3 Years Ago Today....

We were admitted to CDH for preterm labor (I was 31 weeks).  I never would have guessed what an amazing, unexpected Xmas gift we would be receiving the next day! 

Tomorrow is Abigail's 3rd Birthday!!!  We can't wait to celebrate!

Party Animals

Tis the season to PARTY!!!!

This month, we have been very busy attending some great holiday parties!

Last weekend we got some of our friend's kids together for a informal christmas party.  It was so much fun...looks like we have a new tradition!  The kids has a PJ party and we got all the kids small gifts!  It was a great night!

The "gang" (Luke, Jake, Abigail, Caitlin, Rosie, Alex)

Opening MAD presents!

Caitlin and Luke playing together

Our lil cheerleader

On Thursday, Abigail had her 1st X-mas holiday concert.  She did a great job singing on stage!  Daddy had to work, so we videotaped it and watched it that night.  Now, Abigail requests "Abigail on TV" every morning! 

Jingle Bells

Anyone who has attempted to take a picture of Caitlin lately knows this is about as great of a picture as you are going to get of her....no interest in sitting for a picture!

Our big preschooler

Abigail and Luca

Friday night we had a Xmas dinner with our friends.  It was a really nice night out.  Thanks Mom, Dad, and Aunt Katie for watching the girls (Aunt Katie even threw Abigail a b-day party and bought her a really cute outfit, which she is wearing today for Day 2....can you believe she is 3 days away from turning 3????)

Last night we had an ugly sweater party at the Glues!  It was so much fun...and the highlight was a surprise visit from Santa!  I will post pictures soon...Abigail was up in Santa's business!  :)

What's on our agenda?  Today is wrapping day, football day (Daddy made Fantasy Playoffs so we expect lots of LOUD cheering in our house today), and Cosley Zoo Lights.  Wednesday is a BIG day in our family as we celebrate Abigail's 3rd bday.  Thursday is pierogi and cookie making day (feel free to stop on over and help).  And Friday nite....the Big Man is coming to town!!!!!!

4 Words….

Best.  Christmas.  Picture.  Ever.

These are a few of our favorite things

During the Holiday season, things seem to get so busy and hectic.  But here in the Wennerstrom home, we are actually making the committment to do the opposite and slow down!  Things have been so busy and hectic here the last few months...but we have been finding ways to just slow down and spend family time.  One big change is I finally left my Wednesday job in Early Intervention.  I really loved the job, but didn't love my kids having to go to daycare one day a week.  They are growing too fast, so I have decided to make the committment to my kids and stay home.  I still watch kids 2 afternoons a week...and starting in January I will be watching one of my best friend's daughters one day...but I still get to be home with my kids fulltime and that's the best holiday gift for me!!!!!

Here are a few of our favorite things we have been up to lately.

Xmas Letters to Santa

Abigail is really into Santa this year (although still won't sit on his lap).  The other week we sat down and made her letter to Santa.  Then, she started Caitlin's letter to Santa.  Abigail asked Santa for 3 things:  Ariel Barbie, Jumping Dolly, and Princess Dress-up Outfit.  Caitlin asked Santa for 2 things (because Abigail started to lose patience for the process):  Farm and Music Player. 

Santa has a mailbox in our park district.  We took the letters and mailed them to Santa....and are waiting to see if her gets them!  We think we have been very good and can't wait to see if Santa comes down our Chimney Xmas morning (although Abigail has requested Santa stays downstairs and not come upstairs)...

Nativity Set: 

I have always loved Nativity Sets and got a very nice one from Rob's grandma a few years ago...but this year we decided to get the kids their own, kid-friendly one.  They have been playing with it a lot and Abigail has been telling me all about the story of Baby Jesus (who is a girl in Abigail's story by the way)! 

Elfer the Elf: 

Meet Elfer, our Elf on a Shelf.  It's a fun family tradition.  You name your elf (Abigail and Caitlin picked Elfer) and every night after we go to bed, he flys to the North Pole and tells Santa if we have been bad or good.  Then, the next morning, we find him somewhere else.  We love looking for him every morning.   Our Elfer has been focusing on eating this Xmas.  Abigail is not the "best eater" but has lately been eating everything on her plate, then showing Elfer her plate and making sure he goes and tells Santa she ate all her dinner!  We think Santa is proud of her!

Play Time: 

Abigail has been really into puzzles.  Both the girls have been really into 2 things:  building and dolls.  They have blocks and will build for hours.  They also love their dolls and play with them all day (feed them, put them to bed, etc).  If anyone is looking for Xmas ideas, anything blocks related or doll accessories (feeding things, carrying things, etc) are all great ideas!

Sledding: 

Sledding is just FUN!!!!!

Those are a few of our favorite things this holiday season!

"Looks great! Little full, Lotta sap!!"

Somehow, a Christmas tree post doesn't seem right without starting it off with a Christmas Vacation quote...is there a better Xmas movie out there?????

