Christmas Day

Christmas morning brought us all kinds of new and interesting things. The day started out with Santa leaving some books for Emma and Lucas. Unfortunately, our van didn't want to start. Thankfully, the neighbors were up bright and early and came to our aid. We got on our way to Illinois.

Once we were there, the kids (along with the adults) had a great time opening presents. The kids got to do it in their magic Christmas jammies.

From there, we went to Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Knoshers house in Naperville.

Everyone had fun opening presents and visiting with one another.

Christmas Eve Fun!

Here are our two kiddos sitting in front of the tree at Grandma and Grandpa Lorenz's house. We had a wonderful dinner with all our family that night. We did run into a little problem with all the snow that kept falling on the ground. Uncle Matt's trucks broke and Grandpa's snow blower broke, so the guys spent the night before and that day shoveling. Everyone was tired, but ready for a fun night.

Opening presents with cousins! They love spending time together.

We all got socks and new ornaments for our trees!

Uncle Matt and Uncle Peter determined that this year's gift of the year was to be foam swords for all the kids that could walk, and for Grandpa. Uncle Dean took one and started chasing us all over the house! We had a great time having our own little sword fight.

Fun in the snow.

The snow was great to play with in the house. Due to the surgery and the cold temperatures we brought the snow inside for the kids to play with. They both enjoyed it, but Lucas really thought it was quite cold.

Cold, but interesting!

Emma began throwing snowballs at Daddy. You never would have guessed that two days earlier she had surgery.


Now we're throwing it at the dog!

December 17th-Tonsils and Adenoids are removed!

On December 17th, Emma had outpatient surgery to remove her tonsils and her adenoids. This is to hopefuly improve her lack of sinus drainage as well as take care of the obstructed airway that her adenoids were causing. This was a day that required a lot of patience and prayer. She is healing well from this, but it has made our break a bit different this year. She only remembers going to the hospital and throwing up at home! It's amazing what the medicine can do!

Here she is before the sugery, noice no IV yet. They put that in once she was asleep.

This was after the surgery, the IV is in and she spent a lot of time begging and yelling at people to please take this out of me!

Emma's Christmas Program

Here she is with all her classmates and friends at the end of their Christmas program. Everyone did a wonderful job!

Snow Fun!

So, winter in Wisconsin has begun. We had around 100 inches of snow last year. We seem to be on the same track this year. Emma loved her first snow to play in while Lucas thought we were crazy being outside. He did enjoy eating the snow, but thought it was a little too cold.

The boys shoveling the walk.

Lucas enjoying some white snow.

Emma working on shoveling the sidewalk.

Since there wasn't good snowman snow, Emma decided to turn herself into a snowman!

Getting the Christmas Tree

We spent a cold Saturday afternoon picking out our tree at Stein's Garden and Gifts. Emma and Tim ran up and down the aisle looking for the best one. In the end Tim picked the winner. While Tim loaded it up, the kids and I went inside the store to get Lucas his very own stocking and stocking holder. Emma said it was just too cold to stay outside and really enjoyed the indoors We then enjoyed a lunch at McDonald's, home for naps, family Christmas pictures, and then the neighborhood Christmas party. It was a busy day, but it was a lot of fun. The next day was the St. John's faculty party, so Grandma and Grandpa Lorenz came to babysit for the evening. A whole weekend full of fun, who can ask for anything more?!?!

There they are with the perfect tree!

Emma was having fun braving the cold winds.

Lucas didn't think this was a fun event at all, maybe next year will be more fun.

Uncle Joel's Birthday and Thanksgiving Fun

Since Joel's birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving, we celebrated as a family a little early. Emma loved helping!

We celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year, we had so much to be thankful for! On Thursday, we celebrated with the Knosher side of the family in Illinois. On Saturday, we celebrated with the Lorenz side of the family in Wisconsin. It was wonderful spending time with all of our family.

Grandma Lorenz made me my hat!
Here's half of the table!

Isn't she such a cute big girl!

What a sweet boy!

Here's the other half of the table.

Emma decided that we did have enough food on Thanksgiving so she built us a new birthday cake.

Aren't they cute together!

Emma loved spending time with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Knosher.

The little brother and the big sister just hanging out, getting ready to head home to Wisconsin.

Lucas has really been on the move lately. You might think that he's after the camera, but check out the next video to see what he's really after.

He LOVES Emma's backpack!

Just Plain Silliness

Lucas really likes being under things.

He also likes being inside things.

Lucas wasn't really climbing the stairs, just checking it all out.