Favorite pics of 2013

Just a few pics from the past year that make me smile.  :)

Making popcorn with dad

messy messy eat, he has only slightly improved

Children's museum with friends, and also the last time we'd fit in one van with the Grimm's

Reading books together, also I love this because you can just see some of Carter's long curls peeking out behind his left ear.  :)

Piano playing at grandma's

Story time with grandpa

Sleeping in a big bed!

It's time for flip flops! (probably one of Bridget's favorite times of the year)

New swing set and sandbox!

And the man who made it all possible. I love him.  :)

These got a little out of order....oh well

Donuts on July 4th morning

Mother's Day at Daniel and Wendi's

Uncle Luke's 16th birthday, and my newly shorn little boy

Ripstick rides

Back to July 4th...eating popcorn while waiting for dark

LOVES fireworks

My birthday, and my wonderful siblings

Vacation, and lots of books read by grandma

Going fishing for the first time! (no pictures of fish, because we didn't catch any)

He thinks he's big stuff

New booster seat

First real snow of year with our neighbor girl Grace, who Bridget thinks is the greatest

First hot chocolate

And His name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

We had a very enjoyable Christmas eve and day. Christmas eve we didn't have any plans till 4:30 so we spent the day together. We had a yummy breakfast (with a butterbraid I pulled out of the freezer) and we let the kids open a few small gifts. They were VERY excited. :)

Opening her Disney princess notebook and pens

Carter's new "mad birdies" (angry birds) markers. Didn't think about them not being washable though...

After naps we headed over to Luke's parents for Knapp Christmas. We had a delicious supper, followed by singing, gifts, and a piano recital by all who could play. The late night was finished off by cookies and ice cream.

The kids got pajamas, some new books, and little camp chairs. Bridget is very excited to "have my own chair so when we watch fireworks again I don't have to sit on your lap." She does have a good memory. And she loves fireworks.

We all went in together and got Luke's parents a new grill for Christmas. They were very surprised!

Christmas morning we headed over to my mom and dad's for breakfast before heading to church. The kids got to open one more gift before church, and this time they got magnadoodles (which I thought was a great church toy idea!)

After church we came back, put the kids down for naps, and had a quiet and delicious meal! The past few years my mom has made prime rib, and it is always amazing! After all were absolutely stuffed, and the dishes were done, we waited till the kids woke up from their naps to open presents. 

Bridget's one asked for gift: punch balls. She had gotten some for her birthday, and has been asking to get some for Christmas ever since.

One of Carter's gifts was a guitar. It was a "real" one, just smaller in size. However, after seeing him with it, we decided while the guitar idea was good, he maybe needed something a little age appropriate. So we took it back today and got a little electric one. While it's more age appropriate for him, it's also a lot more annoying. :)

Showing his "tu-tar" to uncle Adam

One of Bridget's beloved gifts was a Fur-real puppy. It has a leash with buttons to control where is goes so you can walk it, and when you pet it, it barks, whines, and makes some weird growling noise. I commented tonight that I feel almost like we have a real dog, as tonight while making food there was a barking, growling dog at my feet. Thankfully Mazie (as Bridget named her) doesn't need to be fed or be taken outside. Oh, and she even sheds. 

Grandpa reading the kids a story from one their new books

For once I actually thought to do a picture of all of us. Not that it turned out that great, but at least we're all looking in mostly the same direction. 

Bridget and Wendi entertained us with piano music and singing (singing by Bridget). It was so cute to watch Bridget pretend to play a long. She loves her Aunt Wendi! 

After presents we hung out, forced ourselves to eat pizza even though nobody was hungry, and packed up our huge amount of things. Then we headed home and completely crashed. :)

The most wonderful time

We have been enjoying our end of December so far. I feel like in the past few years, Christmastime has been a little crazy. However, this year it's been very laid back. I didn't make a bunch of cookies, all shopping was done online and showed up at the door, Christmas cards got sent out early, and our Christmas plans are all pretty spread out. 

Bridget "upgraded" to a booster seat! She is pretty excited about using a "big seat belt" and enjoys unbuckling herself. We've had to have a few lessons on when she can do that and when she can't.

A couple weeks ago we went to the Festival of Lights drive through display. After a "scenic" drive there, the kids were in awe of all the lights. It's fun to see their personalities come through in things that we do. Bridget exclaimed and giggled over everything, and Carter just sat totally still with eyes wide open and hardly said a word. He even forgot to have his thumb in his mouth.  :)

After driving though, we headed back to Morton and got ice cream at Culver's.

The next Saturday it snowed...a lot. At least a lot for central IL at one time. The kids were SO excited about the snow when they woke up! They seem to have inherited some of my genes though, in that they weren't at all anxious to actually go play in it. I finally made them get dressed and go out, and they had lots of fun. Carter stayed busy scooping snow back onto the driveway and Bridget played on the "mountains" with Grace, out neighbor girl. 

After about an hour and half, everyone came inside for hot chocolate. Or "just right chocolate" as Bridget calls it, since she didn't want it to be too hot. :)

As of a few days ago all of our presents are wrapped and piled in the corner of our bedroom. The kids are very excited about all of them!

The other morning Bridget was in our room and I told her to come out. She responded with "mom, I'm just going to sit in here and look at my presents." Which she proceeded to do for a good ten minutes, complete with stroking her favorite gift, which happens to be the one that sparkly. (she's very into anything sparkly right now.)