O Christmas Tree

Slowly yet surely we are getting our Christmas decorations up. Some are being left in their boxes due to a 9 month old that will break them. Others are going downstairs now since we have a whole new finished floor to decorate. And we have a couple new decorations as well. Last night we pretty much wrapped up the indoor decorations and got all the boxes put back away in the storage room. We are very pleased with how everything turned out.

Abby playing in the Christmas tree box. We bought a new one last year so this is probably the nicest you will see the box as the trees never seem to go as nicely back in.

Of course Megan helping as usual.

Here is our stockings area. We don't have a fireplace or mantel to hang them on so this is where they are now. Now if only all the bows on my garland would stay on the front side and not twist!


Our tree and nativity scene.

This was Tim's Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt's and we were lucky enough to have it given to us. The barn was hand made and we don't really know how old it is. We were trying to remember how Grandma Schmidt had it set up on her buffet table and this is the best we can do. Abby was a big help with this part. keeping her from playing with the figurines will be a challenge.

Our lovely tree with our cost effective LED lights. We're a little heavy with the ornaments in the front where Abby put hers but we are slowly distributing them when she's not looking. Megan has taken a few off the tree to look at but nothing too bad yet. She's mostly interested in it when Abby is looking at stuff. Abby especially likes her snow globe and music box. She says they play "peaceful music".

Happy Holidays!

My Little Helpers

This weekend was the second IL deer season so Tim headed up to Carrollton Friday morning and the girls and I had a weekend to ourselves. Instead of keeping it low key and simple I decided to get a couple Christmas traditions done.

Friday after work I conveniently went grocery shopping before picking up the girls from daycare so that I could mix up some of Grandma Papke's molasses cookies. So I had some help putting away groceries as you will see.

Megan has discovered the pantry, she loves everything she can get her hands on.

Helping unload the dishwasher, she enjoys pushing the bottom rack in and out.

Helping put away groceries again.

Abby informing her not to touch her milk, it's not for babies.

Abby in another outfit change. She had a wedding dress on before and now this is a dance outfit that is actually on backwards. Tim's Aunt Debbie cleaned out her daughters old dress up clothes and Abby benefited from the cleaning. She loves all the outfits - thank you Debbie!


On Saturday during Megan's nap I thought it would be a good idea to try to make the molasses cookies. Last year Abby enjoyed helping and it is a Papke tradition, plus making cookies with Abby is a good reason to clean you kitchen afterward. This is the BEFORE picture, all clean and happy, ready to go.

This is the AFTER photo. Abby wasn't willing to pose for me so it's just a side shot - notice all the flour on the floor. My jeans and shoes were covered as well, in the photo she is actually making a flour castle - or so she said.

She was required to de-clothe before leaving the kitchen - you can see why. It was a mess, but I wouldn't have it any other way. She says these Grandma cookies are the best and is probably just as bad as my Dad was with eating the dough.

One more outfit change to wrap up the day.

Unfortunately Tim did not shoot a deer this season and came home early to help on Sunday as Abby was sick from 1-5 AM and Megan got up around 6. Don't I have a thoughtful husband :) Hopefully he'll find a deer in MO.

Tonight is the Christmas tree - we'll see if that happens tonight or tomorrow. It will get done this week though.

Happy Holidays!

Our Attempt to visit Santa

This is our 3rd year of visiting Santa and it isn't getting any easier yet. If you received our Christmas card last year you know how it turned out. This year, 2 kids, and yes I dressed them in matching outfits in hopes of an adorable photo with Santa. Our Bass Pro has a great Santa and set up for the Holidays with toys and target ranges, and even Wii Fishing for Tim. All Abby could talk about was the reindeer from last year that were by Santa......

How we prepped: We rehearsed with Abby for a couple of days the list of toys she was going to rail off for Santa, and Megan's list too since Abby knew what she wanted. "Barbie house, Barbie Car, Boy Barbie...." you get the picture. Then we got all dressed up and ready to go. Upon arrival, still excited, having fun, lights everywhere, then she saw Santa......


Megan with Santa, just kind of chilling, didn't mind either way.


Abby forced to sit with Santa, Megan to start crying shortly as Abby is wailing. But don't they look cute all dressed up!

Abby running away from Santa and Megan crying. It was a good time :)
Happy Holidays.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We hope everyone had a restful and safe Thanksgiving weekend. We celebrated, mostly, by staying home. Tim's family came to our house for Thanksgiving so we had an opportunity to use the good china and cook our first Thanksgiving for the family. Overall it went pretty well. Abby went back to Collinsville with Tim for Friday and Saturday and Megan and I got some quality time together as well which was nice. Plus time to get a couple things done around the house.


Of course we had to go visit baby Lily again. Abby loves to hold her and give her kisses. She's just yawning in the picture, not crying.

Here's my little turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Megan got to try some mashed potatoes and I also believe she tried some whip cream. She ate plenty.

