2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas

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Getting Ready for Christmas

Friday night, Cristy, Mark, and Nathan came to celebrate Christmas early with us.  The girls had a lot of fun smothering playing with Nathan.  The twins are always excited when they have someone to “boss” around.  They tried to dress him in a hat, tutu, and high heels but he wasn’t too excited about them.

Nathan opening his present first

Hey Buddy, your going a little too slow for us, let us help!

Nathan got a “pop-on pal” amusement park

Megan got a swimsuit and cover-up outfit for her American Girl dolls 

Annalyse opening Cinderella accessories

Cinderella all dressed up for the ball

 

Ariel ready for Prince Eric

 

Not too bad of a group picture, best one we have gotten in a while.

Who is ready to make gingerbread cookies?

We are! We are! We are!

Our outside view is just a little different today.

Decorating the cookies!

Megan enjoyed making clothes on the gingerbread “people”

Meredith’s way of decorating was to see how much frosting she could put on one cookie.

Annalyse did a EXCELLENT job of outlining each of the cookies, she outlined them and then put a line down the middle and also across the middle, on just about every cookie she did.

Mike adding some eyes

Megan’s materpiece

Uncle Bob making a Packer jersey

Meredith’s masterpiece

Annalyse trying out her creation

Megan taking a bite

I would have never thought in a million years that Meredith would take a bite of that cookie with SOOOO much frosting.

Our creations, they turned out pretty well!

Now, onto sugar cookies!

 

 

After the disappointing Packer loss (I told Mike he probably shouldn’t go into public for a couple of days), we headed out to brave the winter weather.  The weather sure changed from this morning, it was VERY windy outside, a little too much for Meredith’s liking.

Going for the first scoop ride of the season

 

Our snowman

Meredith taking shelter in the garage

Warming up with hot cocca and cookies!

Stay warm!

 

Fun Filled Weekend

Like father, like daughter, need I say more!

Stocking are hung by the chimney with care!

 

A visit with Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shop.  We almost had a crier, Meredith wasn’t too sure of the jolly man in the red suit was it was our turn to see him (only about a 5 minute wait, surprisingly), she was okay just to stand by him and not sit in his lap and then she was okay.

 

Snow ball fight!  They a closed off area to have a snowball fight with fake snow and soft balls, they kids had fun as did the BIG kid (Mike).  They had a lot of activities for the kids – coloring, archery, red ryder guns, slot cars, etc.  Would definitely recommend it for anyone by a Bass Pro Shop and we will be back next year!

After Bass Pro Shop, we went to lunch and then headed to Bronner’s in Frankenmuth.  It was CRAZY there, not too good of a choice to days to go.  We were on our way up in that direction to ride a train later that night, so thought we might as well do some shopping and visit Santa, it was our original plan – we kind of decided to go to Bass Pro Shop as a last minute idea.  The twins got brave the second time and sat on Santa’s lap.

Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad – We walked around the village and then took a ride a real train that is from the 1820’s.  The train ride was about 30 minutes long, we walked around the village a little but the kids were tired from a long day and also cold, it was a balmy 23 degrees when we left.

 

Pancake Breakfast with Santa at the New Baltimore Fire Station.  We had yummy chocolate pancakes and sausage and then a visit with jolly old Saint Nick (the 3rd one in 2 days).  

You may be wondering where I got these SUPER ADORABLE Christmas from, well, I made them!  Actually, you probably didn’t wonder where I got the shirts from, but I thought I would toot my own horn :).  I thought the shirts turned out pretty good, I need to work on my sewing skills a little (sewing in a straight line) but aside from that they turned out good, only took two nights!  I cut out all of the fabric pieces and then ironed them on the shirt and then stitched around each shape.  I also made the green and red polka-dot bows for their hats.