Yule Log

Earlier in the season, we had our friends and neighbors over for a "Yule Log" tasting.  The one we got was from an Italian grocer in Mainz and is similar to the one here.  Everyone was excited to try it, but it had a very strong flavor, and the girls could only eat a little.  I think Kailee had the most creative way to attack the chocolate log slice. Charlotte was not as sure as the others at first.  Notice the matching tree napkins...so fancy!

Snowman Comparison

This photo was taken in Feb 1983, in Pittsburgh when I was 6 years old. It is titled "Becky and the Snowman". What I loved about this particular snowman is its cute little ears. Andie and I were able to create our own snowman with ears...and she is also 6 years old...funny

Becky Age 6: 1983

Andra Age 6: 2010

This digital scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

Building Snowmen

I love this photo!

The snow has changed from un-sticky to stick-able in a few days.  We had a fun time today turning snow, sticks, and other stuff into snow people.  Andie also posed for a few pictures during the building process.  

She is a mama snowman, with a pretty cool apron.  During the process her lower jaw kept falling off...Luckily Andie is a great plastic surgeon.

Baby Snowman

Snow-Family ... a very active bunch!

Claudia and I standing next to our snow-family.  The kids all went inside, and we finished it.  Claudia decided that today she would build the biggest snowmen ever!  Living in Hawaii for 7 years has left her a little snow-crazy.

Christmas Tree Photos

Charlotte and Andra participated in a Christmas Tree Photo Shoot.  I needed to give it a fancy name so they would be super excited to participate.  Of course they fought over who would get to hold the dog...

Trying something fun with PS Elements

Lost Tooth Update

The Tooth Fairy visited Andie last night and left her quite an inflated tooth tip.  She made sure to include a message that it was for the first tooth...so perhaps the next teeth will not fetch as much.  

Last night Mark asked her how much she thought a first tooth was worth.  Andy's first response was $1000.  After being informed that was a little high, she countered with $20.  Dad still said that was high, and then she scrunched her face and slowly asked, "$10?"  "That's not very much."  

Never the less, she was so happy this morning when she found the note and cash by her bedside.  She was so proud of it she hung it on the fridge early this morning, and then before she left for school she decorated the Christmas tree with fives...She plans to buy another Sea Pet with her new found fortune.

Andy lost her 1st tooth today!

I got a phone call from Mrs. Ladd around 11 this morning, and I thought, "What did Andy do now?"  But she was calling me so Andy could tell me the good news.  "I lost my tooth eating a cupcake...I bit down and had to spit it out!"  I was so glad she didn't swallow it...but I assured her that even if she eats a tooth, the tooth fairy will still leave her some cash.

She looks sweet with a missing tooth, and she is super excited to tell Dad when he gets home.  She did mention her idea about saving up a few teeth and then cashing them in when she sees a toy she wants to buy...

Trimming the Tree

On Thanksgiving Day I give thanks that it is finally time to decorate for Christmas.  I am hoping that the girls will love it as much as I do.  

Look Closely...

Shoes

In my experience, shoes can be a great companion.  And there is often a shoe for every season, occasion, and time of day.  Charlotte came downstairs in her fancy pick jeweled shoes and informed me that they are her "street shoes".  Because she is only 3, I will save the lecture/talk/correction/explanation for another time.

Charlotte's First Day of Preschool

Charlotte started Preschool today.  She is going five days a week for 3 hours each day.  She said goodbye to me and was off to play.  She has three friends/neighbors with her in the same class: Hailey, Jocelyn, & Isabella.  She got to paint, have a snack, and play outside. 

Andie's First Day of Kindergarten

The first day of school is exciting and scary for parents and their kids.  When I dropped off Andie, she was too excited to be sad.  We talked with Mrs. Ladd and Mrs. Oliver, and then after saying the pledge we (the parents) were asked to leave.  Andie, along with one other girl, are in a reading group.  She can read quite well already.  I have a paper that asks me to have her read the "sight words" for the first week (which are "I & am").  I pointed to the place I wanted her to read and she said, "What are your sight words for the week?".  I think she knows I & am already :)

Our Home in Mannheim

Our neighbor has this really great family blog, and I don't know why I haven't started this before now.  I thought we would begin by sharing a few pictures of our home.  There may be some pictures posted that are out of order, but better late than never...

 We share the duplex with another family... the MacDonalds.

We have a bird feeder out front, and the birds are quite greedy.  We fill it almost everyday.

Charlotte likes to jump across the speed bumps in the middle of the road.  Check out her new red sparkle shoes.  I want her to be Dorothy (she has the shoes!) but she wants to be Flash.