Another Santa Visit

We took the kids to see Santa again. Annika was still not afraid, but this time she told him she wants a baby and a stroller, something she already has, but we are thinking twin baby dolls and double stroller might be a good idea! I think Annika liked this Santa even better, he gave each child a bag of candy and a can of "bubbles" (that's Annika's word for soda pop). She kept showing everyone and telling them "my own bubbles!" She never gets her own can!

Melissa, Bella, Richard & Annika. The matching sweaters were from Lisa.

Christmas Trees & Early Christmas Presents

It has been a tradition for the last few years to go up in the mountains the day after Thanksgiving to cut down our own Christmas trees. I have not done it since 2002, the year Kent & I were married, since that was the last time I was home for Christmas. It was fun to do again this year. We had to improvise on the snow boots for Annika, we used plastic bags, but she thought it was so much fun to have people hold on to her as she skied down the road!

Kent, Annika & Mom

Kent & I holding Annika as she skied!

Annika looking on as Richard cut a branch with his very own mini saw Grandpa Crane gave him

Melissa & Annika

Since all of my sisters & I will be at our in-laws for Christmas Eve, after we got back from getting Christmas trees my parents had some presents for us to open. Annika had a few extra because we will not see them at all at Christmas time.

Melissa, Annika, Bella (eating the bows), Nathan & Richard waiting to open the presents

Bella had more fun with the bows than anything

The Christmas pajamas with matching robes!

Annika with Nicole and the Cinderella crown she gave her!

Wearing the crown and using it as a mask!

Prince Richard showing us how tough he could be wearing a crown!

Thanksgiving Day at the Chamberlains

All of my sisters and I were able to be at home for Thanksgiving, except Melanie & her family, but they will be there for Christmas and we will not. It was fun to have so much of our family there, plus Grandma Chamberlain, Cathy, Grandma Berrie, Judy, Sheral, Mike, Jodi, Bree, Kate, Nadine & Brad. It was quite the group, 29 people including the kids. We had a big dinner, then we played Bonkers and won some great Dollar Prizes. Then when everyone else was tired out, Melissa, Richard & Annika put on a show on the "stage" (the front entry way). I have a picture of their dances, but I'll post videos later.

A lot of the family enjoying the show!

Richard & Annika dancing. (Melissa is down in front directing them!)

Lisa, Kent & Nicole

Grandma Berrie, Sheral, Annika & Melissa

Utah

Annika & I spent 3 weeks in Utah in November. It was my last trip before the twins are born. We had lots of fun, but mostly it was nice having help taking care of Annika and not having to cook every meal. She had lots of people to entertain her, along with lots of toys and a big back yard. The weather was unusually warm, so we spent as much time outside as we could. Kent came the day before Thanksgiving and was able to spend the last week with us.

Annika & Lisa after Lisa cut her hair.

Sunday hairdo by Lisa. Our church is at 9 am so Annika is usually lucky to get a bow in her hair before we walk out the door. Since my parents church was at 1 pm Lisa had time to curl all of Annika's hair and Annika sat still and let her do it as long as she was feeding her Twizzlers!

Richard, Annika, Bella & Melissa visiting Santa after Melissa's dance performance at a craft fair. Annika is not afraid of Santa at all this year. It is just the opposite, she walked right up to him and told him she wants a green bike! A bike because her friend Ches has a bike and green because if you ask her it is her favorite color. She will pick anything as long as it is green. When I was Annika's age I started crying at the doctor's office, not because of a shot or anything, because they gave me a green sucker when we were leaving. I did not like green at all, especially not green suckers!

Annika telling Santa about the green bike!

He's thinking about her request I guess or trying to figure out what the duck shooter is that Richard wants!

Melissa with Santa

Election Day

I thought I was going to miss the crowds by going to vote around 10:30 am, no such luck, it still took me 2 hours to get through the line. Luckily Annika was tired that morning and slept in the stroller almost the entire time and I caught up on some reading for book group. Annika woke up in time to help me push the buttons to vote and get a sticker that said "I Voted" She wore the sticker all day and it got us free hot chocolate at Giffords Icecream shop!

The line wrapped all the way around the fountain at the Village Center.