A few crazy days at home...

After Christmas, we spent a week at home with Mommy and Daddy.

When we got home from Christmas, this was the back hallway....

It doesn't look like we packed much, does it??

On Tuesday, we spent the day at home... playing with all our new toys, doing laundry, playing and cleaning!

On Wednesday, we met Daddy at work for lunch... but first, we went to Wal-Mart to return one of Neela's Connect4 games and buy some lunch.  Daddy still was not ready for us, so we did an exchange at Barnes & Noble.  Then... LUNCH!!  After lunch, we went to find a few things for Mommy at Rosedale... Brooke slept through everything, but the big girls got a bit bored.  They really wanted to ride the escalator - but that's pretty hard to do with a stroller and sleeping toddler!

On Thursday, we stayed home all day... only to go to the WILD game :-)

On Friday, we watched the Iowa State game... the Cyclones did not win, but we definitely had fun cheering for them in the Pinstripe Bowl!  Then, we had a discussion of who got to use Mommy's new vacuum first.  Mommy decided we could all take turns...

During the break, Brooke also started the transition into a toddler bed... and ultimately, the double bed.  She did not like that Daddy "broke her bed" - and wanted to get "out" as fast, and as much, as possible.  To eliminate the options for things to do, Mommy and Daddy quickly removed the toddler bed - and now Brooke is the proud resident of a "big girl bed in a big girl room"... even if she won't stay there much, yet!

She did find a new way to sleep... too... Papa Pizza said Mommy used to sleep like this as a kid, too:-)

We enjoyed the week at home, but can't wait to head back to Tracy's!

A WILD Surprise!

We've been asking, and asking, and ASKING to go to a Minnesota Wild game... pretty much since Mom and Dad went to the first game of the season last fall. 

On Thursday, we finally got our chance!  Daddy put together another fun, WILD, surprise night for us.

First, we went to the Iron Range Grill for dinner. Then, we headed down to the ice -- RIGHT by the ICE!

We got there early... and waited... and waited... and WAITED for the Wild to take the ice.

Once the Wild took the ice for practice, we were glued to the glass - watching every move of every player - and trying not to miss a beat!

After warm-ups, we headed up the stairs to find Bonnie and Hambone.  They were so excited to see us - and we were just as excited to see them.

During one of the intermissions, Brooke found Lucy - and gave her hugs and high 5s!

After every goal, all 3 girls cheered... and Brooke reminded Mommy, "We fist pump like Tony!" 

(Uncle Tony was very pround when he heard this.)

The game was VERY exciting. The Wild took on the Edmonton Oilers, scored 4 goals, and had 72 penalty minutes.  There was a lot of cheering, a lot of dancing, and a lot to see on - and off - the ice!  We cannot wait to go back to the X, and to another hockey game!

Santa came to our house!

Before we left for our road trips, we made sure to leave reindeer food for Santa's reindeer.

While we were on the road, Santa made a quick stop at our house... although, it couldn't have been too quick with all the packages he had to haul in! 

When we got home, Neela and Kylie could not wait to get in the house to see if Santa really did come....

Neela figures out Santa stopped

Neela finds her presents

Kylie figures out Santa stopped - with an excited Neela looking on!

Both big girls told Mommy, "Santa left us a 'load'".  They were both thrilled to just sit by the pile of presents, but even more excited when we started opening!

Neela picks her first gift

At the top of Neela's list (and somewhere on Kylie's list) was a Doodle Bear - a bear you can color on with special markers, wash, and color again.  Santa must have thought this sounded like a lot of fun, because Neela, Kylie and Brooke all got Doodle Bears!

All three girls received a few similar presents, and some unique for them.  Kylie and Neela received quite a few Lalaloopsy dolls (full-size, minis, and playsets) and board games.  Brooke received a dress-up Minnie Mouse and a Little People airplane.  All 3 girls opened projection flashlights, DVDs, and games for their LeapFrogs.

Each girl also had one "special" gift from Santa...

 

Kylie opens her fire truck

Neela opens her Talking Pony (it tells stories and sings songs!)

Brooke's pirate ship

Even though the girls did not get their Magic Dream Castle, they were pretty happy with their presents!  They miss Jerome, but he'll be back next year :-)

Twas Christmas Day... in Council Bluffs!

