Thursday, December 30, 2010

Nap Time for Brooke?

During our week at home, it was a CHALLENGE for the big sisters to let Brooke take a nap.  Check out what Mommy uncovered when she went to check one day...



Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Santa came to our House

When we got home from our great Christmas road trip, we figured out Santa had been to our house!  He left our presents by OUR Christmas tree upstairs!  We were so excited!

Finding our Presents

Kylie's Fur-Real Puppy that walks AND barks

Neela's Radio
After we finished opening all of our gifts, including a train table for the big girls and a tricycle for Brooke, Neela really thought one thing was missing.  Neela had asked for a doll for herself and her sisters - and we had to search all over the house to find the dolls.  Neela was VERY sure Santa would not forget the dolls.  After a while, she was pretty upset - but Kylie found 3 wrapped packages in the pantry.  Each girl sat down to open a package (there weren't any names on them), and each girl got a doll - thanks to Neela!
Neela's Doll - She was overjoyed!

Love for our Dolls

Love the Next Day!

Monday, December 27, 2010

South Dakota Children's Museum - A MUST if you visit Brookings!

On the day after Christmas, we headed to the new South Dakota Children's Museum with Papa Pizza & Grandma Banana.  It was a HIT!  The girls keep asking to go back EVERY DAY...

Here are a few of the snapshots - who had more fun?  Papa, Grandma, the girls...?


Changing Tires...  Papa made us practice!

The piglets are hungry!
Kylie spent a LOT of time here.

We can show you how to do this... and both of the twins did show some "city kids" how to milk a cow!

Shopping - another thing we're good at!

Love for Papa

Climbing the Tower with Mommy
Neela climbed to the top and back down by herself - Brooke & Kylie asked for some help!

Brooker's learning about piglets

Kylie, the clown

Kylie being interviewed by Neela

Neela, the newscaster for W-IOWA
"The Corniest Station in the Nation" (it's a Backyardigans thing!)

The Waterpark!
Neela loved this part best :-)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Guggisberg Christmas

We arrived at the Guggisberg's late on Christmas Eve - and all in our matching PJ's!  No winter snow storms prevented our travels, and the weather outside was relatively mild.  The roads in Lincoln County are roads in Lincoln County - they were still a bit snow covered, and the wind was blowing, but we made it!

Mom & the Girls

Mommy & Grandma Banana said we had to wait until AFTER breakfast, and AFTER EVERYONE got dressed, before we could open ANY presents.  Man... were they trying our patience!

Kylie.. look at all these presents!

Does this one have your name on it?  My name on it?

Brooke enjoyed playing with Cy while she was waiting... not sure Cy enjoyed it!
When we finally got to open our presents, we had a blast!  We got so many amazing and fun gifts...

Our Sing-a-ma-jigs from Tony & Chelsea
There wasn't a single person who did NOT play with them!

Helping Grandma open her gift

Brooke trying out the new "snow gear" bag with her Disney characters from Heidi & Cory

Kylie spells her name in the letters Grandma painted
All 3 girls got their names to hang on their walls!

Frog mittens for Kylie - Neela got monkeys - & Brooke got a monkey hat!

Brooke's Inch Worm

After lunch and naps, we headed outside to play in all the snow!  Papa and Grandma pulled us up and down the driveway.  Kylie kept wanting to go in the deep snow, Neela and Brooke thought eating it was more fun!  Mommy even went for a ride on her sled from when she was a baby!

Sledding with Papa

A picture of the snow on the farm

Kylie in the deep snow

The Grown-Ups pulling us
Angie, Daddy, Chelsea (AKA the Orange Snowman), Grandma, Papa

Neela making snow angels

A family picture in the snow

Warming up in the "hot pool" after the snow party!

Once we were ready for bed, we finally got to listen to Papa's story!  Mr. Gonopolous and the Christmas holsteins...  we loved it - and asked a million questions!


Another day in the hot pool...


Then, braids from Chelsea :-)  We LOVE braids!


Overall, a wonderful holiday trip!

Estochen Christmas

We made our way to Sioux City this year - and avoided another major Twin Cities snowstorm!  We only had 3-4 inches land while we were in town, so it was a quiet travel Christmas!

Of course, we had to make it to town to watch the Steelers with our family - and we had fun!  The Steelers won, and we showed off all of our Steelers songs, cheers, and moves :-)

Brooke & Uncle Chuck

Brooke showing Little Grandma her latest trick - "I can honk your nose!"

Brooke giving Big Papa a kiss

It might be "Miller Time" for those who wear #83, Rolling Rock & Iron City for those in Pittsburgh,
but I'll try to sneak away with the Heineken!
On Christmas Eve, we opened our gifts with the Estochen family.  The girls had a blast - and got everything they wanted :-)  Hunter even brought them over a few gifts!

Brooke's new ice cream cones make great hats!

Brooke's new cleaning equipment - all 3 girls will be using it!


Neela's view of the World - before Daddy flipped her & danced with her!

Giddy-yup, Horsey!

Cy could actually MOVE in the Sioux City snow - and he did MOVE!

Neela tried to wait....

Brooke gets busy!

Neela, Grandma & Kylie

Grandma & All 3 Girls

5 people looking at the camera... nope!  Can we open them NOW????

We loved our pillow pets so much we wouldn't put them down!

Cheese!

Let's try this again - no presents - 5 people - camera??? Nope!

Will it work with 4?

Well.. a little better... but only because we LOVE Uncle Chuckie!!!