Welcome to 2011-Grandma turns 87!

Hazelynn helping Great Grandma Schubbe blow out her birthday candle.


Mikayla decides to help as well.



Even with all the cold & snow, it seems 2011 is going to be a busy & fun filled year, just like any other. We rang in the New Year at the Liggett house, then Cammy & I took Seydie & Mikayla to see the movie Tangled on January 2nd. I thought it was such a cute movie! We also took Nolan & Mikayla to see a magic show at one of our Belle Plaine elementary schools on Jan. 6th hosted by our local ECFE program. With the help of his dad, Randall has been busy finishing the downstairs bedroom closet. With the expected arrival of our little baby in July, it will soon be time for Nolan to move to a toddler bed in a downstairs bedroom & a few things need to be finished and painted before baby arrives. Mikayla is still loving preschool & both kids are in ECFE classes one evening a week along with Mikayla's dance class one evening a week. Along with dealing with the normal colds, coughs (Nolan even had croup), fevers & ear infections that winter seems to bring, I am busy with daycare & just trying to stay sane & endure this pregnancy. I am very thankful to my mom who helps me so much & takes care of the kids while I go to my doctor appointments. I don't know what I would do without her or what I would do without my dad who drives her here in the winter.


My Grandma Schubbe celebrated her 87th birthday on Saturday, January 15. Randall, the kids & I were able to visit her for the day along with my parents, my Aunt Lynn & Aunt Luann, & my cousin, Amber & her two kids. We celebrated with pizza & cupcakes!

Family fun for New Year's Eve!

Kiley, Seydie & Mikayla built a wall of toys


Brenyn hanging out in his exersaucer


Mikayla, Seydie & Kiley having a slumber party on New Year's Eve. Seydie fell asleep at a fairly reasonable time, but Mikayla & Kiley were being little stinkers & talking (as girls do) & finally fell asleep after 10pm.


Nolan & Breah hangin' out on New Year's Day!



Since finding a babysitter for New Year's Eve is usually not an option (at least not yet anyway), Randall, the kids & I spent New Year's Eve at the Liggett home with Cammy, Mike & their 4 kids. Amber, Hans & their 2 kids were able to come over & visit for awhile too. All the kiddos had tons of fun playing together & all of us had dinner together as well. Amber & Hans only live about 10 minutes away, so they went home for the kids' bedtimes, but our family stayed & enjoyed the evening with Cammy & Mike. I wasn't sure if this pregnant momma could stay up past midnight, but I did. We enjoyed a few board games, watched the ball drop on tv, had some drinks (ginger ale for me) & shared some laughs. Thanks to the Liggetts for having us over!

Mikayla turns 4!

Getting her first tinkerbell fishing pole from Grandma & Grandpa Kramer


It's a pillow...it's a pet...it's a Pillow Pet!


A barbie car to go with her snowboarding barbie & accessories.


Getting ready to help Aunt Renee add her princess cake toppers.



Party in the living room. Jade, Jaci & Randall playing catch, a game you're never too old to play, while Nolan & Grandpa Anderson watch.





Mikayla & her beautiful princess birthday cake that Aunt Renee made.









Mikayla turned 4 on Monday, December 27th. Because we were already at the Anderson home for our family christmas, we celebrated her birthday on Sunday, December 26th in Owatonna. My parents were able to come & help us celebrate as well, along with my nieces, Jade & Jaci who were staying with my parents during their x-mas break. Randall's mom made a delicious lasagna & that was topped off by another delicious birthday cake made by Randall's sister, Renee. We gave Mikayla her first Vtech pink camera & much of the evening she spent taking random pictures of the floor, ceiling, people's feet & trying to take a picture of Nolan's butt & giggling up a storm. It was another fun filled x-mas & birthday weekend with a lot of great gifts & family time!

Christmas at the Anderson's

Santa delivered presents this year to Randall's parents home in Owatonna. The kids are waiting patiently to open stockings before breakfast on Christmas morning.


Nolan & Mikayla






Nolan's usual pose, sucking his thumb & holding his shirt.





Mikayla playing with her toy, the sing-a-ma-jig


Nolan in his cute x-mas pj's & his blue sing-a-ma-jig


All are dressed in x-mas t-shirts & ready to open presents


Nolan getting some much needed boy toys...trucks & tractors.


Nolan's t-shirt: Christmas, I'm in it for the toys!





The kids opening the cadillac of all toy wagons: The little tikes deluxe wagon comes with a cooler, umbrella & of course, cup holders. Can also convert to a bench for kids or adults to sit on. Can't wait to take the kids out this spring/summer.


Play me a tune Mr. Nolan Man


Chris, Renee, Mikayla & Randall really getting into the Hungry Hungry Hippos game Mikayla got for x-mas.


Nolan trying to get in on the Hungry Hippos action as well.


Nolan & Mikayla attempting to play a new game called Elefun. Here you can see Nolan is more into having the net on his head than catching butterflies that come out of the elephant's trunk.


This was our year to spend Christmas weekend with the Anderson family in Owatonna. Unfortunately, I spent most of the weekend being nauseous from the pregnancy, but the kids had lots of fun opening & playing with all their new gifts & spending time with Grandma & Grandpa Anderson & Aunt Renee & Uncle Chris who were visiting for the weekend from Boston.