The only good reason to be in the police station

On Monday night, Courtney and Grandma and Grandpa Jeep took Annika, Bo and Lily to a tour of Valparaiso's new police station. Let's all hope that this is the last time our kids are there.

It's never too soon....

Annika and I were talking about when she grows up in the car. She told me that when she gets married she will do the laundry. I told her that I hope she finds a nice husband who helps out around the house like her dad.

Later that day at dinner, we were telling John about how she would do some housework. Then she told me that I need to ask Mrs. Stephens, Jackson's mom, what his chores are. I said, if he doesn't do anything around the house, do you want to start looking for someone else to marry?

So, needless to say Annika has her husband picked out unless he doesn't do his chores.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Knowing we were going to take Annika's friend Micayla out for lunch and to the Painted Penguin for her birthday, do you think either of us remembered a camera?? How about after we get home and ask each other, "Why did we spend the money on new phones with higher resolution cameras built in, to not use them when we forget our good camera?" Here is the result of the trip to the mall.

Happy New Year!!

Annika decided to ring in the new year with a little sledding at Forest Park, then more sledding later in the day at Jesse Pifer Park with most of her classmates.

The end of Peace on Earth

It was inevitable. One Christmas or birthday would bring the end to an otherwise quiet household. Let's at least hope she's a prodigy.

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. ;)