Polar Express in St. Louis

While we went out with Loran and Chris, Grandma Janis, Uncle David, and Auntie Shelley took the girls on a wonderful train experience of the Polar Express.  They each had a golden ticket, sang carols, and had hot chocolate.  After the ride, Grandma took them to the Shrine to see the holiday lights and ride on a real camel.

St. Louis Symphony

Rodger, Valerie, Loran, and Chris enjoyed a lovely evening in St. Louis.  We dined at Brasserie and then went to the symphony to hear highlights from West Side Story and Rhapsody in Blue.

This is why they love us???

Abby - Age 3

Sophie - Age 5

Holiday Photos 2014

Love it

Sisters forever

I can't seem to rotate the annual Binkowski family pic!  Turn your head to see all 12 of us.

Another weekend, another show

It's not like we planned our December to be as busy as it was... it was just that there are so many fun things to do during the holiday season!  The Binkowski clan went to Chicago for a treat to go see Hansel and Gretel the musical.  The show was ok, but the highlight of the day was going to Shaw's Crab House for their Sunday brunch.  Abby ate a solid 2 pounds of crab legs.  That girl loves her crab legs!!  Sophie, on the other hand, was tempted by the sweets and helped herself to three servings of fresh cotton candy.  Everyone loved the meal, but we got a kick out of the fact that McCauley Caulkin and his band were sitting at the table next to ours.  It was so hard not to resist going up to him and making his famous "Home Alone" expression.  Good call, Margret, who recognized him as an adult!!  Over the course of the holiday season, I think we went to 5 different shows.  I think these kids will be cultured.

Illumination at the Arboretum

Grandma, Papa, Sophie and Abby at the Morton Arboretum.

Lovin' on Lucy

 

Lucy has become a family favorite with the little ones. 

This is what happens when the girls take the iPad

I was a bit angry when I found about 50 selfies and posed pictures of the girls on our iPad.  But, then I realized that they love Christmas and the decorations just as much as I do.  So, I sorted through the pics and found some of the better ones to share with all of you.  Here is Christmas in our family room from the eyes of Sophie and Abby.

We got Annie...

It's NOT the hard-knock life for the Guebert girls, but they do love to sing that song from "Annie".  Here we are at the Cadillac Palace watching the show.  Sophie even curled her hair for the occasion to look more like the real Annie.  Honestly, we loved the Paramount production of "Annie" from two years ago much better than this one but the girls had a great time.

Girls at the Kristkindl Market after the show

Love this shot of Rodger and his Sophie

My baby egg

Sophie and Abby like to curl up in a ball and pretend that they are an egg that is about to hatch.  No need to pretend when at the American Girl doll store.  There's an egg for both of them to fit in!  "Look, I'm a baby egg..."

When you are among friends...

Which one is the cutest decoration at Home Depot??  Abby of course!  She set up these figures to pose all by herself!

Girls Night Out

It is so nice to have girlfriends... 

Pilgrims Addition women out to celebrate Leila's birthday.

Priceless...

Of all the toys in our house, the girls choose to play with the corrugated box.  Grandma and Papa would be proud!

It's November, let the holiday season begin!!

There are so many awesome things about the holiday season.  One favorite of many Chicagoans is to go to State Street, see the window displays at Macy's, and eat at the Walnut Room.  What made this experience even better was that we literally walked up and waited in no lines to eat nor to see Santa.  Here's our recommendations:  always go before Thanksgiving, order the chicken pot pie, and don't forget about the Frango Mint Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert.  What a fine holiday treat!

Not too old...

She may be big for her age, but Abby DOES still fit into the kitchen sink for a "sink bath".