Other Happenings... Thanksgiving Weekend

For the rest of Thanksgiving weekend, we visited, played, watched football and played some more.

On Friday, we took lunch to Little Grandma (Happy Meals and cheeseburgers with Hello Kitty toys), and played some more "Go Fish!".  We also got to sign our names on her white board - we love to make sure she knew we were there.

After that, we headed back to Grandma and Papa's to watch a little Hawkeye/Husker football - we really didn't care who won, but we did get to play with Big Papa and Chuckie during the game... and a little with Big Grandma at half-time. When the game was done - and Brooke woke up from her nap - it was time for Chuckie's surprise! He took us BOWLING! It was Brooke's first time bowling, and she had a blast. Kylie and Neela were really working on their form, and Big Grandma was trying hard to coach us from her seat :-)

A family of bowlers... and we fit right in!!

After bowling, we went out for supper :-) On Saturday, we spent the day watching more football, playing at the playground (Brooke got her first bloody nose climbing up the ladder), and visiting some more.

Cy caps off the weekend - fun, and exhuasting - as we enjoyed another fun visit in Sioux City!

Daddy's Birthday AND Thanksgiving

We hit the road again for Daddy's birthday AND Thanksgiving at Grandma Candy and Papa Lollipapa's house in Sioux City.  We arrived on Wednesday, and woke up early to celebrate Daddy's birthday.

Papa helped us find a balloon for Daddy's birthday.  Grandma found paper and markers so we could make Daddy a few cards, and we brought cupcakes we made at Tracy's for Daddy to eat! 

After we did a little birthday celebrating, it was time to move into Thanksgiving preparations.  Kylie and Neela practiced making "turkey hands" (and so did Brooke... imitating as always!).

Then, Grandma needed some help with the Snicker salad... what little chef says "no" to pudding, cool whip, Snickers, and more??!?!?!?!

After we got everything ready, we had time to play "Go Fish" with Little Grandma.  We love to play cards with her - and she loves to play cards with us!

Once the celebrating started, Neela was friends with everyone.

Neela & Big Grandma

Neela's new favorite visitor for holidays is Aunt Christy.  She brings the rolled pickles, and Neela can't get enough of them.  She even brings some to share with Christy - because that means she will usually get one more for herself, too. 

What do you think I'm eating??

Anika also came for Thanksgiving, and we all had a blast playing dress up.  Don't we look like princesses??

At the end of the night, we finally got to help Daddy celebrate his birthday - with cake! 

He even let all of us help blow out the candles.

Brooke thoroughly enjoyed her cupcake - she's learning from her sisters that frosting is the best part!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!  We love you!



Happy Thanksgiving All!

Love, The Estochen Turkeys

Brooke's Latest Antics

Brooke is growing up so fast... it's time to share a few of her latest antics...

"Let me think about it"... while putting her hand under her chin.

"I Tinkerbell - Peter Pan told me that!"

When driving under bridges... "DUCK!!!"

In the picture above, "I Jungle Pete" - and we DO go on jungle adventures with lots of animals!

After seeing an episode of "Jake", "I Jake - You Izzy - Daddy Captain Hook - Papa Captain Morgan..." and the characters change depending on her mood!

She knows she can usually got "just 1 rock, just 1 song" out of Mommy and Daddy at bed time, will tell you when she's super tired - and loves to help clean-up.

Brooke thinks it's better if Mommy "kiss on top" of her head - and not on her cheek!

She still loves sleeping with Pooh, and thinks her name is "Brooker Bear Estochen". 

The other day, she said she saw witches in her room.  Mommy told her she needed to growl to scare them.  She said... "Witches" -- "Argghhh!" -- "I teany bear - I scare the witch!"

She loves salami and cheese, hates bread, and her fruit choice depends on what her sisters are eating.  She is learning to feed herself, and is asking to go to the bathroom - and wear panties!

Watch out world - here comes Brooker Bear!

Getting Ready...

On Sunday, we pulled out the Christmas decorations... normally, we wait until after Thanskgiving, but since we were going to be on Road Trip #5, we decided to decorate early! After breakfast, we couldn't wait to spend more time in the snow... we got all bundled up and made snow castles in the front yard while Mommy and Daddy hung the lights.

Then, we went inside and worked on bringing decorations upstairs. We even got to decorate our own tree while Brooke took a nap. Cy helped, and Mommy gave us a kids' Christmas music CD for our radio, too!

We all LOVE Christmas lights... and Kylie loved checking them out when they finally turned on!

 


The "big" tree is not up yet - but the house is starting to get festive!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

We had a WILD, fun Friday and Saturday at home - doing all kinds of crazy things - to celebrate Mommy's birthday.

On Friday night, Daddy was bowling.  We made a pirate ship out of a cardboard box, a sail out of a blanket, and oars out of our horses.  Then, Mommy played the shark attacking the boat to tickle us.  Now, we all walk around making "fins" on our heads, saying "do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do" (think Jaws!).

The Cyclones won a WILD game in double overtime against #2 ranked Oklahoma State to end Friday night.  Brooke started Mommy's birthday off at 1 AM with a "Mommy, hold me" - complete with soaked diaper and PJs!  At 6:30 AM, Neela came in singing "Happy Birthday".  Daddy took Neela to get bagels and coffee for breakfast that everyone enjoyed.

After breakfast, we made cards for Mommy - and Daddy finished a few outside projects because we were supposed to get our first snow of the season.  Then, Daddy took us shopping for cake... and sent Mommy shopping for new boots and a coffee mug for herself :-)  After lunch, we all tried to take naps.  Kylie was not tired, so she and Daddy sat in the living room -- and Kylie saw the first snow flakes... she made Daddy turn the chair so she could watch closely.  Then, she decided to have Daddy help her with her Christmas list.  She wrote "Berenstein Bears" all by herself - after she pulled the book off the shelf to tell us she wanted more of these books!

