Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Christmas Part 4: Fun in Chicago

We took Joe and Amy to see Chicago. It was cold, very cold, but we still had fun. Here are the highlights:
The Cloud Gate
or as its more commonly known, the bean:



On the drive to and from Chicago we could see Lake Michigan and it looked like a stormy ocean. The water was dark and grey and the wind was tossing the water about with strong waves. It was almost frightening to see.
We didn't go ice skating, but in front of the bean is this ice skating rink that is free to skate on with your own skates, or you can rent skates.

The Lego store!
And REAL Chicago pizza. And we like it meaty. YUM!
Pizza time!


Monday, April 8, 2013

Christmas 2012 Part 3

Christmas Morning:
Big girls are out of bed and anxious to get their hands on some Christmas loot!
Checking everything out:
Oooh! A letter from Santa, and he ate the cookies!
The stockings!
Slippers from their stockings:
Checking things out, not sure why she's looking in this fluffy sock for stuff:
Oooh, score! She found some chocolate! (P.S. Aldi Christmas chocolates, although cute with its yuletide wrapping and all, tastes horrible):

Quick story: Amy has been asking for this doll since 2011. She scoured the room for gifts for her and was really upset when none of her gifts looked big enough to be THIS doll. She was nearly heartbroken. But Gramma and Grampa did send the doll. They were just tricky because they took the doll out of her original container for the purpose of shipping. Amy was THRILLED to say the least upon opening up this gift.
Do you see that smile?

Post gift happiness. This is why we go through all the trouble. So worth it.
And Aunt Amy made all of us our own aprons. This is the one she made for Aurora. AMAZING!! They are all amazing. The girls love their aprons, Aurora calls hers a bib, but still, she loves it.
Adelynne, with the very gift she'd been asking for. Thanks again, Gramma and Grampa!
One more picture of Amy (it got out of order). This is the hug of joy. You know Amy loves it when she hugs it.
Dustin modeling his apron. Zhu Zhu needed to go outside so Dustin took her out just like this. And yes, he's wearing shorts. My man is awesome, pure awesome.
And look at our cute puppy! She's twice that size now, but still cute.

Christmas 2012 Part 2

Christmas Eve 2012:
Truffle dipping with and audience: (captions not necessary)







Our little feast:
All fancied up in the Christmas attire made by Grams:







Belt Family Christmas 2012


Christmas Jammies from Gramma!



Fun on the slide!
ichatting with Gramma and Grampa:





Christmas 2012 via pictures

Here's a quick overview of our Christmas 2012:

The kiddos decorated Christmas trees. I even found little gummy stars for the tops of the trees:
She's ready to eat hers:


Look at this CUTE kid! I was so SO lucky to have my sister and bil and nephew come for Christmas!
Joe was sick, but still good company
I'm concentrating VERY intensely. I like a nice looking gingerbread house.
cuteness:

The cutest Grinch out there!
having fun making a mess:
He's happy to have my volleyball:

The finished G. house. Dustin created the snow and made the snowman: