Merry Christmas

What a fun month we had! We started the Christmas season with a visit to Santa at the Woodfield Mall. Right before you go in to see Santa, there is a room that has fake snow falling. If you look closely at the picture, you can see it. Annie was really excited to see Santa, and gave him a high-five (although no lap sitting).

Something fun about being without our extended family this year, was that we got to start our own traditions. Ken's mom sent us a sugar cookie kit which you use the different sizes of star-shaped cutters to make a tree. We actually really had a fun time making it and will probably keep it as one of our traditions.

The finished product! :)

Another fun memory we made was going to the German "Krist-Kindle" market in the city. It was fun to see all the homemade and handcrafted German clocks, ornaments and toys. Was it cold though!!! We wanted to stay longer, but after a couple hours we had had our fill of the Chicago cold wind.

Annie got a slide and a car for Christmas (the car still hadn't been put together, but Annie didn't care. She was so excited.). It was a good thing the car was one of the last presents we opened, because Annie didn't care about anything after that. :) She also got a slide, which she would go down a couple times between each present we opened. These two toys will definitely make the Winter months more bearable for all of us. I got a camera for Christmas (we lost our old one on our move out here). I am so excited because from here on out, my pictures will be a lot less blury, and higher quality. Ken's favorite toy was a remote control helpicopter form Santa. Annie and Ken really enjoy flying it around the house and trying to land it on the slide, car, table, high chair, etc.

Nate recieved a Johnny Jump-Up for Christmas. He absolutely LOVES it!! It is so fun to see his face every time he gets in it. He just jumps away with the hugest grin and laugh.

The day after Christmas, my brother Shawn came to stay with us for 4 days. We mostly just ate junk food, watched movies, talked and cooked together. However, we did get adventurous one day and went to the city. We shopped along the "Magnificent Mile"--a mile long strip mall. It was fun, but we got too cold 1/3 of the way through, and went back to the car. It was lots of fun to have Shawn here. We are glad he lives so close.

For the New Year, we traveled to Iowa City to visit "Aunt Amy" and cousins. Nathan and Hailey are one week apart, and I always like to get them together for a picture. Hailey is the 1st percentile in size, while Nate is the 98th percentile. So drastic a difference in size, but they both are the same developmentally.

Our wonderful New Years Meal: sushi, homemade eggrolls, coconut rice, and bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Yum, yum. We had such a great time with Amy and the kids. We can't wait to go back!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!