a travel coffee mug that you can put pictures in. Neither the coffee or the chocolate made it all the way back to California!! 

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I miss seasons. And from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I also miss the snow. Not that Michigan always has snow this time of the year, but the odds of getting it there are much better than it snowing on the central coast of California! Because we celebrated Christmas in Michigan this year, I was cautiously optimistic that we would have a white Christmas. Unfortunately we didn't...but at least we woke up to a little bit of snow the first morning! (I thought I took a picture of the snow from the warmth of the living room...but I can't seem to find it so use your imagination...there was a light dusting of snow!)

Kim, Elias, Kelsey and Ben also made the trip east for Christmas and we all stayed at my parents house! They were able to borrow car seats, pack-n-plays, high chairs, and toys to accommodate us all, which was very nice...Thank you! We played games, made gingerbread houses, decorated our own magnets (cool idea...mine don't stay on the fridge though), drank homemade lattes, ate banket (a delicious almond pastry-ish snack!), drank more coffee, ate more food and played with Annaliese and Elias!

Getting all buckled in for the trip home from the airport

snack time!

Elias and Annaliese playing with Grandma

Snack time...again. This time Annaliese is trying some of Auntie Kim's apple!

Gingerbread Houses! Elias is supervising the activity

Elias and Grandpa with matching hats!

Christmas Party #1

We did a lot of celebrating this year...and we're not even done yet! It all started with our family Christmas at home. Since there are only three of us, it was a small affair that took place after I got home from work on the Tuesday before Christmas. Annaliese had fun playing with bows and climbing on boxes and was moderately interested in the actual presents!

Hmm...what could it be???

 A new bike helmet!

Annaliese got a new helmet from Mom and Dad because she gave her Daddy a new bike seat that attaches to his bike! (It's upside down in this picture) It attaches to the front of the bike so she can even see where they're going...I'll post pictures when they take it for a spin!

A Saturday as it should be

I typically work on Saturdays. I really can't complain, since this is by choice. It means that Annaliese is only at a babysitter two days each week and she and Kyle get an entire day to spend together...just the two of them. But lately I've been trying to take a Saturday off here and there so we can do fun stuff together.

A few weeks ago, I took the day off and we had a great time together! (I fully intended to post this earlier, but the internet wasn't cooperating and then Christmas came...but better late than never!) And since I just got my new camera, we took lots of pictures!

We started off the day by making a delicious breakfast of eggs and toast, of which Annaliese ate a ton of! That girl sure can put the food away! This was followed by listening to Kyle practice his guitar, playing with toys, a run on the beach, and running errands while Annaliese played with a couple from church (thanks Wayne and Carey!) It ended with the 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Party and Russ and Jenn's house...I think we finally succeeded in making a good gingerbread house! All in all, it was a wonderful day and I am looking forward to my next Saturday off!

 She's got some new fascination with her tongue!

 

I know she's not looking here, but in the other picture she was picking her nose!

Apparently we did some laundry as well!

 Very focused...it's all about setting a good foundation!

And the finished product!