O Tannenbaum

GG

We were so thankful to spend a great day with my grandma. She did puzzles on the floor with Kate, made Dan's gravy, and gave Annie about a million kisses. What an amazing woman.

We love you, GG!

My husband, the chef

Dan managed to be on call, spend a few hours at the hospital, and cook a pretty fine Thanksgiving meal. There was one minor incident when I thought he was going to take out my Grandma, but she did get in his kitchen, after all.

Fuzzy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kate's Turkeys

I like that Kate doesn't color in the lines yet. I think it makes her turkeys look super excited!

Underwater Baby

I was reminded yesterday of how Erin used to go underwater in the tub. Here she is, underwater, happy!

First Snow

Kate was so excited to wake up this morning and see snow. I felt like a very cool mom when I let her go outside in just her pjs....and then I felt like not such a cool mom when, while I was watching her from the doorway, a huge chunk of snow fell right on Annie's bare head. Poor baby. Later, Kristal and I braved the zoo in all this snow with 3 toddlers and 2 babies. The kids had more fun eating snow than looking at lions and giraffes but, as always, I am so grateful for adult conversation!

pinktails

Kate is new on the pigtail scene.

Since she loves the color pink

and is fairly neutral about pigs,

she is going to be saddened when

she finally figures out that we're

not saying "pinktails", we're

saying PIGTAILS!

Annie is loved.

TGIF?

Annie was up at 4:30 this morning and has
decided to keep me company for most of the
day. This baby does not need sleep!

Later this morning, when I went to "release the
beasts" from their bedroom, I discovered 2
smiling faces waiting at the door. Kate said
"Don't worry, Mom! I went ahead and got
Erin out of her crib for you!" They both
looked sooooo pleased.

Later this afternoon, Kate managed to lock
the three of us in their bedroom, leaving
Annie sobbing on her changing table. I had to
crawl out the bedroom window and run around
to the (thankfully) open kitchen door.

I pray that Dan will be home soon.

Thirty Toes

My friend Tracy takes pictures of baby feet and makes them

look absolutely poetic. I take them and they look absolutely

chaotic! Regardless, I am thankful for all these little toes.

Annie

James Henry

This is our friend Bridget's son, James.
He will be 2 next month.
Isn't he cute?!
We saw him and his mom last weekend
for Max's birthday.
James came ready to party!

Max Christopher

Happy Birthday, Max!














4 years old today.......since I've been married
and have had 3 beautiful daughters, there
have been many "happiest" days of my life, but I
have to say....the day I saw my sister give
birth to this beautiful boy was my first
happiest day of my life!
Max is full of life and energy and without a
doubt Kate's best friend in the world, and for
this and many other reasons, we will always
love him!

Grandpa's Girls

Erin is in love with my dad. If he is anywhere around, she is usually pretty close by. Here she is hanging out with Grandpa and cousin Viv.

Time flies...

It's hard to be three months old.

Happy "birthday", sweet baby.

Erin Elizabeth

Just taking it all in today.

Kate

Kate runs from the camera these days.
If I do manage to catch her, and she is
agreeable, for some reason she says
"Mushroom!" when I take her picture...
whatever happened to cheese?
This is the mushroom face.

Annie

Annie is all smiles these days.
Almost 3 months old!

Annie

Annie lives an exhausting life.

Erin says "what's that"

(WHASDAT?) and "why?"

500 times a day. I'm grateful for

her chubby baby cheeks and

thighs to remind us that she's

not too much of a big girl yet!

Emma Jane

I was looking through pictures this afternoon and thinking

about how I would really, really like a Starbucks....Miss

Annie had me up at 4:45 this morning....and I came across

this picture of my niece, Emma. Isn't she cute? To her

mother's credit, I'm pretty sure she's drinking hot chocolate.

candidphotography | annie

candidphotography annie

My good friend Tracy is starting a photography business and we are always willing subjects....she is a fantastic photographer! I also have to give her credit for helping me start this blog. Whereas her husband, Andy, inspires me to do things like ride my bike 500 miles across the midwest, Tracy inspires, well....lets just say a more passive, gentler creativity! Check out some Annie pictures at the purple candidphotography link above. Password is "annie". Great job and thank-you, Tracy!

Puppy Girl

The puppies, one two three and four. If she is feeling particularly fragile, she will say "more puppy!" until she gets more. Kate is a good sport and usually pretty willing to fetch Erin more of her litter.

Night-night, Erin

Erin, sleeping peacefully, still in her crib, with 4 ever-present puppies, one kitty "meow", one lamb, one Susie-Q-Doba, one "bath-baby", three blankets (including my blanket from when I was a baby--oh, who am I kidding-from when I was in junior high!), one sippy cup of water, one knuffle bunny, and many, many books.

Sock-Monkey-Baby

Annie in her sock monkey quilt, stitched by my cousin Laura.


What baby wouldn't look happy in a sock monkey quilt of her very own?

Erin Elizabeth, 20 months

Super Bunny

Kate, eating dinner in all of her three year old glory...."pink-tails" and super bunny cape.

Annie at 12 weeks

Good night, girls!

Erin, reading Apples, Apples to Kate and Annie.

Dan and Annie, at 12 weeks.

Evening buddies...they love to hang out together after the big girls go to bed.