We've been hitting all the local Christmas season festivities...
First the Tree lighting at Rosewood
Emmy came too!
We went to the Gingerbread House decorating party at Sacred Heart
"Hummmm where do I start?"
Nice fake smile Francie
Dad helped brand the roof with someone's name so her sister would know who all this candy belonged to
She ate as much as she stuck on the gingerbread house
and the Caltrain Santa night and Teddy Bear Tea... those coming up next :)
At Jannie's. Francie is a little under the weather from her swine flu booster yesterday :( calls for Mickey midday and chicken soup. Francie said "this is a big tall Mickey!" Our TV is a little smaller than Grampa's and not exactly at two-year-old eye level
WAY TOO BIG for a toddler bed...
Last Friday night we babysat Baby Clara so Mark and Sarah could go up to their Google holiday party in the city. Clara was an angel! She played a bit, drank her whole bottle, played a little more and went right to sleep! We'll take you any night Clara Marie...
... was venison. A little weird? Yes. Weirder that Heff shot the deer she's eating too? Yes yes I know, sorry vegetarian friends. But Maisie loved it and ate it up way better than any of the baby food I try to feed her!
Big sister had to help
eating it up, she can't get enough!
"I love this stuff Mom" :)
the weather cut out our internet for THREE WHOLE DAYS. Painful... but we're back!
Francie was helping Heff cook dinner Friday night on the kitchen counter... she is usually pretty safe and steady sitting up there but this time she had her hand on a little cutting board that slipped off the counter and she went with it. We saw the fall but weren't close enough to catch her. Bad parents! Poor Francie was pretty freaked out but didn't have a concussion or anything. She stopped crying and said "but I didn't crack my head open and beed (bleed) like Uncle James did!" (since we tell her that story from when Uncle James was 6 every time she jumps on the bed :)
I love footie PJ weather :) We've just been hanging out this week and staying warm (although it starts out FREEZING in the morning and then gets kinda hot after lunch so I usually end up sorry I put my Uggs and too many layers on!) We had a visit from Oma & Opa early in the week, a little work and lots of just lounging around the house.
like baby races around the kitchen floor
and they're off to find some trouble
Oma and Opa were here for a quick visit Monday night after their weekend in LA. Mark, Sarah & Baby Clara and my parents came over for dinner...
Clara Marie playing with her cousins
Francie was excited for Dad's venison pasta
Maisie was not as excited for her dinner... "pink bananas AGAIN?"
Clara was quite content with her puffs
PJ time
Sunday Heff took Francie to her FIRST 49er game at Candlestick Park. Kevin and "Baby Ryan" went along with them. He's not a baby anymore but Francie still calls him Baby Ryan the Lion. The drove up together, met the Carters for some tailgating and made it to the second half of the game before heading home. Francie loved watching the "mans fight" on the field. I'm kinda glad she's taking my place as Heff's date to major sporting events :)
(kinda like a year ago when Brian and Kevin took the kids to the Sportsman's Expo!)
In order to leave, Brian had to convince Francie that all of the dolls were done sunning themselves. She lays down with them and says "ahhhhhh."
Ready to go
They tailgated with the Carters before the game...
Little 9er fans already
Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog...
What are you doing Greg?
Kev, Ryan, Heff and Francie in the stands (Francie's favorite part was the cheerleaders..."those aren't big girls dad. Those are MOMS." ouch.
Kevin was in charge of getting snacks... chocolate covered Haagen-Daz bars. Good call according to Francie. Not so much according to clean-her-up dad.
Where are you four going next??
and I found these pictures on my "little camera" I always forget to upload from... these are from October, Maisie's first ride in the Chariot with out her baby sling. She looks like she knows she's in for the big sister beat ups now that they are on a level playing field on dad's runs!!
Saturday after Thanksgiving we drove up to the Skyline Tree Farm for Conor's second birthday party. It was a cold morning but bright and sunny when we got up on the hill and very festive :) A great way to kick off the holiday season. We didn't get a tree yet, we weren't that ambitious on a Saturday morning!
Didn't take France long to find the cupcakes
Maisie was happy just chewing on her warmie
Dad and The Doo out looking for trees
still looking
The Klas family
Happy Birthday Conor! Welcome to the TWO's :)
Emmy and I are like sisters. We love each other like sisters and sometimes.... we tease each other, bicker over silly things and even downright fight like sisters! We know how to push each other's buttons and get under each other's skin, but we know we're always there for each other. No one better than a sister to remind you of your weaknesses but lift you up for your strengths too. I love having my baby sister Ann in my life and I am am doubly lucky to have my "cousin-like-a-sister" Emmy too. I love you Emmy Wemmy!
"Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there." ~Amy Li
"Sisterhood is powerful." ~Robin Morgan
"Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolize the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers." ~Pam Brown
"Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer." ~Louise Glück
"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other." ~Carol Saline
"Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow." ~Benjamin Disraeli
"Sisters don't need words. They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief. Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling." ~Pam Brown
"A sister is a forever friend." ~Author Unknown
"An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counsellor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too." ~Pam Brown
"There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you." ~Author Unknown
"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child." ~Barbara Alpert
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They were lucky to have each other...
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As are we Emmy.
"Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree."
~Author Unknown
I can't believe I didn't blog these pictures from last weekend but ROXY and NINA from Emmy's team babysat for us while Heff and I went to a wedding- Francie was in heaven with the cool soccer players hanging out at her house! and thanks for brokering babysitters and setting it up Emmy :)
Enough silliness... here are the real pictures from a nice family Thanksgiving at Jannie and Johns on Thursday. We had my mom's family, Em's family and my Uncle Andy's family join us too. It was a fun day with lots of food, lots of kids and lots of laughs. Thanks Jannie and Grampa for a great Thanksgiving celebration! We all have a lot to be thankful for.
Jannie, Sue and Nikki in the kitchen
Joe, Marla, Uncle Jerry and Aunt Mimi hanging out outside
Baby Ann, Em, Maisie, James and Johners at the bar
Jannie's pretty tables... one for real adults, one for parents of young kids, one for old kids and one for little kids :)
Brooke not feeling great but being a good sport with her parents Nikki and Tony
John and Andy getting the turkey on the platter with the turkey moving-tool
Heff manning the brussel sprouts
Ann and I with our sister-in-law-to-be Em
Jannie and Francie Doo
Uncle Andy with Maisie Moo
soon to be passed back to her godmom
Jannie got a new horse (has to try and keep up with Oma!) named King Harry. Francie is in love
Dad and The Doo
Godparents!
Newly engaged
Time to eat!
and of course the "parents of small children" table is still empty
Big John finally getting his plate
Maisie LOVED potatoes!
Moms finally get to sit
Full tummy, happy sleepy baby
James and Em whipped up their annual tradition- PIES. They were amazing!
My brother was playing an online poker tournament all night with Uncle Jerry = laptop next to him ALL NIGHT! But paid off and he WON the tournament! $592 for first place out of 90 other really cool people spending Thanksgiving on their computer ;)
Whipped cream for the pies
ABA putting the leftovers away for the next day
A-woo brought dessert... cute turkey cupcakes!
Faces of Drew ;)
still playing...
time for the real deal!
The guys - looking so nice and normal on Thanksgiving...
but as usual, it didn't last long...
and digressed even more.
Francie wants to win the pot!
Life with our Four Marys! Raising Free Range Kids in Northern CA.
