Merry Christmas!

A happy belated Christmas everyone!

We had a very nice Christmas at home... very low-key.  The girls I were sick for an entire week so things are just getting back to normal around here.  I am just now getting around to sending my cards out so I am so sorry they are late.  I had an initial problem with my order and then when they showed up, I was sick, sick, sick... too sick to even think about sending cards.  So you can start holding your breath now because they are on their way quick.

We also visited with our new nephew this evening and finally got to hold the little bugger!  He is so cute!  It really took me back to when Lauren and Lilly were that tiny.  So cute.

Keith and the girls listening to Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Jan gave us this book.  It is one of those Hallmark books that you can record someone reading the book and then save it.  It is such a thoughtful gift and the girls will love hearing Nana's voice reading to them year after year after year.

Lilly and the girls' new Cinderella carriage pop up tent-like playhouse which is really, really cute but the biggest pain in the butt ever!

 

 What would Christmas be without the Red Wings?  Oh yeah!  Jesus and stuff! (hee hee)

 

 Pa and Lil cuddling.

 

I do not even try to dress her anymore.  She picks out what she wants.  I promise you that at any given time of the day, she has on at least two skirts.  I am fostering her creative genius!

Kurt and baby Derek

 Oh-my-goodness-don't-you-just-want-to-scoop-him-up-and-take-him-home?

 

 Another beautiful red head.

 

 Grandpa and his grandson.

 

 I love this picture of Lauren probably because she is actually smiling!  I also think she looks like Keith's cousin Kayla in this pic.  My cutie!

 

 Another one of Derek looking all cute and sleepy.

 

 Grandma and her grandson.

 

 Aunt Erika helping Lilly open her Christmas present.

 

 Lilly and Mama playing with the camera.

 

 

 The girls comparing.  (Read:  Lauren scooping out what she will later take from Lilly.)

 

 Terry's new look.

 

 Another happy picture of a happy Lauren.  She is setting up her grocery store and/or tea party.

 

 Cooper, our hairier nephew!

 

 Lilly could see herself on the screen of the camera and thought it was great!  Silly girl.

 

This is the last post for 2009.  We are headed to Matt and Lisa's to ring in the new year in the best way we can... hanging out with our best friends and their three beautiful daughters.  Us and 5 girls... twin 7 year olds, a 3 year old and two 2 year olds.  Hm.  That should make for some interesting stories for 2010!

Happy Safe New Year Everyone!!!

Introducing Derek Michael Swartz

Keith and I have a new nephew!  Kurt and Erika had a baby boy named Derek Michael Swartz on December 19, 2009 at 5:37 p.m.  He weighs 5 pounds 10 ounces and is 17 1/4 inches long.  His hair is red, like Lilly's and he has brown eyes.  Super cute.

Model Behavior

Lauren was such a good girl yesterday and may actually be taking this whole "Santa is watching" thing pretty seriously.  This truly is a wonderful time of the year.  What will I do when she no longer believes in Santa?  I hope it lasts a long, long time.

One thing I hope does not last too long is her sudden posing for the camera phase.  Where she learned this, I have no idea.  She kept posing, so I kept snapping pics.  Enjoy the results.

  

The last picture is from today.  Grammy surprised us with an "emergency" 24 pack of Diet Coke.  :-)  and Lauren made her "read" the songbook to her.  They were singing Mary Had a Little Lamb in this picture.

New Blog Banner

As you can tell, gone is the pink banner with the frog and in its place is a black and white Swartz photo banner.  I've been wanting to do a new one for awhile so now is the time.  However, since I dated it, I will have to change it again in a few weeks. 
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Lauren had school today and has finally, completely adjusted to it.  She loves going, loves her friends and loves her teacher.  Found out today that her teacher is pregnant and probably won't finish the year with the class.  Bummer.  I had a gut feeling about this when I placed her in this class.  She wouldn't have been pregnant when I signed Lauren up but I just knew this would happen.  Weird.  It is the teacher's second baby and the most amazing part is that she is just starting to show at 5 months!  Just showing!!!  She is so tiny!  We still are super excited that, as Lauren says, "she has a baby under her shirt."  Speaking of babies under shirts... we are also anxiously awaiting the birth of baby cousin Swartz.  We can't wait to meet the little bundle Kurt and Erika are going to have!  Yeah!  Very soon...

Lilly is still driving us absolutely nuts!  She is exactly like Keith.  She likes to sleep in until 8 but likes to stay up all night!  She parties after lights out even without her afternoon nap.  She jumps on her bed, hauls everything out of her toybox, throws books across the room, and my favorite, shuts the bedroom door.  She still gets naked every night and keeps Lauren awake.  After about an hour, Lauren just passes out and doesn't hear anything but I feel bad she is kept up that long.  We're not quite sure what we are going to do with our little Lilly.

Santa Pictures & School Picture

While Lauren was at school today, Lilly and I went to Gerych's to pick up our family Santa picture.  It didn't turn out as badly as I expected but I wish the girls had even given just the slightest hint of a smile.  Also, we got Lauren's class picture back earlier this week.  I just love it!  Again, she could have smiled.  We didn't even bother to purchase her individual pictures because she look so unhappy.  Maybe next year!