FLORIDA

We just returned from a wonderful week in Florida. The kids had a great time- they loved the beach and the pool. They hunted for shells, found crabs, made sand castles, ate out, played at parks, got sunburned, jumped waves, bonded with their cousin Gavin & loved every minute of Florida. David got to golf quite a few times & I got to lay out in the sun and read. It was a great week.

Too adorable! Will they always be best of friends???

They found a crab- thankfully, it was dead!



Cousin Gavin- isn't he precious?

According to Isaac, the BEST park in the world!

What a sight to wake up to every morning!

Great weekend

David & I flew out to Colorado to go skiing in Steamboat with my brother and sister-in-law. We had a great time- it was so nice to be outside and the weather was beautiful. The skiing was great too- once I got over my 3 year old temper-tantrum mid-moutain when I had decided I had fallen enough and just wanted a snowmobile to pick me up instead of having to ski another 1/2 hour down the mountain!

The kids got to spend a great weekend with Grandpa and Grandma and were even treated to a fun night at Chuckie Cheese! Thank goodness for grandparents who take them there cause David & I sure wouldn't have! They also got to meet their new nephew, Gavin, for the first time. As depicted below, our little Lo was a tad jealous!

It was a fantastic weekend all around. Miss you, Andrew & Heather! Thanks for a wonderful visit and sorry again for my baby-like attitude- I really did enjoy the skiing the last two days! And thanks, Grandpa & Grandma, for taking such good care of the kids. They always have so much fun with you and we never worry about them when they're with you!

She's 2!

Happy Birthday, Lo! I can't believe my baby is 2 already! She's a challenge and a joy all at the same time. She's emotional and loving, has a temper and snuggles. She takes care of her babies and hits her brother, she throws her food and shares her fruit snacks. She's our Lauren! Here's to her 2nd birthday . . . .


Our beauty....

Look how excited she is, pointing at her ice cream being delivered by a train!

Blowing out her candle at the restaurant.

Opening her present- a new dollhouse!

Snow, sledding & more

We had our first real big snow here (I know, those of you from Michigan are crying boo hoo for us!) so we decided to bundle the kids up and put them to work. Isaac loved helping shovel- Lo on the other hand, was not to thrilled! She was very upset that she could not hold the shovel properly through her mittened hands. Needless to say, I got to go back inside with her- oh shoot, I couldn't help shovel!
We also took the kids sledding for the first time (Isaac has only gone down a snow drift in our driveway on the top of a plastic trash lid last year). They loved it. It was a little bit too cold for them so it didn't last long but we hope to go again soon.
I also included some pictures of Lo & Isaac with Lo's Christmas present from Aunt Heather. She made Lo a ton of necklaces and bracelets and got her dress up hats, shoes, purses, etc- the best gift ever for this little girl who has been bombarded with fire trucks and baseballs and diggers and blocks- all things boy.
Okay- and I had to include a picture of my new nephew- Gavin John, born on Jan. 3rd. He's doing great, as are mommy and daddy (Julie & Jason). I have yet to see him but can't wait!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas season. It was very busy with a lot of traveling but we survived and no one was sick this year! Here are a couple of pictures from Christmas.


Lo after she realized there were no more presents for her!


The kids with their new dinosaur banks


The family on Christmas Day


Isaac & Lo posing for a Christmas picture


The kids got a trampoline for Christmas- Isaac can jump quite high!

Lo can too!

The kids with their Colorado shirts from Aunt Heather & Uncle Andrew

Christmas at the Penninsula

A dear friend invited the kids and I to the Penninsula in Chicago. They had lunch for the kids (champagne for the adults!), then story time and coloring with Mrs Claus and finally, cookie decorating! Santa came at the end and each child got to sit and talk to him. Isaac, of course, wanted a fire truck and Lo would not go anywhere near him. Mrs Claus held her pretty much the entire time. When Mrs Claus put her down (after seriously holding her for 20 minutes!) to pick up another child- she had a breakdown of disasterious proportions and we had to leave ASAP. It was very fun though (and very high class!).

Lo being held by Mrs Claus

Mrs Claus telling the kids a story

Isaac & Lo next to the lobby tree

Isaac & his girlfriend, Keelin.

The food the kids were served- I wanted to eat it- how cute!

Isaac & Santa

The kids making Christmas cookies- Lo is eating the candy that should be going on her cookie!

Decorating . . . .

The decorating table-

Stuck

So we put up our Christmas tree a few nights ago. We bought new ornaments since our other ones broke in the move to Munster. The new ornaments came in a plastic container & the kids thought it was funny to wear them on their heads. But what was funnier was when Isaac got one really stuck on his head! Check out the picture- they're hillarious!

Really, Dad, you can't get this thing off me?

Don't get to close to my ear, okay?


Pull, Dad! Pull!