The snow did arrive - and we couldn't wait to check it out....

Neela

 Neela makes a snow angel

Kylie 

 Making Snowballs

Watching Mommy & Daddy from the door - after we threw snowballs at the door!

When Brooke woke up from her nap, she could not WAIT to try the snow for herself!  She ate it, played with it, threw it, and Cy watched every step of it!!

After some hot chocolate to warm up, we had a snack... birthday cakes!  We bought Mommy her favorite cheesecake - and couldn't wait to help blow out the candle... can you tell?



To end the night, Mommy and Daddy went to the Wild game - and they won in a WILD way!  They finished with a win in a shootout!!

Mommy says she couldn't have asked for a better day with her girls and Daddy!

The BIG Day: Uncle Tony & Aunt Chelsea's Wedding

After 14 months of waiting, the BIG day FINALLY arrived!  We got to be FLOWER GIRLS for Uncle Tony's wedding to Aunt Chelsea!  We've been soooo excited since they asked us - for every part of the event.

Our day started with Mommy helping decorate for the reception - we went to test out the dance floor and the pumpkins.  After that, we headed down the street to get the big girls' hair done.  We both asked for braids, because Aunt Chelsea always puts braids in our hair.  The salon even had gold sparkle hair spray to match our dresses:

After a quick snack in our room, it was time for everyone to get dressed...

Brooke even got new "pants" for under her dress to celebrate the big event:

Before we headed to the church, we stopped in to check out the reception hall - and take a few family pictures.  We had a difficult time getting everyone to smile at one time - so these were the best we could do... we were completely adorable, and loved our dresses!

Daddy and Mommy looked pretty good in their outfits, too. 

We thought Daddy was a "prince" in his tuxedo:

Ms. Bonnie made us adorable capes to wear over our dresses - we LOVED them, too! 

They matched the capes the bridesmaids had!

We got to the church in time for pictures - and a lot of waiting.  Brooke may have smiled in a picture or two - but she was not too interested in having her picture taken during nap time!  Once she got Tony, Papa and a pumpkin in the picture - she was much happier!

Here is what we DID do to stay busy while we waited - we loved the toyroom in the church, the snacks Chelsea's mom brought, and getting to play our Leapsters for longer than normal.

(A few pictures Angie took while everyone else was running around...)

Angie also brought StarBursts (a reminder of Great-Grandma Berger) to keep us on our best behavior while we waited...  Neela knew exactly where they were in Angie's purse after the first couple:

Angie & Neela

Mommy & Neela

Uncle Tony had a parade down the aisle before it was our turn... first, he took down Mommy and her sisters.  Then, he took Great-Grandma Wendland, "Grandma" LaVonne, and "Grandma" Arleen.  Then, Chelsea's mom... and finally, Grandma Banana and Papa Pizza before he stood in front.  After the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the "flower girl & ring bearer" parade took off.  All 9 kids made it to the front of the church.  Kylie even tried to help Brooke - and Brooke brushed her hand away, grabbed her flower tighter and concentrated very hard to get to the front of the church (before falling asleep on Grandma Candy for the remainder of the ceremoney!).

During the ceremony, we learned that you are "married when you kiss".  After the ceremony, Tony's friends brought a giant limo -- we didn't get to ride in it, but we definitely got to check it out.  Daddy did ride in it, and Tony drove it, to the reception.

When we got to the hotel, we took a "little cake break" in Grandma Candy & Papa Lolliapapa's room.  Grandma always brings little cakes when she comes to see us - or we go to her house:

Then, it was on to the party.  We got to see our cousins, Mallory and Louden, before we did much of anything else... all of us decided to go out and practice our dance moves before we ate.  A lot of other kids joined us, too!

Brooke enjoyed checking out the pumpkins - and rearranging them.  (This lasted about 10 minutes!)

When she was done, we took a family picture with all the pumpkins.

 

Mommy & Daddy

 

Mommy, Daddy & Brooke

 

Mommy, Great-Grandma, Grandma LaVonne & Grandma Arleen

 

Mommy & Uncle Cory

Before we could eat, we sang the Berger family blessing.

Grandma Banana & Kylie

 

Papa Pizza & Kylie

 

Papa Pizza & Brooke

 

Papa Pizza & Mommy

We got a little bored waiting for the dance, so we decided to make our own fun.  We met some new friends, and found a few more cousins (Caroline and Mason) -- and Papa Lollipapa helped us turn the luggage rack into an awesome toy!

When the dancing started, we couldn't wait... this is the first time Mommy's ever seen all the kids wait so patiently and attentively for their turn to dance.  (The next morning, we told Mommy, "First, the bride and prince dance. Then, the bride dances with her Daddy. Then, the prince dances with his Mommy. Then, we all get to dance to "Good, Good Night" -- such photographic memories!!)

Grandma Banana & Uncle Tony

The wedding party dances... 

Somehow, Brooke made it to the middle of the crowd... and into Aunt Chelsea's arms.

Then, she got passed to Uncle Tony - who taught her how to fist pump:

Then, it was time for more dancing... with all kinds of fun people...

Daddy & Kylie

Kylie & Grandma Banana

Mommy & Brooke

Kylie & Aunt Chelsea

Girls Dancing...

...and the moment we ALWAYS wait for...

THE CHICKEN DANCE!!

It was a beautiful wedding, a lot of fun, and something we will talk about for a LONG time!

Congratulations to Uncle Tony & our new Aunt Chelsea Guggisberg!

We love you!