Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's Officially Christmas...In Chicago

Every year in Chicago, the Christmas season officially begins with the tradition of lighting Michigan Avenue, otherwise known as The Magnificent Mile. This event is known as the Festival Of Lights and this year we went with our friends Josh, Jen and Jalese. Knowing the girls would enjoy it because of all the pretty lights, we knew they would enjoy it even more when we found out that their good friend Mickey Mouse was going to lead the parade! Several days before we went to the Festival of Lights Karina was at the computer with me while I was looking at the schedule for the festival and she asked what it was so I explained to her that we would be going on the train to see Mickey. So every day, several times a day she would ask me with a really excited voice...mommy we going on the train and see Mickey today??!! And I'd sadly have to tell her...no not yet, a few more days. And every time we'd hear the train...mommy we going on the train today to see Mickey!! So next time, we'll tell her the day of. :)


So we started our exciting Christmas welcoming day by boarding the Metra and headed for downtown...the girls loved the train and thought they were big stuff. Then we stopped at one of the plazas to see The Cheetah Girls perform...well a certain pair of guys who shall remain nameless watched them perform while Jen and I went ahead to the Rainforest Cafe to put our names in. (Okay, they only stayed for 1 song) So yes, we took the girls to Rainforest Cafe and they were intreagued by the jungle animals, except for the person dressed in a Tree Frog costume, Karina was sooooo not into that!

And then we braved the cold...oh was it cold! But just for the sheer joy of seeing the girls' faces when Mickey came into sight standing atop his castle was worth standing in the cold and being pushed and prodded for 3 hours!

Here's some pics of the day.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Our Baby Is Not A Baby Anymore :(

Karina is now 2 1/2 years old and she is not a baby anymore...and we marked this milestone by saying bye-bye to her crib. The bed we are wanting to get for her is on backorder so we just put her mattress on the floor. The first day we tried it was on Wednesday during her naptime and so when it was time, I sat her on the bed and said "ok you're gonna sleep in your big girl bed and if you need me just call out for me". I gave her a book and left the room. Ten minutes later I went and checked on her and she was out. When I heard that she was awake at the end of her nap, I went in and asked her if she had a good nap and she so very sweetly said, "yes...may I get up now?" She did so good sleeping on her big girl bed that day and has done great ever since! How time flies when kids are little...

Monday, November 10, 2008

What A Legacy

This past weekend we had the opportunity to go to Indiana where I grew up to celebrate my Grandpa & Grandma Beachy's (my dad's parents) 65th Wedding Anniversary. I feel so blessed to have both grandparents on both sides still living and to be able to celebrate this milestone with them, was an incredible opportunity. Everyone in the family (except Joe & Donneta, my sister) were able to attend and there were 41 of us there. We first had lunch with just the immediate family and then as a surprise, some of Grandpa and Grandma's siblings came for snacks and desserts. For those of you who don't know, my family heritage is Mennonite, and most of Grandpa and Grandma's siblings are Amish. For anyone who doesn't know what either one is, google it :) Here are some pictures of the party...
My Grandma & Grandpa, Viola & Dan
My Dad's family, (he has 3 brothers and 1 sister) from left to right:
Deb & Wilmer (brother), Joan & Lavern (brother), Wilda (sister) and Ron,
Rose & Elmer (brother) Mom & Dad and Grandpa & Grandma
My niece Cassie and Karina
My Dad and his Aunt and Uncle
"The Guys" grandpa, my brother Todd, cousin Dar,
uncle Wilmer (behind Dar), uncle Lavern, cousin Doug
Grandma & Grandpa's siblings
"The Girls" my cousins, Breanne, Brocia & Kristin, my niece

It's Practically FREE!

When we were in Indiana this past weekend we were on our way back home and needed to get gas before we left so we stopped at this gas station and thought we hit the jackpot with gas being $1.98 a gallon! I took this picture lest anyone not believe me!!!!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fu-un!

Cousin Daniela came to stay with us for a couple of days last week. The girls took a bath together and were having so much fun and I ended up being about as wet as they were with all the splashing!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Trick or Treat!!

On Friday we had our 1st annual costume party! We had so much fun!! We dressed Karina up as a cute little China doll and me, Abel and Yoyo dressed up as Men in Black. It was so funny seeing Yoyo try to walk in his costume, he was walking all bow-legged like a bull dog. We had a lot of fun decorating the house, the garage, carving pumpkins, and passing out candy to the trick or treaters. Karina was so cute when the kids would come to the door, she would see kids coming and say, "mommy, here come the kids!" and then when they would leave she would yell, "mommy where the kids going?? noooooo come back!!" and then some more would come and we'd go through it all again! It was so funny! Our friends Jen and Jalese came to the party as Pippi Longstocking...SOOO funny! Enjoy the pics!!


Now I know why women shouldn't wear suits, they do nothing for the figure!!! Ha Ha!!!


The Girl Knows What She Wants!

About a month ago, my sister in law, Grethel went to visit family in San Diego and she brought back some gifts for Karina from "Oba" (Abuelita Vargas), "Nona" (Tia Leony) and Nanette (Abel's cousin). One of the gifts from Oba was a set of silky pajamas, and Karina LOVED them! She wore them to bed the night she got them and the next morning we had to go somewhere and so I told her we needed to change her clothes and she said, "no mommy, wear these" so I tried to explain to her that we only wear jammies in the house and when we go to bed. So I told her that when we got home she could put her jammies back on. So we went and did our errands and when we got home I walked into the kitchen and she followed me and she said, "mommy, take these pants off, wear my jammies!" So we went and put her jammies on, this was about noon and she wore those jammies the rest of the day, to bed and most of the next day while we were at home! Here's some pics of her in her favorite jammies, and oh yeah, she HAD to wear her orange pumpkin socks and the pink shoes! The girl knows what she wants!!!!!!!