Playing in the snow...

Sisters...

....make the world's bestest friends!!!

finally...snow!

it wasn't very good for making snowmen or sledding...but made a marvelous backdrop for photos.

Beautiful weather in January

Juliette loves the outdoors, swinging, the playset, digging in the mud, checking out the creek behind our house and wandering aimlessly down the sidewalk in front.

No coat in January? Isabelle joins us after school doing flips on the rings.

a tutu twirl. Allie also enjoys taking the Jeep out for a spin up and down the mini hills of our property.

brought us all outside to enjoy the 50 plus degree days! It was glorious weather considering now, as I type this it is 20 degrees with blowing snow and 30 mph winds!

Winter days

The big sisters just can't get enough of little sis even though she doesn't play "nice" most of the time.

Isabelle is growing up before my eyes. Her two front teeth have grown in and I just find myself staring at her smile. She is such a "big" girl with that grin.

Allie always keeps me on my toes...the other night at dinner she looked at her food (hamburger) and then she looked up at me and said quite seriously, "Are you trying to poison me?". The things that the girl thinks of! Speaking of dinner, she finds potty talk extremely hilarious at that time of the night. Recently she has found her way to time-out.

This kitty is so tolerant...but I blame it on her lack of intelligence. Kitty sees kids ready to maul her...kitty doesn't hide. Owner thinks that kitty is dead because she sees baby laying on her...kitty is half-asleep. Kitty lurks on stairs trying to attack feet...kitty doesn't move when she trips owner.

Even though Juju has her own "look", she reminds me so much of Isabelle at this age! Seriously, don't you think they look so much alike?

Christmas #3

Unwrapping gifts

Cousins in front of the tree

Finally looking excited about opening a present.

But all she wanted to do was sit on it.

We love the Bad Kitty books!

On Tuesday we traveled to Des Moines to see Jamie's sister and her family. Grandpa Miller came up and stayed the night and we picked up Great Grandma on the way from Newton. We had a really nice time and of course the girls loved to play with the cousins. It was so nice to see so many people on such a short trip.

Christmas #2

A few bald eagles seen at the farm. We disturbed them eating a carcass in the field and they were very far away on the hill.

Grandpa rocking Juliette to sleep.

My younger sister's kiddos.

Helping Grandma unwrap a present.



Christmas fun with the Koss side.

After having our own Christmas celebration in Indiana, we loaded the kids in the car to head to Iowa. Unfortunately, I didn't plan this trip out well with a few snacks and drinks in the car. I figured at the very least there would be a random McDonalds open along the way off the interstate. Boy, was I ever wrong! We ended up eating junk food and a gas station sandwich on our trip and were lucky to find some warm pizza at a Casey's along the way. We did have a delicious meal at Grandma and Grandpa's house, so that made it worthwhile! The girls got a lot of nice gifts and were so happy to see the family. It was so much fun.

Bright and merry on Christmas Day

The girls couldn't believe that they got so many things they asked for from Santa. Juliette didn't have any interest in unwrapping gifts surprisingly. She was so obsessed with Starbursts that Santa left by the fireplace. It was such a joyous holiday and we tried really hard to keep the focus on Jesus' birthday and not "stuff" that they wanted. Charly Jack our elf, helped keep the girls on the good list, but they really try hard all year long. I was also a good girl, and got an amazing camera lens from Jamie and the kids for Christmas! :)

Juliette's Christmas favorites

Gift: wrapping paper...or the box if you can sit on or in it

Fun: going to Christmas at the zoo

Decoration: lights or candy canes...maybe any ornament that was in her reach that she could take off the tree. She also liked the kids wooden nativity scene

Treat: cookies, chocolate, candy canes...you name it

Things we did over break: playing outside during our unseasonably warm winter

Song; Anything with a good beat

Movie: Frosty or Rudolph

Isabelle's Christmas favorites

Gift: Her AG Rebecca's bed

Fun: going to Iowa

Decoration: family picture ornament

Treat: cookies

Things we did over break: spending time with my Dad

Song: "you know, the falalala song..." (Deck the Halls)

Movie: Elf

Allie's Christmas favorites

gift: bunk bed for her dolls

Fun: Going to see the Nutcracker

Decoration: lights on the tree

Treat: cookies

Things we did over break: spending time with family

Song: Hark the herold Angels sing

Movie: Elf

"Hawkeye"

Brainwashing is everything. Especially when your (at the time) almost 18 month will repeat anything when prompted.

Juliette

My beautiful and spirited daughter! Juliette is changing so much and celebrated her half birthday (1 1/2 years old now) on Christmas. She is sweet and loving but has such a little mean streak to her too. She is mildly interested in toys but enjoys getting into drawers, throwing, making a mess, tormenting her sisters, dancing and "singing", coloring, "reading" books, giving kisses when she puckers, giving "dirty" looks to strangers, Christmas lights, shopping, cookies and playing outside (even when it is freezing). She says a lot of words now and will try to copy what you say when you prompt her. Even this morning she said, "love you". She loves her blanket, "bubbie" and also her pacifier (New years resolution to get rid of it some day), hugs, snuggles, being carried and climbing on furniture.

Christmas Eve

We went to the candlelight service at church Christmas eve. It was so crowded and Juliette was a squirrel. She lasted nearly to the end but Jamie had to take her out. I was a bit nervous about her being around the lit candles any way.

Candy cane

This little munchkin was crazy for candy canes this year, constantly taking them off the tree....attempting to unwrap them...and then when she was unsuccessful, she would lick them anyway. She absolutely adored the Christmas decorations, in particular the lights this year. In the car she would swing her legs and wave her arms around and say, "oooooo, oooooooo" when she saw displays around the area. Once she was so animated and excited she by accident punched Allie in the eye. (Allie sits next to her in the car). Every morning we would ritually turn on every set of Christmas lights. She would point and say, "on" and the say "oooo, pretty".