Now this is how it is done...

This is how Annika would prefer to dress. You may not be able to see but the letters on her shirt are made up of pure sparkliness. The shirt is courtesy of Grandma and GopGop who are well schooled in Annika's fashion rules. She has been wearing it since Christmas morning. I need to convince her to take it off so I can wash it. Notice her bedazzled seqined hat (which she made herself.) I know she looks a little squinty, but she is that way in every one I took, so I think it is a look she is going for.

Kindly pretend you don't notice the crayon marks on my wall. Guess who is responsible for that?

Oh the drama...

Alexandria got a secret message book for Christmas. The pages are blank and you color over them with a special pen to see what is written. One of the sections was supposed to predict your future, you color on a certain spot to see where you will live, how many kids you will have, etc.

Karl and I were talking this afternoon when Annika came running in the room with tears streaming down her face.

Me: Annika! What is the matter?

Annika (sobbing): Alex'sbooksaidIwuliveonaboatinNewYorrrrrrkandIdon'twanttooooooooo!

Me: What? Slow down.

Annika: Alex's book said I would live in New York on a boat and I don't waaaaaant toooooo! (more crying.)

I explained that the book was just for fun and I played a similar game when I was little (remember MASH?) which predicted I would live in a mansion in Hawaii with my two kids. So I assured her that these things are not all that reliable and are certainly nothing to get worked up over. But I was curious why she was that upset over living in New York. "It is too crowded and the lines are so long!" she cried.

It was predicted that Ian would be a farmer who lived in a tent(?) The book said he would not be rich but assured us that he would "have lots of fun." Ian was having none of it. He said he did not want to be a farmer, because he is going to be a bear when he grows up.

Christmas

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We sure did. We got to spend it with all three sides of the family. Christmas Eve we went to my dad and Claudia's, Christmas morning we went to Ethan's, and in the afternoon we went to Karl's parents'. We enjoyed spending time with everyone and had three great meals(bonus!) Alexandria and Annika got to play Barbies with Aunt Natalie who is here from Texas and they just thought that was the greatest thing ever.

The kids got lots of cool toys and my fingers are still sore from undoing the 10,000 twist ties that the toy companies insist on using. We are so beyond thankful this year that God provided Karl with a new job so that we could purchase all said toys and give the kids a nice Christmas. We got to do all the fun things this year: We went to see the lights, baked lots of goodies, saw Santa, decorated the tree, made Christmas crafts, got to spend time with grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins...what more could you ask for?

Santa picture

One more...

See Ian being attacked by paper reindeer:

I hope you all have a merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Notice Annika. She is a trooper. The show must go on no matter what craziness is happening right next to you.

Does he look guilty?

Until today everyone has been really good about leaving the Christmas presents alone. Elizabeth will nonchalantly try to slide a finger under the wrapping every once in a while but that is as far as she gets.

However last night I wrapped Max's presents. (I know, he is a dog, but the kids seemed to think he needed something.) This morning he found two of his gifts and unwrapped them. One was a bag of treats so I am sure he could smell it but the other was a toy. Not sure how he figured out it was for him, but he left everyone else's gifts alone.