On Christmas morning, we woke up early to head south... This is only the second time Mommy and Daddy did not head north to Minnesota for Christmas Day with the Guggisberg's - but it was the only way Aunt Heidi and Uncle Cory could celebrate Christmas with our family and their foster family.  We watched a movie - and were there in a flash!  (Grandma Candy even packed us a breakfast of bagels, strawberries and juice to help us get energy for the day.)

When we got there, Uncle Tony was outside - he got attacked... then Aunt Chelsea, then Aunt Angie, then Papa Pizza, then Grandma Banana, then the entire Coners' Crew!

Neela, Aunt Chelsea, Brooke, Uncle Tony & Kylie

Aunt Heidi, Mommy, Uncle Tony & Aunt Angie

Aunt Chelsea's 1st Christmas as a "Guggisberg"

We immediately headed in to open presents - who could wait to open presents when the entire living room floor was covered with presents!

Papa & Kylie help Brooke open her pirate costume

"I Jake!!"

Opening gifts from Tony & Chelsea... we sure look like twins today!

Pirate PJs

One of our presents did not make it in the house - it was a "little" too big!  Grandma Banana took us out to her car to find it... what is it??

A TRAMPOLINE!!!

After the presents, we headed outside to play and burn off energy while some of the grown-ups made lunch.  We had ham, party potatoes, corn, beans and a million salads for choices!  Then, some people took naps, some people went for bike rides, a few people took a walk... everyone just had fun playing and visiting.  (Just ask Angie & Brooke!)



Before we could head North, we had to listen to Papa read Mr. Gonopolous - a favorite of Mommy's from when she was a little girl!  ALL the kids LOVED it!

Merry Christmas!

Twas the Day & Night before Christmas... in Sioux City!

Christmas Eve - and all the visitors, gifts and fun that came with it - started early this morning!

Anika, Isaiah, Tyson, Kristin and Chuckie came for breakfast and presents :-)  We were thrilled with our tutus, ballerina slippers, tiaras and princess gear.  We also could NOT wait for Anika to open her Lalaloopsy Ferris Wheel -- we wanted to play with it, too!

After Chuckie headed to work, we got cleaned up - and into our Steelers gear.  We loved our new sweatshirts - and made sure Uncle David saw them... A LOT!  Then, we got messages from Santa on Grandma's computer... via the "Portable North Pole".

Check out some of the facial expressions as we listened to Santa, and learned if we were on the naughty (red light) or nice (green light) list:

Big Papa and Big Grandma came for the game - and that meant more presents for us!  We each got new PJs, new dresses, new sweatshirts, and a game or puzzle.

During the second half of the game, Brooke managed to take a nap - and we managed to get everyone into their dresses for the early children's mass at church.  During church, we sat with Little Grandma, Aunt Renee, Grandma and Papa.  Neela slept through most of the mass.  Kylie and Brooke took money up front for the offering, Brooke tried to "keep the change", and Kylie made her return it!  Then, during the second collection, Brooke tried to sneak out of the pew.  Mommy said, "they did not ask you to come forward," and Brooke responded with "then I can go backwards!". 

After church, we took pictures before we got our dresses dirty.  We managed to have some "normal" pictures of all of us... but "normal" is up to you!

Little Grandma with her girls

Aunt Renee & the girls...
(Uncle David was watching the 49ers!)

Supper was fun, too!  Kylie's favorite parts were sitting next to Big Papa and the pickles.  Neela's stopped eating anything but pickles once Aunt Christy walked in the door - she even took the biggest one when Christy asked for it!  Brooke loved pickles, too - but only the pickle part.  Grandma got her "plain" pickles out of the fridge!

Then, it was on to the final gift opening... all the gifts from Grandma, Papa, Aunt Renee, Uncle David and Uncle Chuckie. 

Brooke's Pooh blocks

Brooke with her Rock-and-Roll Elmo Microphone & her tiara

Kylie's Fijit

Neela's Squinkie Boat

Neela's Fairy Island & Kylie's Glitter Mountain

Kylie & Mommy

After the little people went to bed, it was time for the grown-ups to open gifts.  Somehow, Brooke missed the "little people go to bed" part - and helped open every gift.  She was very proud to be a big helper!

Twas the night before Christmas... and all through the house...

the only creature stirring was a teany Brooker Bear!

We can't wait for tomorrow!