On This Day...

A new nephew was born!

Bennett Kenneth Kranz

9lb 1oz and 21.5in.

Spoiled

Grandma Mary and Papa D spoiled the kids with love, attention and a special treat for each Thanksgiving day between brunch, savory snacks and a turkey dinner!

Aunt Abigail read a bunch of stories

Thanksgiving placemats

Turkey place cards made by the kids

Peter saving a ladybug

Bunny Sweet Shop

Sophia the First

Woof-Woof

Star Wars Legos

Aunty Abigail stringing beads for kids'

Dance lessons

Pecan Tarts, Oatmeal Raisin Bars, Pumpkin Cupcakes

Cousins

Aunty Liz and Emma came to visit us Wednesday so we could have a little extra playtime! Boy-o-boy did we play...

Crafts

We (mostly Aunty Liz) read a gazillion stories

We saw Frozen

Puzzles, Dress-up, Dolls, Doctors, Legos, Pirates, Princess, Forts and Tea Parties..were a few ways the kids filled the hours!

There is nothing like more play time with our cousin Emma!

Thankful

I am grateful to all the people and thankful for all the events in my life that have filled me with so much love and happiness.

Santa

It may be hard to believe that we visited Santa before Thanksgiving but we did!  To be honest I was not quite ready for Santa myself but there Kate and I were at the mall having girls' day when she spotted Santa.  She was so excited, squealed, grabbed my hand and started running.  So how could I say "let's think about this" or "we will come another time" or "let's wait for Max" when all the little girl wanted was to sit on his lap and talk... So we did...I grabbed a few pictures... And the day will always be special to me. Well, little did I know this was going to turn out to be the most gigantic fiasco ever!  That night, when Kate fell asleep, I found Max crying in his bed holding the picture of Kate and Santa.  It about tore my heart out to see Max so upset that he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to talk to Santa.  I made every effort to find Santa the next day and somewhere between preschool, naps and ballet we lucked out and found Santa sitting by himself ready for a few little ones to visit him! Of course Max and Kate were giddy at the thought of visiting him. Anna, however, told me on the way to visit Santa, "Momma, I no want see Santa!" So there we were, Kate and Max on his lap and Anna in her stroller, with her head turned away from Santa and her eyes tightly closed the entire time she was next to him! 

Santa did ask each of the kids what they wanted for Christmas and the kids were ready with the one thing they truly wanted and Anna said(with her eyes closed), "babbio (i.e. baby doll) please."

Tea Party

All the kids, especially Anna, have loved having this tea set from Mimi.  I think we had three tea parties this weekend! Anna chants down the hall, "Tea Party! Tea Party!" and everyone comes running!!!

 We had a special visitor from Kate and Max's preschool - Mr. Owl!  Mr. Owl did a lot of fun things with us including enjoying multiple tea parties!

I think it is just priceless that Daddio is just as excited about the tea parties.

Thanksgiving Feast - x2

Good Hope Preschool

Our preschool does such a cute job every year providing the most adorable pilgrims and Indians.  Parents provide the food - there was no shortage of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets!  Anna was thrilled to watch "the show" and eat a lot! Kate (Soft Bunny) and Max(Silly Bear) were Indians.  Both 4's classes led the entire group of parents, teachers, and students in the blessing before the big feast.

Discovery

The teachers took this opportunity to wrap up their music unit.  The kids sang multiple songs and played instruments for their "performance". Then we got to check out their art, thanksgiving placemats, make beaded jewelry and eat snacks together.

We are so thankful for all the time and energy the teachers put into these celebrations.  These gatherings/performances/parties mean so much to the kids (and parents)!

Our little Peanut

At Anna's 2-year well visit she was 22lb and 11oz and 32.7in. tall.  She did so well at the visit, answered questions, followed directions, showed the doctor all her baby's parts, listened to stories, got her blood drawn and cheered when we pulled into the driveway saying, "Hooray, we're home,  it (s)moothie time!!!"  Love the enthusiasm!

 She is constantly asking, " I play now?" She just jumps right into whatever the kids are doing whether they are stringing beads, coloring, cooking, dressing up, building something, hiding, playing outside, catching lizards, listening to books, building bunny homes, getting cozy is Kate's bed, singing, dancing, doing ballet, going on a walk...their seem to be no limits!

 

Anna loves band-aids!  She will help herself to one, two, or half-dozen band-aids at any given time.  She decorates herself, her babies and anyone who seems a little hurt or sad in any way.  She wears band-aids on top of her tights.  The other day I was walking around target when a lady kindly told me how much she loved the three band-aids I was sporting on my leggings! No matter the reason for the band-aids Anna always asks, "(person's name), so happy?" So sweet!

There is nothing Anna will not say.  She is is quite the little joker too!  The other day she was chanting something about poopy in the car and I said, "no more poopy talk Anna." Her response, "Pee, pee talk?" Whenever she talks to Mimi she says, "Icky day!" just so Mimi will say, "No, it's not an icky day!"  Just to get a response from Daddy she will start singing, "Shake your booty!"

Kate and Max helped me get some awesome "I Two" pictures.  Hooray for teamwork - I could not have done it (I tried) without them.

Leaf Blower

The kids were showing Anna how much fun you can have in the leaves, then Daddio turned on the leaf blower...