Welcome Lili

Lili Marie Kohlman, daughter of Andrea and Garth, was born Monday, December 29th at 8:31 a.m. We always love Lilis!





Congratulations, Kohlman Family

Maybe Not the Last of the Christmas Pics

Here are a couple of pics I wanted to share.

I didn't get a chance to print this picture, yet, but here is Santa visiting Kurt and Erika's house.



Lauren and Lilly on Christmas Eve. Santa's elves had dropped off a package for us to open that night and it was Christmas pajamas for the whole family! Santa knows we love our jammies! I thought this was a great family tradition to start. I am sure Santa's elves will be back next Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas - Santa Was Here

Just after everyone went to bed, I couldn't sleep so I got up for a glass of water. I discovered that Santa had showed up at our house. Being the ever ready picture taker that I am, I snapped this great picture of Santa unloading his toy sack under our tree. Thanks, Santa! Merry Christmas everyone!

Proof of Santa - ALL MOMMY'S MUST READ!!!

I found this tip from my college roommate's facebook page. If you are a mom, you must check out this site. www.capturethemagic.com
This site allows you to upload a photo of your house, Christmas tree, chimney, fireplace, whatever and choose one of their many pics of Santa... couple of clicks later, you are downloading proof of Santa visiting your house. AWESOME! I know Lauren and Lilly are too young to completely comprehend this but I am going to do it anyway. I think it would be great to have proof of Santa every year. I think I am going to "get" a picture of Santa eating the cookies and milk in front of our Christmas tree. What did you catch Santa doing at your house? THIS IS SO COOL! QUICK -- PASS IT ON!!! I am so excited!!!

aaaaahhhhh

I have had the greatest day. Last year, Keith gave me a gift certificate for a spa sampler package at Serendipity Day Spa in Linden. It expires tomorrow. I finally had the opportunity to use it today. Now, I did not purposely wait until the last minute; the stars finally aligned. It was soooo wonderful. I started with a pedicure and moved on to a manicure. After I was properly dried, I went upstairs to the zen-like massage rooms for a 30 minute massage that turned into a 45 minute massage just because the masseuse felt like it. She said, "I'm not doing anything right now so I thought I would start early and give you extra time. Is that alright?" Um, YES! Then I slipped into my soft robe and slippers and glided into the next room for a facial. On top of the relaxation massage, I had a massage with the manicure, the pedicure and the facial. I was in such a dreamy state when I left, I swear I floated to my car. I didn't even care that the roads were horrible. When I got home, Keith and the girls were all tired from dancing and playing all morning. Lauren is finally buddies with Keith again. Yes! Lillie went down for a nap while the rest of us had lunch and relaxed. Now, Keith and Lauren are out shopping and it has been the most relaxing day I have had all year. Santa can't possibly have anything in that big ol' bag of his with my name on it that is any better than today.

That's What She Said

Tonight I was changing Lilly's diaper and she was playing happily. Then she said, "Mama, where are you?" Yes, she could see me and no, she did not have a clue what she was saying (I think) but she hears Lauren say this a million times a day. She is a little parakeet!!! It made my night.

Fa-La-La-La-La: It's a Frank Family Christmas!

Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells....
(Everybody now, all together)

Driving through the rain, on a warm winter's day
North on 75, fairly quiet most the way.
But then we hit a bump and Lauren was a grump
Lilly slept, Lauren wept and Keith's hair is turning gray!
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to drive to Tawas for the day.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to guess how long Mama will be sane!

Sunday was the Frank Family Christmas party in good ol' Tawas. We had a very difficult time getting out of the house. Keith was dragging his feet, as usual, but who can blame the guy? He just returned from driving to Minnesota and back in a large truck. Not comfortable or fun. On top of Keith being his usual slow self, the girls had both had horrible nights which means Mama had a frightful night. The drive to Tawas was quiet most of the time but the drive home was so miserable. Lauren screamed from Bay City until, wait, this is almost unbelievable...
Fenton! That is right, about an hour worth of screaming! It really upset Lilly so she started to cry. Keith, besides wanting so badly to do otherwise, managed to keep the car on the road and not into an overpass! We need earplugs for the car! Everyone was dead tired when we got home. The party, itself, was very nice. This is the one time of the year that we get to see most of the many, many, members of the Frank family. We always have a good time and look forward to our tradition of watching the Lions lose. It wouldn't be a Frank Christmas party otherwise. Lauren and Lilly loved playing with their cousins and gobbling up every m&m that was given to them. Although we didn't get to see everyone, it was really nice to spend time with those who did come and enjoy the yummy food that is also a Frank family tradition. It is still hard not having Grandma there. Every time I go to Tawas, I feel like I am going to be seeing her and then reality sinks in. We know she was there. She wouldn't have missed it.

Here are a few pictures I took.

