Happy 3rd Birthday, Abigail!

Yesterday was Abigail's 3rd birthday!  She had a great day week.  It began last Friday with Aunt Katie throwing her a special bday party with cake and presents!

Then, on the "eve" of Abigail's bday, Aunt Julie, Uncle Joe, and Lucy came out to celebrate Abigail's bday!  First she opened up her presents!  She really loved all her presents and has gotten much use out of each of them already!  She got a Rapunzel barbie, Cinderella's Ballroom lego set, and Playdough Ice Cream Shop (which she is doing as I type, she's been making ice cream for over an hour today!).  Then, they took her to 2 Toots for a special Bday dinner....with great behavior by all except 1 said Uncle, who broke the 2 Toots rule and put his napkin on the train!  ;)

Chocolate Milk for All!!!!

On Abigail's birthday, we headed to the Dupage Children's Museum!  VERY CROWDED with school being out, but we had a great time!!!! 

After great naps, we went to pick up Abigail's cake and get dinner.  All she wanted for her bday cake was a polka dot cake with Rapunzel plates....done and done!  And for dinner?  French fries, ketchup, and a chocolate milk shake...done, done and done!  We had Portillos' dinner (poor daddy got stuck at work on a very important conference call so he missed dinner, but we saved some for him).  But the party didn't stop there....Then, all the grandmas, grandpas, nanas, papas, and our favorite Florida-retirees Uncle Al and Aunt Gam came over for cake and presents!!

Polka Dot Cake (w/Rapunzel plates of course).

Big Moment!

This is so cute...she really watched that candle!

We hope all her wishes come true!!!!!!!!

(I have a family picture here...but the browser is down now so I'll add later).

Presents!!! Abigail sure is a lucky girl.  She got great gifts, which include:   Stickers, a snowman maker, Mickey umbrella, and book from Uncle Al and Aunt Gam.  Money for college and a make-it-yourself birdhouse set from Nana and Papa (she is so excited to paint a birdhouse with Papa).  Money for college from Great Nani and Papa (who couldn't be there...this morning it was so cute because Abigail was looking at her cards and told Caitlin "Great Nani and Papa couldn't be there because they have a sick heart and eye"...how sweet is she????).  Money for college, a Cinderella Music Figurine (which she calls a music box even though it's not a box), matching pjs for her and her dolly, a cute outfit, charm for her Pandora bracelet, and birthstone Fairy from Grandma and Grandpa.

And then, it was time for Mommy and Daddy's present.  We bought this for her months ago and have been so excited to give it to her.  When she first saw it, she wasn't so sure what was going on and needed me to hold her hand and walk with her...but once she realized it was for her, it was a GREAT moment!

She hasn't gotten off of it all day...in fact, she usually comes into our room when she wakes up (usually very, very early) but today she didn't..I heard her go right downstairs.  This is what I found (notice her pjs on backwards...not sure what happened there....)

I also watched her point to each of her toys and say "Wonderful.  Wonderful.  Wonderful.  Wonderful".  ha ha

Thank you to everyone who helped make her 3rd birthday so special!!!  She is so lucky to be loved by so many!!!!!  We know how special she is...and love to let her know what an amazing girl she is!  This year instead of a birthday party, she asked us to take her swimming.  So in a few weeks we are headed to Key Lime Cove!  More celebration...but with her bday being so close to Xmas, we like to make it extra special!!!

Today has been a great day at home playing with toys!  Today is our cookie and pierogi making day!!!!!  We've done 3 batches of cookies and the pierogi dough so far..... 

Happy Holidays to Everyone!!!!  Wishing you safe travels and full stockings from Santa!!!!!

I'm trying...

I know...where's the post about Abigail's Bday???

Ugh, for some reason the "picture" feature is down...and let's face it, the pictures are the best part.  As soon as it's working, I'll post!

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!!!!!