Christmas @ Grandma and Grandpa Jeep's

Stop three on our annual 4 day Christmas marathon took us to Grandma and Grandpa Jeep's house. Lots of family there today. Aunt Cindy and Uncle Dick were visiting from the great north woods. Sarah and Matt were in from the big city. Grandpa Ed was up from Anderson. Plus all of the locals. WOW!! Here are a few snapshots form the morning. Oh, breakfast was really good too.

Holiday Fun

The holidays are a time when families get together to have fun. We'll let you be the judge on whether that's a good thing. : )

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas at the Smith's. What more is there to say? Although I think they should rename it High School Musical Day.

New TTM duds!

Here, Annika decides to model the new line of Thorgen Tool hoodies. Very stylish.

American Idol???

Annika, leaving all other gifts behind, couldn't wait to get going with her new High School Musical sing along game.

The Christmas Beaver strikes again!!!

Having only been before as the wedding beaver (top), a sighting of the Christmas beaver has now occurred. If you should encounter this strange creature, smile and back away slowly. (He doesn't bite, as far as we know.)

Christmas part 1

Being a "modern" American family, with 4 sets of grandparents, too many aunts uncles and such to count, we have 2,3, and even 4 Christmases. Here are some highlights from the first. Enjoy.

4 Elves in this house?

Annika and I just got to elf ourselves. Can you guess the 4th elf? Annika said we had to include her.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1693450320

Those crazy elves

Annika's dad, and his girlfriend, and the kids, have decided to join the throngs who have "elfed themselves". Check it out.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1371858976

Feliz Navidad

Today was Annika's Christmas party for her Spanish class. They sang a couple songs and ate authentic treats that they made themselves. No pictures of singing unless everyone wanted a view of the back of her head. Maybe next year.

Christmas Cookies!!!

Annika got to go to Grandma Jeep's on Sunday to decorate cookies with her cousins Bo and Lily. A good time was had by all.

Mmmmm.....gingerbread.

Annika went to her friend Michaela's house this weekend to make and decorate gingerbread houses. Looks good enough to eat, doesn't it? ;)

St. Nikolas Tag

Newly learned by two-thirds of the family this year is the annual event of St. Nikolas Day. From what I gather, you leave your shoe outside your door the night before and it is filled with goodies from St. Nikolas in the morning. Nice!

Annika's New Winter Coat

With Annika growing faster than we can keep clothes on her, we would like to present her new winter coat. Appropriately enough, with three inches of fresh snow to help break it in. Expect more photos of in actual daylight coming soon.

O Tannenbaum

That's Christmas tree for you non-German speakers. Here is this year's edition of the Smith family tree. ;)

Annika is a big sister!

Annika, John, and I had our appointment today for our ultrasound. We found out that Annika is going to be a big sister to Adelaide Elinor. Here she is in all her glory!

Annika's first family vacation!

We had our first family vacation to Lake Superior and here are some of our photos...

Here, Annika is driving our Uncle Dick's boat!

Annika is in front of the second largest steam engine in the world!

Annika and High School Musical 2!

Annika had her first sleepover last night. She was celebrating her friend June's 8th birthday! (I know 8 already!) They watched HSM2, painted toes and fingers, made friendship bracelets, made sand art, had Kareoke to HSM2, and Mrs. Brault still had enough energy to make pancakes this morning! Talk about an experience she will never forget!

Annika on an official bike ride!

Annika went last week on a bike ride with her friends. They rode from Valplayso to their house by tower park. Shortly after, she asked to go on another bike ride with me from our house to Valplayso. She is finally getting the hang of riding that two-wheeler! Annika is the one in the front.

Annika and the Porter County Fair

Annika
Lily
Annika and Lily
Annika and Bo
Bo

Annika went to the fair three times this year. The first time she went with her cousin Jake and her grandparents. The second time she went with her cousins Bo and Lily with her grandma Jeep and me. They had a really good time. Finally she went with John and I.

Annika awaits Book Seven!

John and I took Annika to Barnes and Noble for the Harry Potter book release party. She had a blast waiting. We started outside the store...
We were in line for two and a half hours! Once we got in we were in the front of the store winding around the whole store!

Potowatami Zoo

Annika and I went to the South Bend Zoo for our first day out together when I got off of work at the beginning of June. I just recently got the pictures back, but this one is cute.

All dressed up.. And somewhere to go!

We recently went to a friend's wedding, and since we were dressed up, we took a family photo!

Annika loves sunsets!

Annika and John love to look at the sunrises and sunsets together. This past Sunday, we took Annika up to the dunes to get a good look at them upclose.

Go Annika!

Annika spent the day today trying her hardest to ride her bike without trainers. Here is how is stands as of 7:30 pm today.

Gavit's Fun Fest

My German Club at Gavit High School had three booths, YES I am ambitious, at the fun fest this May. I had ten kids volunteer to help me. We had a rootbeer float sale, thanks to cups from Thorgren's, a ping pong ball toss to win gold fish, and last but certainly not least, a picture booth. Check it out!! We made almost $400!

Behind the Times....

I have failed for six months to keep anyone updated on the happenings here at the Smith house. Annika lost her second tooth and I got a new car... Here are a few snapshots of both. Her first tooth is growing in already!

Jasmine and Ariel

This game might sound familiar to some of you... (Aunt Nat) It has been played before!

Annika and her friend Sam are playing princesses!

Ready for the first tooth fairy visit!!!!!

Annika lost her first tooth tonight!! The more she wiggled, the looser it got. Now all we have to do is wait for the tooth fairy!!