Lilly found a happy place. The step leading to the living room was just too much fun.

Katie and Flynn with Katie's bored boyfriend, Matt.


Aunt Cheryl, Aunt Angela and Aunt Mary

This is not a very good picture but you can make out Aunt Kharla, Aunt Regina, Mr. and Mrs. Look, and Aunt Cheryl.



Uncle Denny, Aunt Mary, Uncle Bob, Jennifer and Alie
Keith

I caught them kissing a second earlier! OOOOOOHHH!

Uncle Kirk, Ryan and Flynn

Ryan, Flynn, Todd and Nicki with Wesley in the front

Uncle Chet and Uncle Bob

Lauren and Shianne

Aunt Anglea, Aunt Kharla and Mom (Dad went hunting!!! It was HIS family.)

Santa left gifts at Aunt Kharla's house for all the little kids. Lauren must have been pretty good because she got a Cinderella dress and crown. She was happy about it despite the frown on her face. She was pretty unhappy yesterday. However, she wants to wear her "rella dress" all the time.

Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Kurt and Erika's Travel Adventures Part Deux

Erika was kind enough to email me the pictures from their trip to the real house from A Christmas Story. I guess it is in a bad neighborhood of Cleveland but the guy who owns it has bought other houses in the surrounding area and is trying to restore it. More info and more pictures can be found at www.achristmasstoryhouse.com. Check it out. Now, here are Kurt and Erika's pics. They forgot their camera when they toured but just recently got these pics from a friend that was with them. Enjoy and thanks, again, Erika.

Ummm...

It was just one of those days when the smiley mug wouldn't cut it.

Lauren was drinking her milk out of Mommy's Little Dam Mug from the Dam Store. Damn that is good!!! When my sister and I were younger, we would go visit my grandparents in Pennsylvania. We would pass the Dam Store and used it as an excuse to say damn. Oh, what fun times!

Unrelated....
I have recently posted a ton of new pics in different posts. Check them out so you don't miss a thing.

We miss you and love you so much, Keith!

Playing in the Snow

Lauren and I played the snow while Lilly was napping and had a chilly but very fun time.

Here is Lauren's first snowman. She loves him. She waves out the window to him and is always talking about his hair.


Lauren and her toddler-sized snowman.


Little snow princess.


Here she is making snow angels. I have never shown her how to do this. I guess she just figured out that laying in the snow and having your arms and legs glide across the snow was a fun thing.


Lauren taking her first step into the snow with her new Disney Princess boots. They light up.


Such a sad little girl. I was taking too long to get my coat that she thought we were not going out anymore. But we did and it was fun!

Snow Day

Our pretty snow from earlier this week. You left too soon, Kelle. It may have been cold but it wasn't this pretty.

Visiting Santa

I have already posted a photo from our visit with Santa and you can anticipate another one after I pick up the ones I paid for. Until then, here are some more pictures I took while we were visiting Santa.

In front of the store, they had this adorable sleigh that looked like it was begging to have toddlers in it. So we did just that. Lauren went in first and she did not want to come out. She loved it!


Lauren sat on the floor of the sleigh and Lilly in the actual seat.


Lilly was harder to control in it. She is not entirely stable at all times so she needed a little assistance.


Inside the store is filled with wonderful displays. They are known for their flowers and wonderful arrangements they do for weddings, parties and for commercial and residential decorating but their gift shop is fantastic. Overpriced but fantastic. Lauren loved the room filled with gifts for babies especially the bathtub filled with stuffed animals.


Lilly and Pa.


I loved this angel. She was nestled in between huge plants and woodsy displays including a small tree filled with candles in glass.

This bird feeder was nearby.


We missed these guys right away when we were with Santa because they are usually right next to him relaxing after pulling Santa's sleigh in to town. We found them wandering through the poinsettias.


We would have taken this little one home if we could.


My pretty little lady.


In complete and total awe of Santa. I think she just realized she forgot to ask Santa for anything. Don't worry, Lauren, Santa knows exactly what you want. ;)

She Has a Problem

I swear to you she is drinking juice! She wanted to be like Mommy so I rinsed out a can and put a little juice in it. She was so excited!!!

Family Pictures

Here are some more of our family pictures.

After many, many photos attempted, this is Grammy and Pa "in control" of the kiddies.

Grammy was the only one ready for this picture but she losing points for losing her kid.


Mommy and Daddy didn't fair much better.


While Aunt Kelle was still here, we managed to snap a picture of all of us together. As you can see, we have a new television and love it so much we wanted it to be in the picture with us. After all, it is a part of the family! (We got it a couple days before Keith left so he didn't get a chance to mount it on the wall.)


I may be alone in my love for this picture but it is too funny. Take a close look at the girl on the television. She looks like she is popping out of my head! Cracking myself up!!!