Getting our Xmas tree is one of our favorite things to do.  This is our second year getting our tree from "Beaver"...that's his actual name....I can't make that up....He's from Wisconsin.  My parents have been going to him for years, and we are happy to be added to his client list!  My parents put a little more time into their Xmas tree selection than we do...I think we may have picked the 1st one we saw, but as Rob always said "Best One EVER!"  (Side note: I texted my dad that we got his tree and his text back was "A Balsam?"  Ha Ha...I had no idea what type, we literally picked the 1st one we saw...it was FREEZING!)

"It's a beut!"

Then, VAN-essa got her first experience with our Xmas tree (I mean, who could have a minivan and not name her VAN-essa?????)  A minivan with a Xmas tree on top..If we weren't suburb-ites yet...we sure are now!)

Then came the fun part, decorating!  Abigail was so excited to see her ornaments from the past...and Caitlin was just happy to be able to play in the tissue paper as I unwrapped them.  Our ornaments all have special meanings, we don't have any just "ornaments" on our tree.  We get an ornament on every vacation so we always remember our vacations!  And then, for Xmas each year, the kids each get an ornament to mark something special from that year (last year Caitlin got her "1st Xmas" ornament and Abigail got her "Big Sister" ornament).  So putting up ornaments is so much fun because it's full of stories...I'm sure the kids will dread these stories one day!

1st ornament on tree was one Abigail made at school

Caitlin got to help Daddy put the star on the tree this year!

Drum Rol Please......

Wennerstrom Family Christmas Tree! (Caitlin refused to participate at this point!

And of course, the "timer" picture!  Not bad this year!

Merry Christmas To All!!!!! 

Lighting of Tree

Over Thanksgiving Weekend, we went to the lighting of the Christmas tree in our town center.  It's something we had been looking forward to all week....but the bitter cold weather kept it a "short" visit for us!  Nevertheless, we had a great time.  There were supposed to be carolers there, but I think the high school students decided they don't work under 30 degrees! ;)  Santa arrived on a firetruck and helped light the tree.  Then, he stayed for pictures, but with the really long line out in the cold, we decided to just wave and see him another day!  (Side note, Abigail's favorite Xmas song right now is Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and everytime we sing it and get to the part "coming to town" Abigail says "He's already at town...I saw him at the mall!").  We had some hot chocolate in the wonderful heated tent (hense the pictures of Abigail with no gloves on...don't worry, she had gloves), took a little nap (Caitlin managed to sleep through the entire event...I guess she hibernated....smart girl), and then headed home!  Fun evening!!!

St. Nick

We are a MESS at the Wennerstrom home.  The kids have been not feeling great for about a week now.  We have gone through boxes of kleenex, and the kids haven't been sleeping well, had slight fevers, and just been all-out crabby!  Well, then it began Thursday night when Abigail came down with the stomach flu....full out throwing up for 5 hours in a row.  It was a rough night for her (and us).  Friday I didn't feel great but had to go to work for an hour...but by the time I got home I had the stomach flu.  Throwing up with 2 sick kids is rough.  Daddy made it home and I survived the night, but wasn't able to get out of bed till Sunday.  Saturday was Abigail's Breakfast with Santa at school, which daddy bathed, dressed, and took the girls!  We hoped that everyone was healthy on Sunday, but that wouldn't make this story as exciting, would it?  Abigail came downstairs with pink eye in both eyes!  So we headed to a Take-Care Clinic, and after 2 hours, we were on our way with eye drops. We went to get our Xmas tree (more on that to come later) and by the time we got home, Caitlin had pink eye in one eye!  Yep...she sat with us at the dr, completely fine....oh vey!  Of course, we wish it would end there...but Sunday night Daddy came down with the flu.  He wasn't throwing up, but he had a high fever and the chills.  He went to work today, but we are hoping he heads home soon to take care of himself.  Needless to say, we are a mess here...but hoping we can hang low this week, get everyone healthy, organize our house and our life, and be healthy and happy for the big events coming up!!!!!

We have lots to post on X-mas, but today is St. Nick's Day!  The kids put their shoes out last night:

And St. Nick came while they were sleeping: 

This year St. Nick brought things the kids needed and wanted.  Abigail has been BEGGING us for new toothpaste and a new toothbrush.  Her new toothbrush is fun...it's an electric toothbrush (which we were told to have her start using before her 1st dentist app't next month) that you can personalize with stickers.  Caitlin got a new sippy cup.  And the kids got candy, stickers, and a new Xmas movie!  St. Nick's Day is so much fun because it's the beginning "taste" of what's to come...and the kids are very excited and grateful for the smallest things!

Here are a few pics from finding our shoes...but remember, we are a mess.  I would usually have Xmas pj's on, but we have gone through so many pj's that they ended up in Halloween pj's!  :)  They have swollen eyes, crazy hair, and runny noses!  But hey, it's us!   

Hope St. Nick was good to you!  I'll soon be posting about our new friend, Elfer, some of our new favorite Xmas toys, and the great Xmas tree adventure!