Stille 4 Kim, Craig, Lauren, and Luke

Thanksgiving

This blog is as little past due but better late then never. This year was our year to have Thanksgiving with Craig's side of the family. We had a great day at the Stille farm. Lauren enjoyed her cousins oh so much.

Grandma had a great feast for all of us and still had enough energy to play with all the kids the rest of the day

The girls dressed Lauren up as a pretty pretty princess and she loved it

All the kiddos eating. They are still at the age when it is cool to sit at the kiddy table.

Jay

Jay's our little monkey. Find him a pole and he can get all the way to the top. I can't believe how much Jay has grown. He is so mature and such a nice boy. He is good with Lauren and loves spending time with her. Jays likes: his guitar and legos Jays dislikes: his younger brother bothering him and being embarrassed by too many hugs and kisses from his Mimi. I do still get them but it's rare.

Nick

Me and Nick at our schmidt family christmas. I had to promise him cookies and fruit snacks to get this picture. One minute Nick is so cute you just want to squeeze him

And the next minute he is doing something like this. His likes: penguins and Nickleback music, His dislikes: being told what to do and being picked on by his older brother. Nick's my big sweetie...I love you Nickle pickle!!

"The in-laws"

I have been very blessed with wonderful in-laws. Not only are they wonderful to me but they are a very special and important part of Lauren's life. These pictures are from Laruen's party. They love watching her grow and spending time with her. We love love poppy, Gama and Mimi

AVA (ABA)

Lauren Loves Ava. And I think Ava loves Lauren. They are pretty good buddies

Ava is now 6 months old and super sweet. Still a great baby and we enjoy spending time with her and Lauren enjoys being able to play with her everyday at daycare.

Here they are riding the zebra together. Lauren of course has to lean over to give her a kiss.

Lauren's Party

We had so much fun at Lauren's birthday party. We just had a small party with just family the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. We ordered pizza, opened presents and ate cake and ice cream. Lauren got to play with her cousins and got lots of great gifts, and best of all she got to eat pizza and ice cream....her favorite.

Lauren loved when we sang happy birthday to her. She didn't quite understand to blow the candles out but she did try. Every time we would sing her happy birthday she would say again, again. It is now a couple weeks past her birthday and we are still singing happy birthday.

She was a little overwhelmed with presents. Everything she got she loved. She had to try it on or play with it right away. She got upset when I couldn't get it out of the box fast enough

There's the birthday girl. She loved wearing her birthday dress. She would point to the cake and say happy birthday.

The best part of the party was all her cousins helping her celebrate. They all played together and enjoyed spending the day with Lauren.

Schmidt Family Christmas

On Dec 6 everyone from my mom's side of the family got together to celebrate christmas. We went to Rockford, where my mom's brother lives. Every year we go somewhere different whether it be Bloomington, Sterling, or Rockford. My mom has two brothers and both her brother have a boy and a girl. Our cousins oldest to youngest: Amy, Me, Max, Amber, Cora, Adam. We have all had children now so it is fun getting together with all the kids. Oldest to youngest: Hailey, Quinton (Cora's two step children), Kylee (Cora's), Jay, Nick, Kaylie (Amber's), Aalin (Adam's), Carter (Cora's), and Lauren. My cousin Max lives in Nebraska and couldn't be here, he has a little boy Braylon, who is a year and a half. It was a good time...lots of family, food and fun!!