Our New Christmas Tradition

Christmas in Maryland would not be complete without my two sisters. They flew in Monday the 21st and we had a great time! Here are the highlights:

1. Dan took the kids to Bounce You while my sisters and I went shopping (Anne Taylor we love you!) and spent the evening with good family friends.

2. This year we did gingerbread houses with the Burnetts. Logan and Bella thuroughly enjoyed themselves (but really, what child wouldn't with a table full of candy! ) Bella was the funniest to watch. She ate tons of frosting and enjoyed her "christmas tree cone" before her mom had a chance to decorate it! Jacob and Tess made sure to cover every inch of their houses!

3. Downtown D.C.--the National Aquarium

4. Fondue with the Brewers, we've decided to make fondue a new Christmas Eve tradition! My sister sent us costumes to wear for our Christmas story (made in China). They are AWESOME!

5. Christmas day was fun and relaxing despite my nasty cold and fever! Santa was VERY good to all of us this year! There were lots of hidden gifts, treasure hunts, and string (my favorite this year was the gift taped to our ceiling).

Jacob got a race track from Santa and Tess loves her dog, Brownie, that barks and wags its tail.

6. I couldn't let my nasty cold and fever get in the way of enjoying my sisters so we took off to Gettysburg on Saturday. We stopped first at the visitors center. The best part of this trip has to be Tess and her excitement over the magical flushing toilets! HILARIOUS!! The kids did great while we spent 2 hours driving the battle field.

Notice the t-shirt "Breinholt University" made by

my parents for our reunion this summer!

I loved spending time with my sisters just talking! They were so helpful with Jake, Tess and Abby! We love you, thanks for coming!!

Prep-ing for the Holidays

Before Aimee and Liz came we worked on Tess's BED frame. Jake loved the sanding part of it...he worked REALLY hard! (Notice that doggy was helping right along side Tess.)

Tess loved the painting part. She still has paint in her hair!

Also, Jake had his preschool Christmas program. I thoroughly enjoyed being the proud parent! He sang along with his teachers and classmates like a pro, was sweet and shy when it was his turn to take part in the Christmas story, and loved making gingerbread houses with his friends.

The weekend before Aimee and Liz flew in we had a fun snow storm that cancelled Sunday church and shut down the government on Monday (equals day off for Dan!). This storm left a beautiful winter wonderland and lots of fun family time.

After the snow stopped....

Lots of this....

Abigail is Four Months Old!

Today was Abigail's four month check-up. As I listened to a newborn cry in the doctors office today I realized that my LITTLE baby is not so little anymore (at least her cry isn't)! I enjoyed my time with just Abby since Dan took the day off and stayed home with Jake and Tess. Abby is right on target with all of her milestones. She is a whopping 15.4 lbs and 24 inches long. She smiles, talks alot, and is able to hold on to toys and play with them more now. She loves to stand!

Notice the burp cloth...they are pretty much attached to her constantly!

Abigail can be so serious and very observant. She could win a stare down contest with anyone. I love to watch her eyes as she watches Jake and Tess, the are so intense. I can tell she is itching to join right in the fun. She has a special connection with Jake. She has laughed only a couple of times, tonight was one of those times. Jake was being silly and Abby just laughed and laughed... we were all in awe of his ability.

I started her on rice cereal about 2 weeks ago and she is doing great. It has helped with the spitting up a bit but not with sleeping better at night!

Her first time out in the snow...she didn't last long.

This hat made us laugh--a bit big eh!!

December Fun!

Abby and Mommy

Abby and Daddy

Christmas Crafts

Tess tried to pour herself some cereal and this is what I found!

Love that wild hair!

Playing with Daddy in the first snow of the season. Then we had...

Tess loves her little "doggy"!

My cute little red head!

November... catching up

My little turkey is 5 (Jake was born on Thanksgiving)! I can't believe it. Just the other night Jake was telling us about how he will need to pack a lunch to take with him next year to kindergarten and my heart began to ache just thinking about not eating lunch with my little man every day! He is getting so big too fast. (He made the mask in the picture at school and was very proud of it!)

Jake had a fun birthday. Dan took off work to spend the day with Jake. They decided to go to the Air and Space Museum (Jacob is very interested in space these days). Dan told him he could bring one friend with him and guess who he picked, his best friend TESS! I love that they love each other so much. At the end of the day Jake told me it was his best birthday ever! (In the picture above we are playing our traditional skittles/M&M game.)

THANKSGIVING was fun and relaxing this year. Thanks family for coming! The kids and I made some silly turkey hats and apple turkeys. We played thankerchief and popcorn pick up and ate lots of dessert (the favorite was Dan's sticky buns, he has turned into quite the baker)!

Abigail is 3 and 1/2 months now. She is becoming more interactive and happier. She is teething and learning to grab onto toys. She has found her voice (the cooing sweet voice) and is always making noise. Nights haven't gotten any better. I keep thinking once I get her through the cold she has or once her two teeth break through the gums I'll let her cry it out but those things are not happening. She is a beautiful baby and we love her. I am excited for her Aunts to meet her in TWO weeks!

My cute kids ready for church

Halloween

So, once again the kids are sick. There was no kissing of any pigs that I know of but the swine flu came to visit us for Halloween. Sadly all of our party'n plans were cancelled and we had to do our own thing at home. We had a great time carving/painting our pumpkins...

eating fractured tacos, and trick-or-treating around the house.

I have great memories of my dad being so funny as we had to trick or treat at home growing up. Dan was just as silly!

The kids laughed and laughed when....

Abigail answered one of the doors with treats.

But the best part was when Dan answered the door with....

a block of cheese and some sausage!

The kids laughed and laughed and laughed...

Even with high fevers we had a fun night.