Happy V-Day!

Anna and Laura had a great Valentines party. The actual V-Day was less exciting, as Anna has a low fever and doesn't feel like doing much. Due to that, we've been watching some of the Olympics, and Laura is very interested in ski jumping. I'm sure Emily would LOVE watching Laura shoot off a ski jump.

Here's a variation of pin the tail on the donkey... Pin the heart on the... heart? Looks like they had fun.


Pretty close LJ.


Stacking conversation hearts...


Doh! It fell over.


Anna getting into the party mood by finger painting.


Not too shabby.


Of course, there are cookies. Laura takes cookie decorating very seriously!


Not sure what this game is, but Sophie and Laura seems to be really having fun.


Happy Valentines day!

Winter Fun

Even though it was a bit cool (+15F), I took Laura out on Prior Lake to get some skating in. She really loved it and she did pretty well. She practiced with a chair to help get some balance, and even though she landed on her bottom a lot, she was starting to glide a little!

Push that chair Laura!


The splits were a common occurance. Luckily she has rubber legs and joints.


See daddy, I am starting to get it!


Laura is very focused.


Ok Daddy, I am getting a little cold. Time for some hot cocoa?


No trip to Grandma & Grandpa's would be complete without a visit with Rudolph!


Meanwhile, Anna was content to stay in the warm with mommy.


She's pretty much mastered the remote control.

Hair cut day

The girls got their long overdue haircuts. Laura insisted on short(er) hair (Like Daddy's), so we compromised.

Laura showing off new new haircut.


They even gave her a sucker for being a good girl. (They had Nemo on and she was transfixed)


Laura ate the whole sucker.


We were amazed how much different Anna looks with properly trimmed hair.


"I can see now!!"

Holy Princesses, Batman

Sorry for the delay in blog postings, I was tired of waiting 10 minutes for the computer to bootup, so now we have a clean windows7 rebuild.

The princesses received quite a package today: A whole collection of Disney princess costumes. Pretty much the mother lode of little girl treasure.

A very big thanks to Janna and Jori for sending this treasure chest. It will be put to good use.

Anna grew wings!


Hi Tinkerbell, or whoever you are.


Laura as princess Jasmine, I think. I need to study up on the princesses, I guess.


Very pink, very Laura.


Oh la la, a magic wand. Very handy.


Lil Tinkerbell.


All the little princesses. I think they each wore every costume (that fit).


Being a princess is hard work. Anna needed to relax.

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Laura was very excited to give us her present. She couldn't wait for us to open it.

Mom and Dad: Photo Courtesy of Laura


To Mom and Dad:


A snow globe! What a great present. A nice picture of Anna.


And of course, Laura.


Of course, there is the present from Mommy and Daddy. Santa came by later too, but this one was from Mommy & Daddy.


"I get good loot!"


We start 'em young in this house. Anna's mastering the mouse.


Sesamestreet.org, of course.


Little girls want to be good to make sure Santa has them on the 'nice' list. Here Laura is swiffering the floor:


The magic of Christmas morning

Happy Birthday Laura!

Laura had a wonderful 3rd birthday. It started off pretty low key with some yogurt for breakfast, but then she got to watch dad work on making the cake, and then it was time for some presents!

Hmmm, what could be in the big bag?


A DOLLHOUSE! WOW!


Laura and I are a little overwhelmed by all the parts & pieces to the dollhouse.


Daddy got her a kayak that goes along with the dollhouse.


A little lady in heaven.


It, of course, HAS to have a minivan.


Make a wish Laura!


2 out of 3 isn't bad.


Laura was emphatic to tell anyone who would listen that she's THREE YEARS OLD!


We asked what kind of cake Laura wanted, and she consistently said she wanted a Jellyfish cake (Yes, auntie Mandi, I told her you prefer 'sea jellies').

Somehow after last year, cake making has become 'Daddy's Job', so it was up to me to construct her Jellyfish cake. A trip to the craft store and some advice from the only marine biologist I know, I made a plan.

It started out with a soccer ball cake mold. Add some cherry licorice strings.


Put the frosting on the sucker... which was trickier than I thought.


Move it to the table.


Here you go, the final product.


Anna enjoyed the festivities. Here I dressed her up as Indy-Anna Jones.