New Year's Eve 2010-Ava loses her first front tooth

dressed in new long underwear for sledding

Christmas in Madison

Since we forgot coats for the kids and our camera when we left Denver, all of these pictures came from Art and Sylvia's new camera. We had a wonderful time eating crab and opening presents on Christmas Day. We also spent two days at Chula Vista in the Wisconsin Dells with Art, Sylvia, Angie, Amjed, Haithem and Sahra. The kids enjoyed the water park, we celebrated the January birthdays (Haithem and Brent share the same day) and it was a great way to finish our trip. 10 days in 5 different beds. Only two kids got sick. Not bad.

Christmas Eve 2010

The morning started with lots of relaxing and of course coffee but my very own barista, Dean

Nest the kids enjoyed Christmas biscuits made by Auntie Chocolate

Next came a visit from Pitty with great gifts including...slime and rudolph noses

Ava and Olivia wait their turn

All dressed up and to church we go....

Scoots tries to flee from church

The six grandchildren

The Hellwig Family

The Stauffacher Family

Kathy and I ching ching with our latest Christmas drink







all kids enjoy eating black olives off their fingers

Carter gives Auntie Frances new olive boats from Crate and Barrel

Auntie Frances brought each of the kids a new fleece. And Santa snuck in while we were eating to bring everyone a Pillow Pet. Ava and Quinn asked for a penguin, Olivia has a ginea pig and Sophia a pink poodle. Quinn get the award for "Most Creative Name". He named his pet Zoo Hamper.

Quinn and Auntie Chocolate share a secret.

All children wrote a poem about Christmas and sang Christmas caroles.

Time to put out the baby Jesus in the Nativity scene.


Christmas Morning we had Santa pancakes

I don't think Baker knows which is his mommy...

this one does the itsy bitsy spider too?

The Baker cousins...

Ava and Quinn were so excited to spend time with Craig, Emma, Cole and Nolan. They were wonderful enough to bring each a toy and cookies to decorate. It was a big treat for our kids to see them. Thanks guys!!!!

Christmas Festivities in Kenosha

Auntie Helen and Darlene came over for a visit. Baker would not sit still long enough for a picture.

The cousins gifts this year was a trip to the Milwaukee Children's Theater to see the production of My Son Pinocchio. Beforehand we walked down to the bank that had a beautiful display of Christmas scenes.

Sophia and Quinn (the twins)

Look at all these pictures of the Aryans. They now have a secret language that involves sign language. If they were not born from different parents and six months apart you would think they were twins...

Christmas with the Brydges

the girls received Christmas doll ornaments for Bill, Ginny, Nat and Big Joe

the highlight was when Quinn opened his gift from Grandpa Bill. All REAL policeman stuff. His face was so precious. Quinn feels like he is a REAL policeman now.

Dean, Ginny, Nat and Big Joe

Dad and Bill enjoying their scotch

to my greatest surprise Bill and Ginny had a present for Brent and I that still brings tears to my eyes-literally everytime I look at it. I think I have been blinded by such an image.