Baking Christmas Cookies

We made Christmas cookies with the kids and then decorated them with frosting and sprinkles.

Ethan did a great job kneading the dough

Julia came up with a great idea for frosting the cookies - use plastic bags and cut one of the corners off so it is easier to frost the cookies

Craig frosted Ethan

Julia did a great job decorating her cookies and we all ended up copying off her ideas.

Julia won the contest for best cookies

Maria's cookies

Craig's cookies

Ethan's cookies

Julia's Birthday dinner at Sushi Samba

Julia wanted sushi for her birthday so we went to Sushi Samba. We all like the "cooked sushi" like crunchy shrimp rolls and california rolls, but Ethan shocked all of us and ordered the salmon rolls that are not cooked and he really liked them. The kids ordered berry blast drinks, which were blackberries, rasberries, and blueberries smashed up with sparkling water. They loved them!

We ordered shrimp tempura rolls, lobster tempura, and california rolls.

The decor of the restaurant is really cool.

Julia making her scrapbook

The boys playing a game on Craig's phone.

Bella thought we might be leaving her again (we left her at home when we went to Sushi Samba) so she ran into her bag. We normally take her everywhere with us (even restaurants) because she just sleeps in her bag and most people think it's a big purse.

Julia's Birthday - Opening Presents

Julia opened her presents early so she could go shopping today. She got a gift card to a scrapbooking store, Mario Kart for her Nintendo DS, and three pairs of earrings.

It's Julia's Birthday!!

It's Julia's birthday today! She is turning 12. Craig made Julia her favorite breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes. My dad used to make them for me growing up so of course I had to make them for Julia and she loves them too.

Here is a picture of Julia beating Dad at chess. Julia did not want me to take this picture - can you tell?

Bella decided to lay in her toy box. I've never her do this, but it was so funny.

Angie in Chicago

Angie came in town with her friends from St. Louis and we had a great time. We went to dinner at Luxbar and then went to Whiskey Blue. Angie is one of my best friends from college. She was my "A-Mom" in my sorority.

Craig met us at Whiskey Blue.

Craig went out with his friend David (he introduced Craig & I).

Holiday Photos

We forgot to put black on Ethan, but we already have our holiday photos so I guess it's okay.

Decorating the Christmas tree

We decorated the Christmas tree tonight while listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate.

Bella got a hair cut today. She looks so little!

The finished tree!