Big Girl Bed and Pinterest Projects

Last week Charlotte almost climbed out of her bed and succeeded in escaping her pack n play within two days, so we decided we would go ahead with her toddler bed. She loves it! We've been troubleshooting in the middle of the night with rolling on to the floor and losing our pacifiers between the slats of the bedrails, but we think she will adjust quickly. For the most part, she sleeps the whole night, no major problems.

I have recently, thanks to my good friend, Linnea, discovered Pinterest. If you do not know about Pinterest, be wary. It can consume your life.

One of the recipes I pinned were these pretzels rolls, which I made last night for our Sabbath dinner. They were simple and SO delicious. I HIGHLY recommend making them!

Christmas and Christmas Camp

Our Christmas was very busy this year, as usual. We started out Christmas Eve morning at the Mecher's with Kyle's immediate family.

Strom boys retrieving presents.

Tiny present from the Stroms.

Doing some coloring.

In the afternoon, we went to my mom's to celebrate with her side of the family. Charlotte got this vintage Tickle Me Ernie that used to me my cousin, Bekah's.

She also got Elmo from Granny. We don't go anywhere without Ernie and Elmo.

Goofs.

Charlie and Grandma Auntie Barbie.

Trying on some of her new clothes.

The evening of Christmas Eve, we headed back to the Mecher's to celebrate with Kyle's extended family. On Christmas morning, we woke up in our house- our very first time! We had a delicious breakfast and opened some presents. We went to our church- again, a first!

After church, we went over to my dad's to celebrate with them. More delicious food. More presents. A really fun afternoon.

After my dad's we went back over to my mom's to celebrate with my stepdad's family. Every year, my mom makes this amazing spread of appetizers for dinner- it might be my favorite Christmas meal. When my mom and I got shopping the next morning, we get to have all of the delicious leftovers for lunch!

With a full day of rest, shopping, putting presents away, and packing (another first!), we headed up to camp on the 27th for our first venture to Covenant Point as Christmas Campers. We packed up Charlotte's toys in her backpack, hoping to make them last throughout the car ride. She had them all on her lap before we even started the car.

We had a really great time relaxing in our cabin, hanging out with camp friends, eating delicious food, and playing in the snow.

Christmas Blogpost Spectacular!

These are going to be super-random, but they are the only pictures we have taken since Halloween. We are delinquent parents.

Very into phones lately. Everything is a phone- calculator, remote, iPod. And mostly she talks to "Elmo."

For Thanksgiving this year we were at camp with Kyle's family. This was the bi-annual Thanksgiving/Grayden's birthday "dress as your favorite book character" costume breakfast. We were Wilbur and Charlotte.

The aftermath of Grayden's birthday pinata.

I made these cool bottles at Thanksgiving camp. I am in love with them.

Sometimes we'll catch Charlotte at Kyle's desk "coloring" (writing with pencil on his notebooks.)

A few weeks ago we went to Christkindlmarkt in Lincoln Square. It was kind of lame- mostly shopping and not much for the kids. However, we stopped at Timeless Toys, which Charlotte loved. Here we are by the Christmas Tree in the Square.

Decorating our Christmas tree one Sunday afternoon.

Charlotte mostly just laid them on the bottom branches.

Charlotte swiped some burnt garlic bread off our counter and very much enjoyed it. She kept saying "Mmmm."

She LOVES looking at pictures.

Last week we went to Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. Here's Charlotte and Kyle waiting in line for one of the bouncy slides. Sometimes she smiles like this. We're not sure why, but we love it.

Charlotte was climbing through this candy cane tunnel and I was waiting at the end for her. When she got right to the end she just sat down, with all of these other little kids waiting behind her. Another mom was standing there with me and I asked Charlotte to come out. As I reached in to get her out, she started screaming. (Charlotte never really cries, especially not when it's time to leave something- she's so good about that). The mom said to me "I think my son might have pushed her, I'm so sorry." And I said, "Oh, I didn't see him do anything, it's okay." About two hours later, Charlotte wet her clothes, so we had to take them all off and put on another outfit. As we were changing her, our cousin Olivia pointed to her back and said, "What's that?" What was it, you ask? Oh, don't worry, just a BITE MARK! The kid BIT HER! She has scabby teeth marks on her back!

She was running around all day, it was actually hard to get pictures of her!