Here is Aunt Betsy with Megan - Betsy has a little over a month left until "Skittle" will make his/her debut. Abby says it's a girl and will name her Skittle Girl.



A small attempt to get a picture of the girls together.


Megan playing with her spinning top toy. Her hand eye coordination is getting much better.

No cat is safe around Megan, she'll tackle them down. Obviously LaBousch could get away but he doesn't mind it much as he lets her catch him all the time and play. Unfortunately she comes up with fistfuls of hair, but has a great time doing it.

Tuckered out after church - I thought she kind of looked like a garden gnome with the pointy hood.

Trying to get outside to help Daddy put up Christmas lights. She now reaches for the top and tries to pull up. We might have to invest in a stronger gate!

We did manage to get some Christmas decorations up yesterday. No tree yet, we're a little concerned what Megan is going to do with it, but I guess we'll find out. Abby is loving putting up all the Christmas decorations. She has gone through her ornaments multiple times. This week we'll hopefully put the rest of the indoor ones up other than the tree. The outdoor lights look really good, Tim is even going to buy more I think because he says we need lights on the bushes. We'll see how that works out. Snow is expected on Wednesday so we'll see what we can get done.

1st IL Deer Season

This weekend was the first shotgun season for IL deer hunters, along with a Schmidt family gathering on Sunday for a baby shower for Betsy. We headed up to Carrollton, IL on Saturday to avoid the long drive in one day on a Sunday - as it has been done before and has never worked out well for the kids, or the driver. Tim also was really wanting to take Abby out hunting at least once.....


This was our first effort to get her in the truck. When she found out that Megan and I would be staying back at the house she did not want to go at all.



Megan was fine with things since she was outside - the weather was beautiful and 60 degrees.


The not so happy hunter.
We eventually got Abby in to the truck and once I was out of sight, and a bribe of seeing puppies was in place she had a great time. They were in the blind for over 2 hours, I figured they would be back after 10 minutes. Abby liked it so much she went out with Tim the next morning as well, because as she put it "I have to help Daddy find the deers, because he can't find them".
Tim was very pleased she went and I'm sure blaze orange will now be in Abby's wardrobe.

Here is Abby and her cousin Anna playing in the shed after she got back from hunting that evening. Really she is just dragging poor Anna around, but they had fun.

Here is SarahP with Megan. Megan discovered chex mix that night and loved it - of course it's a food - why wouldn't she like it!

And of course Abby loving her sister. Tim is actually holding both of them and is behind them but you can't see him. They both had a fun time in the shed and playing. Abby wants to go again next year when she is "bigger".


This week we will be hosting our first Thanksgiving at the house for Tim's mom's side. The majority will be coming in to town Wednesday evening and I'll cook all day Thursday and hopefully it will turn out just fine - otherwise there is a grocery store up the street.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to all.

Abby's 3rd Birthday Party

Abby turned 3 on Saturday so this weekend was just a big birthday bonanza. Tim and I can't believe she is 3 already!



The festivities started off at daycare with some cupcakes and singing.

Here Abby is on her birthday with her Mickey Mouse pancake for breakfast.

Megan enjoyed the pancakes too! She's starting on the solid foods slowly, although I think if you put a sandwich in front of her she would eat it. She enjoys food much more than bottles these days.

The bounce house we rented for the party - and to keep the kids out of the house and make them tired for naps.

Abby's first jump and slide of the day. She tends to not slide down the slide but bounce halfway down it like she saw some big kids do. Thankfully there is a stopper at the bottom for them to bounce off of.


The birthday cake - and yes Belle is lighting up.


Everyone is getting ready to sing for her.

Opening presents - this one is her Tinkerbelle outfit for dress up.

Uncle BJ is putting together the scooter for Abby.

Safety first!



Look out everyone - Abby's taking her first scooter.

Megan enjoyed the bounce house too.

Just had to wear the Tinkerbelle outfit that night.

Megan enjoyed the balloons once the helium wore out - then she could attack them.

The birthday girl.




Here's a video of the singing and blowing out of candles.

Thanks to everyone who came to Abby's party. She had a great time and is enjoying all of her presents. She wants to know when everyone can come over again to party :)

Abby is 3!

This weekend our "baby" turned 3 years old. Where has the time gone?

One of my favorite photos of Abby when she was less than 3 months old. She smiled early.



Abby's first birthday - still loves cake.

Abby's 2nd birthday

And the big 3 year old.

Abby at 3.......

• Still loves everything on Nick Jr. (aka Noggin) and speaks pretty decent chinese and spanish with Diego/Dora and Kai Lan
• Figured out potty training in May to help us save money on diapers :)
• Still sucks her thumb when she is tired- she says she's not done with it yet
• Can't wait to go to pre-school!!
• Loves her baby sister
• Loves wrestling with Daddy
• Enjoys singing - especially in the car when Megan is fussy.
• Knows her alphabet, colors, and counts to 11 - not to sure why it stops there.
• Her favorite foods are fish sticks and ranch dressing