New Year's Eve

Since our entire family is sick, our New Year's Eve is going to be very low-key--early to bed for all.

Dunkin' with Daddy

Greg and Kari enjoying a rousing game of Candyland

Turban Girl playing Candyland

Palming the Gertie ball

More Candles

It was really cute. We were singing Happy Birthday to Grandma (we celebrated on the 27th), and Kari was singing loud and clear right at Grandma.

Licking candles one again.

Uncle Brian and Aunt Emily came back from California, so we had another little Christmas celebration that same night.

Christmas Day

Joel Boy's new Gorilla from Great Great Grandma Hastings (she doesn't do computers, so we'll send her pictures in the mail.)

Kari's new Zoe slippers (to go with a new robe)

Christmas Morning at G&G Moffat's house. This is really how Kari felt all afternoon--nasty cold/cough. Bummer to be sick on Christmas.

Look at that crew go!

Maggie, Sam, Ashlynn, Lorelai, Kari and Joel on the couch

Christmas Eve Part II

Joel had lots of fun with the wrapping paper.

I love this one. We played "Where's Joel?" for quite some time.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus

Kari got to lick more candles. Grandpa made sure there was a generous amount of frosting on each one.

Christmas Eve Part I

Our Christmas festivities are spread out this year (not done yet!), and it's been a good celebration of the birth of Jesus so far. Here's post number 1. Who knows how many we'll end up with--too many fun photos to share.

We tried to get a family photo before we left for church on Christmas Eve. Once again, only three of the four of us could look at the camera and smile at the same time.

Joel thinks Tostie is funny. Kari still keeps her distance.

Kari was very excited about her new underwear in her stocking from G&G. She's not really frowning. She's saying "Wow!"

Early Presents

Grandpa and Grandma Moffat came over Thursday and let the kids open their presents a little early. (See the stockings in the background? I finally finished making Joel's stocking--just in time!)

I think we'll be seeing a lot of this come Monday.

After we took the paper away--"Now what am I supposed to do?"

Greg captured this truly candid shot yesterday (we really didn't tell them to pose). They're enjoying their presents already. Thanks G&G!

Everyday potpourri

Only 4 more days until Christmas!

Kari feeding Pooh "pretend applesauce," and yes, she uses the word "pretend."

Joel trying to climp the slider. He played there for half an hour. He's been pulling himself up a lot more the last couple days. He doesn't know how to gracefully get down yet, so we've got to watch carefully.

We've been having more toilet issues recently with Kari, but we found something that's working--stars. She loves putting the gold/silver/blue/red star stickers on her "chart" (a.k.a., a piece of white paper taped to the bathroom door) when she has bathroom successes. It's amazing the motivation she gets from the star incentive. It's great! (Oh, and for those of you who care, Kari had her 3 year dr. check, and all is well. She's in the 75th percentile for height and weight--quite proportional.)

Happy Birthday, My Friend!

Today is the birthday of one of my dearest friends. Happy Birthday, Karyn Lynn Meier! We didn't get a digital camera until 2002, so I don't have any pre-2002 pictures to post (maybe later I'll scan some...), but I have many good memories that I treasure--senior year, various dances, Snowball--"Did I shave my legs..."; freshman year at GFU, pickles & cheese, 2am chats, your "influences" in Greg and I getting together (and staying together!); my wedding, your wedding, our long phone chats. The list could go on, but this is a blog, and everyone else might get tired of reading about things they know little about!
Thanks for being such a wonderful, loyal friend to me over the years and through the many different phases of life. You've supported me and listened to me, and I appreciate your friendship very much! I love you, Karyn! I hope you have a great birthday!

(holding baby Kari)

(holding baby Joel)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Kari Lynn!

This year's birthday was the best yet for Kari. She was SO excited! Grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins--all there to help her celebrate. Thanks for coming everybody!

We had her party on the 16th, the day before her actual birthday, so her celebration lasted two days!

Lighting the Elmo cake

We didn'thave to tell her to lick the candles. She already knew.

All kinds of fun new things. It was so much fun to shop for and plan her birthday this year. She loved everything!

Birthday girl with a goofy 3-year-old birthday smile. (Sunday after church.)

Crazy Weather

This crazy weather through a hitch in our birthday party preparations, but everything turned out ok. The wind storm knocked out our power at 6:15pm on Thursday (we missed Survivor) and didn't come back on until Friday at 2pm. It was fun for a while, but I was very excited when it came back on! Kari enjoyed the hail storm and the snow.

 

Standing up!

Joel pulled himself up today for the first time. Yeah! Our content-to-just-sit little boy is on the move! I had to document this momentous occasion.

 

Tuesday evening

I tried to take a picture of Greg reading to the kids, but this is what I kept getting---Joel pulling Kari's hair. Her hair is a Joel magnet.

Paul and Karyn came over for dinner last night. They've been gone a long time, so it was fun to hang out. Kari's "smiling" for Paul's photo.

Kari and Karyn's birthdays are only two days apart (Dec. 17th and 19th), so we had some early birthday cupcakes. Kari's been waiting since September to blow out candles. Three cousins, an uncle, and a grandpa have birthdays in Sept.