Dancing Queen!

She gets a little excited with the turning, but you get the idea!! I feel so blessed that she is our baby little girl!!

And the Winner is...

Another Christmas has come and gone. Can you believe it is almost 2011?! I wonder how long it will take me to remember the new year...my money is on two months!

So...Christmas. Although this was technically Lilah's 2nd Christmas, she was actually able to help unwrap and enjoy her presents for the first time. It was pretty much her first Christmas! Based on the load of gifts she hauled in (as well as the 4 new teeth within a few days of the big day), I would say she was a good girl this year! Here are a few pictures, because I know that is what you want to see anyways!

 Hanging with mommy Auntie Kara

 What could it be???

 Uncle Dave...eating as usual! :)

 Kara and Chelle

 Another one...for me!!!

 My ner Carhartt hat to match daddy! (and a singamajijg from Auntie Chelle)

 Grandpa Larry's favorite gift!

 Over the river and through the woods, to Grandma and Grandpa Kraemer's we go!

 Odie has such a rough life...*yawn*

 Uncle Swati, Auntie Tracy and Leo

 I think someone has been eating a cookie with green frosting?!!

 Perfect spot for Kermit!

 and Winnie too!!

 I love books (and Grandma Ginger too!!)!!

 new dog bed bean bag chair!

 coloring on my new table (and the couch...let's hope the walls stay clean a little longer. PLEASE!)

and...the winner of her favorite present so far:

To all of you moms out there with little ones (if anyone actually reads my blog!), you must get this. I didn't think it was possible to get my little fishy to like a bath more than she already did, but this is awesome!!

I hope you were able to share many special memories with your family too over this Christmas season!!

Another Week Has Passed...

Seriously...where does the time go? This past week was full of travel, family and well...FOOD! I started out last week in Dallas for work. I must admit, the warmer weather was a nice change! I always miss my family when I am gone, but the trips always go by fast. It is so strange to have a bed to myself, and the quiet in my room is always a little strange! But ummmm....have I mentioned this bed? :) HEAVEN!

As much as I enjoyed the comfy sleeping situation. It was nice to come home to these cuties! As you can tell, they were just fine while I was gone!

Another exciting happening at our house is that my sister, Chelle, is here from Montana. She actually flew in a few minutes before I did on Wednesday so we were able to carpool home. We are having a lot of fun doing the usual Auntie/Niece/Sister things, like drawing and throwing blocks all over the house. We know how to have fun in the Kraemer household!

(notice the flying yellow block in mid-air above)

Christmas 1 of 3 was also this weekend. We spent Saturday in Forest Lake. Last year we decided no more presents, and instead we give during the year to people/places. After dinner we sit down and talk about all of the things we have done. This has been such a great experience! Lilah was interested in the tree, as usual. She also got to spend quality time with Grandpa Ron, Grandma Lynn, Auntie Kara and Uncle Kris, Auntie Chelle and Auntie April. Oh....and the pups too (who were banished to the laundry room for a little while - see below)!



And...last, but certainly not least....I spent most of my Sunday with Steph baking cookies...here is a little taste. :)

 peppermint whoopie pies

front- some sort of nut ball things - waiting for their coconut coating

back - chocolate shortbread - waiting for the chocolate ganache filling

ok...if I still have your attention...SORRY that was a long one. Hopefully I can get better at this blogging thing and not wait for weekly updates!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

SNOW Day!!

I was really bummed that most all of our plans were cancelled this weekend, and we were stuck at home. The plus is that I am traveling to Dallas this week for work (hopefully no snow there) and I got lots of quality time with Lee, Lilah and the pups.

Thank goodness we have a snow blower this year. We had one, but we would think it was working and it always broke down after the first snowfall each year. I will admit lee does the snow removal, but hey it helps me too!!

Lilah was very interested in what daddy was doing outside. She sat and looked out the window for what seemed like an hour. she would just wave and yell, then look at me and smile like she was so proud. so cute!!

We did venture out twice over the past three days. We walked over to the neighbors house (right next to us). It was not an easy walk though thigh high snow! We played for about an hour and Lilah only broke one ornament...sorry Jess!

We also bundled up Lilah today and let her play in the snow a little bit. She LOVES the snow - especially eating it.

Here are a few pictures from our few minutes outside!

oh...and I have to share this picture. Just because I think it is so cute...and I love the tiny pony-tail!

Enjoy your week!!

What a BUSY Week!!

Wow! it has almost been a week since my last post...and what a week it has been. Present shopping and wrapping, work, a camera class, Lilah's 15 month appointment...and making a cake for a baby shower that was supposed to be today. (THANKS SNOW!) All in all...I am pooped!

So let's see...

Presents - Let's just say most are wrapped, but our poor little tree looks lonely. We are still trying to keep sticky fingers off of the ornaments. I am not brave enough to leave presents at her level with a chance she will have a moment to grab and throw them across the room! So for now, we have them stashed in the office. So festive!

Camera Class- I will admit, this whole expensive SLR camera thing is a little intimidating. We attended our free class at National Camera, and I do think I learned a few things. Hopefully after a little practice I will get the hang of it. I mean, when I walk into a room and see this:

you don't really have time to think about which setting to use! ugh!! I love her.

Speaking of 'her'. We had Lilah's 15 month appointment yesterday. With all of the running around and trying to keep her from digging in the garbage (we let her help throw away her wet diapers...so the garbage is pretty intriguing right now) and drawing all over the table (she loves coloring and all I had was a pen and some paper...the exam table ended up with only a couple of lines...her tummy had the most amount of scribbling), I don't remember all of the details. I will have to have them write them down at her 18 month appointment. I do know she is 22 lbs (37th percentile) and her height and head size were average. All in all we have one healthy girl. We really are blessed!!

My other big project this week was a cake for (I will call her my aunt ;)) Maura's baby shower, which was going to be today. Since we woke up to this:

no shower today...but it will hopefully be tomorrow. Just in case I wasn't able to make it, I brought Maura her cake yesterday. I had planned on having a few more hours to work on it, but I think it turned out cute enough. We are so ready to meet 'little tike' (he is due on February 2nd). I mean...I have only been waiting for my uncle to give me a cousin on this side of the family for going on 28 years...but who's counting.

I think my Uncle Dave would call this Monkey 1 and Monkey 2. After his 2 favorite monkeys!

the Momma to be!!

Hopefully 'little tike' likes his cake (and Maura too!). Let's hope the weather is better tomorrow!!