Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve...

The holiday season is upon us in earnest and our Tink could not be more thrilled. She has helped decorate the tree, practiced draddle spinning for her Hanukkah party at school, posed for our holiday card after being bribed with vanilla wafers, made delicious holiday cookies with Nana, told everyone she knows that all she wants from Santa Claus is presents, and is well on her way to wearing out her favorite plaid nightgown.

Tonight we are starting our new Philadelphia holiday tradition with Christmas Eve service at a local Meeting and then dinner and a slumber party at Nana and Pop's house. Stay tuned for pictures...and happy holidays!

Mac and cheese...

Today we had a visit from Uncle Brent, Sophie and Lucy. Here are the girlies smiling for the camera over lunch.

Thanks for the cool new hat Gamma and Papa!

Back to the future...

Here is our little Tink November 2006, 2007 and 2008--enjoy the time travel!

Happy Halloween...

On Friday we went to Auntie Melinda's and Uncle Brent's for Halloween. Our girlie had a great time running through the neighborhood collecting candy in her pumpkin bag with the big girls--no one could resist our little piglet!

Then on Saturday Tink had a sleepover at Nana and Pop's house while mom and dad pretended to be in their 20s at a Coldplay concert.

Today we tried VERY unsuccessfully to have a family picture taken...we ended up going out for brunch instead--maybe next year?!

Winding Brook Farm...

Today we continued a fall family tradition by going to Winding Brook Farm to pick a pumpkin. Our girlie had a great time picking out just the right one--many were far too heavy for her! Then we got lost in the hay maze for awhile, pretended to drive a big orange tractor, and played in the old tree trunk. After a few hours of running through the fields she was exhausted--falling asleep as soon as she was buckled into her car seat.

Harvest Festival...

Yesterday Nana joined us for a sunny afternoon at the local Harvest Festival. Our Tink had a fun afternoon bumping into her friends from school, throwing hay, playing on a big red fire truck, winning red tickets at the bag toss, eating a lollipop, and getting her face painted. Here are some snapshot of the girlie enjoying herself.

"Where's Daddy?"

Here is our girlie being her adorable self! More videos on Snapfish...

Two year check-up...

Today our big girl went to see Dr. Kline for her two year well visit. Here are the latest stats: 26 pounds 7 ounces (43rd percentile) and 2'8" tall (6th percentile). So it is now official, she is getting taller and slimming down!

"I'm cleaning up...it's a mess..."

We think our girlie has just a tad of her Great Grandma Johansen in her--watch and see!

A princess tea party birthday...

Today we spent the afternoon celebrating cousin Sophie's 3rd birthday. All the girlies dressed up like princesses, ate poison apples, ran with eggs on spoons, snacked on tea sandwiches shaped like wands, and screamed like only little girls can. Happy birthday Sophie!

"Say cheese!"

Our girlie had a fun weekend: going pee on the potty; painting pottery at Color Me Mine and eating pancakes with Amy; celebrating her second birthday with a Williamson family pizza party, Elmo cake (a Nana original), new fall clothes and a digital camera of her own.

Nightgown...

Here is our little two year old looking all grown up in her very first nightgown--thank you Tee Tee and Uncle Brandon!

The Johansen family vacay...

Last week we spent a fun-filled vacation with Gamma, Papa, the Aunties and Uncle Brandon on Lake Erie. Our little Tink got to paint her own birthday cupcake plate at Glaze & Blaze; ride a very windy ferry to Put-in-Bay; show off her swinging skills at the playground; dance like a wild woman with Annie and Tee Tee; yell at the golfers on the course behind the condo to "get off the grass!"; practice walking in high heels courtesy of Great Grandma Achter; practice her wedge shot with help from AJ; splash around in the water park; and eat pretty much anything her little heart desired (i.e. cupcakes for breakfast, chips for lunch, hibachi for dinner, and god only knows what else when mommy wasn't watching?!).

In addition, Ian had a great time fishing with the guys. He caught "the big one" on Thursday afternoon, pulling in a 6 pound walleye!

A BIG thanks to everyone for a fabulous week and special thanks to Gamma and Papa for making it all possible! We can't wait for our trip next summer!

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today was Ryan's 2nd birthday. We celebrated with Gamma, Papa, Tee Tee, Annie, Uncle Brandon, AJ and Great-Grandma Achter earlier this week while on vacation in Ohio. Here is our girlie with her birthday cupcake--of which she only ate the chocolate frosting! Many thanks for all of the super cool big girl presents!




P.S. A full vacation update will be posted tomorrow...upload your pictures Tee Tee!

A busy August...

Spending quality time with the cousins, playing catch and wearing her hair in pigtails are all part of our girl's busy month. She showed off her skills with the ball, her diplomacy with Sophie and Lucy, and of course, her beautifulk hair. We are looking forward to vacation in Ohio!

23 months on the 23rd...

Our bathing beauty is now 23 months old! Here are some cute pictures of her splashing and hamming it up in the tub.

Our girlie loves her blackberries!