Glitter anyone?

Annika came home with some dazzling artwork from after school care this week. After hearing how much her Aunt Nat LOVES glitter, she has decided to donate it to her art collection.

Another one bites the dust.

Annika has lost yet another tooth. Regrettably no photos, but the tooth fairy has proof! Given that her last losses have just barely started to grow in, she has a rather difficult time eating a lot of stuff. Lets hope more come in before more come out, or she'll starve! ; )

New duds from Aunt Elin

Annika's Aunt Elin knitted Annika some cozy new winter duds. Check them out!

I'm baaaaack!

In case you are not a reader of Annika's soon to be sisters' blog, I am back. I am woefully behind on my blogging, so here it comes!

Annika's new ipod

Annika recieved a new ipod for Christmas. I know Christmas was a long time ago, but it was a while before it was loaded and ready to go. We also had to find ear buds that would fit. Now when she is tired of listening to us, she has an escape.

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.