Disney World 2012

 

Jingle Bells... say HEY!

OK, so if you've been around Abby at all this month, you'd know that she has been practicing her rendition of Jingle Bells.  If you listen closely, you will see she does sing the 5 or 6 most important words in the tune.  We will work on this for next year.  As for now, it's just precious!

I want to go!!

The girls are so desperate to get to Disney World that they offered to ride in the suitcase.

Presents from Santa

Here are some snapshots of the girls opening their gifts on "Christmas Morning".  There is nothing better than experiencing a Christmas morning with young children.  Look at the excitement and smiles on their faces.  We will cherish these memories for a long, long time.

Binkowski Christmas

Kids at Christmas

Here are some of the best expressions of the family as the kids opened their Christmas gifts.

I don't like that one...

I'm just going to load this in the car.

Look at me guys... I want some attention.

Just look at this pile all for me!

Hurry and take this picture so I can open all of these gifts!

Wow... I didn't think I was THAT good this year!

This one is my best!

I'm gonna focus really hard to get this open all by myself.

Best gift ever... from Auntie VV and Uncle Rodger.

Grandma said this chair was for my baby doll but I'm just going to test it out.

Happy Anniversary

Rodger and Valerie have been married four years!  We celebrated with a fantastic sushi dinner and movie night.  We laughed a ton while watching "This is 40", realizing that this movie in many ways is a snapshot of our lives. 

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies

It wouldn't be Christmas without a Cookie party.  This year, we hosted two of them.  One was for the neighborhood book club and one was the annual day before the last day of school party.  Two cookie parties means double the planning, double the drinking, and of course double the cookie eating!! 

Thanks to the mild winter season, I was still able to work out through the month of December outdoors most days.  I'm proud to say that I lost weight in December... despite the dozens of cookies eaten!

We Got Annie!

 Rodger, Valerie, Grandma, Sophie, Ava, and Mae went to see the musical Annie at the Paramount in Aurora.  As expected, Sophie sang along to her favorite tunes, like "Maybe" and "Tomorrow".   

Full Day in Chicago

The girls fell asleep before we exited the parking garage after a day of Holiday fun in Chicago.

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

We have enjoyed the holiday tradition of going to Winter Wonderfest for the past few years. This time, the girls really enjoyed the inflatable jumpys the most.  Both Sophie and Abby went on the indoor ferris wheel and loved it.  After a full morning of rides and fun, we went to Macy's and enjoyed the holiday windows and Christmas tree at the Walnut Room.  Chicago is a great place at Christmas time!

Elf Abby

Best smile of the day!

On the ferris wheel...

Matching Guebert sisters!

Susie the Elf

The girls received a surprise from the North Pole... it was an Elf on the Shelf.  After watching the movie and reading the book numerous times, Sophie decided that our elf's name was Susie.  The girls LOVED finding where "Zoo-zee" (as Abby would call her) would land each morning, and it was a great way to remind them that Santa is watching for "happy face" girls.  We wish Elf on the Shelf existed all year long...

Meeting Santa and Seeing Baby Jesus

Sophie and Abby had a very busy and festive holiday season.  Whether it be watching one of the 30 different Christmas movies at home or attending a holiday event in and around the city, they were dressed in Christmas clothes and excited to talk about Santa.  In addition, we spent a lot of time discussing Baby Jesus, playing with our manger, and singing Happy Birthday, Jesus.  Both girls ran down the stairs each morning to place the new number on the advent calendar and eat their piece of chocolate. 

"I want a Barbie Doll House and my sister wants a Princess Castle.."

Breakfast with Santa at Sts. Peter and Paul Church

Santa House on Pet Night (minus our pet which we forgot wasn't going to be here for the photo)  Santa didn't mind.

"...Baby Jesus!!!"

Lucky Charms Marshmallows = A Good morning

The girls have BIG smiles because we opened a fresh box of Lucky Charms.  Abby eats the marshmallows and leaves the rest for everyone else. 

Holiday Lights Parade

Kudos to Naperville for moving the Holiday Lights Parade to the first weekend in December instead of Thanksgiving Friday.  We were able to enjoy this great holiday tradition, and really loved the warm December weather that we were blessed with the entire month.

Papa and his favorite grandchild at the Parade

BFF from Canada

Val and Lissa Angus caught up in downtown Chicago for a girl's night. Parallel lives, 10 years apart... the only difference now is that she lives in Canada!

Loran's Wedding Shower

Sophie was an excellent helper to the bride.

Abby.... not so much.  She was the entertainer...

Christmas dishes from Grandma Janis

Towel Wedding Cake from Sophie and Abby

 We hosted a wedding shower for Loran at Gallagher's for the Jaskowiak side of her family.  Brunch included mimosas, salad with fresh fruit and chicken, and some amazing desserts from Dear Diva.  Loran was showered with many gifts and love.

Rodger and his girls

Loran, Sophie, Abby and Rodger spending a day together in St. Charles, MO

Christmas at Thanksgiving

We traveled to Southern Illinois for a relaxing, long Thanksgiving weekend.  The girls enjoyed time with their Grandma Janis and Grandpa.  Rodger devoted a lot of his time to installing a collective Christmas gift for them - a new digital sound system for the house.  Valerie opted to go for a run, and logged 7.5 miles... longest run ever!

Sophie and Abby were spoiled by their Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents as we celebrated Christmas at Thanksgiving.  They both received American Girl dolls and many accessories, including matching pajamas.  The girls spent their weekend playing with their new dolls, Kit and Molly as well as many other toys they had received.

It was a weekend packed with events; the Gueberts had the pleasure of meeting Kay's boyfriend for the first time.  In addition, lots of conversation was devoted to Loran and her wedding.  Rodger took all of his girls to an old-fashioned Christmas parade in St. Charles, MO.  On Sunday, we hosted a bridal shower for Loran.  Grandma made lots of wonderful home-cooked meals, and enjoyed showing the girls how to talk to "Mr. Christmas".  We left Watson on the farm for a few months due to all of our holiday travels.  All in all, it was a great holiday weekend.

November = Decorate for Christmas Month

Yes, we know it is early, but we took the time this weekend to put up all of our Christmas decorations.  Below is a picture of Abby and Sophie showing off their Christmas spirit with new Santa Jammies and their holiday toys.

S-O-P-H-I-E

Thanks to "Super Why", Sophie mastered the alphabet over the summer. Thanks to Miss Stacey, she is now learning to write her name.  Here's evidence of preschool learning...