Happy Birthday Andrew!

He's 4 today! We celebrated this morning with chocolate chip pancakes complete with powdered sugar and a candle. He got a little teased when I sang happy birthday to him, but he's so happy that he is now 4! Bless his heart, his birthday party was supposed to be on Saturday but he woke up Saturday morning with the stomach virus. Yuck! So to make up for it we are trying to fill his day with favorites. More pictures to follow.
The Tomkins gave Andrew this Saints jersey. He LOVES the Saints! Especially Drew Brees, Shockey, and Reggie Bush. He know all about them and looks forward to watching them play on TV. He has not wanted to take his new jersey off since he got it. He even slept in it! :)

We don't want to hear it!

Last week we were hoping for snow and no school. Well, we were not so lucky! Last Thursday morning the girls jumped up, got dressed, raced into our room to watch the morning news just praying that their school would be included in the schools closed list scrolling across the bottom of the screen. As they were intently watching a horrible story about a horrible person was being reported on and they all covered their ears so they didn't have to hear about it. LOL! 15 minutes later they were out the door.
:(

December so far...where did it go?

What a month we've had so far! Here's a quick recap for you. We celebrated Greg's birthday and for his present it snowed. :) Happy Birthday to my man! We love you! Our good friends, the Clark's, were in town for the state tennis tournament and we had a fabulous time. Their boys are precious! Don't you just love being around people who smile all time?!?! Then, we had a Christmas party, a Christmas party, a Christmas party, ballet observation, school Christmas parties, shopping, and a visit with Santa Claus. I spared you all the little details, but all in all it's been a busy December and there is more to come. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of our SAVIOR!
Lucy was quite fond of the snow.
Abby, Katie, Anna Claire, and Rives Clark
Andrew and Charlie Clark hit it off immediately! So much so that Charlie now wants to marry Katie so he can be Andrew's brother-in-law. LOL!

Katie, Rives, Andrew, Charlie, and Anna Claire

Obviously we didn't have the right amount of candles. Ha! Ha!





Anna Claire had her own personal cheering section. Umm, Katie, your sign is upside down!



The annual cookie decorating party at the Zwiers house. I think there were around 22 kids taking part in the organized chaos this year. Ha!

Our sweet neighbors, the Yarbro's, bought each of the kids a stuffed bear for Christmas. They are so good to us and the kids just LOVE them! The kids tore into their presents, notice the tissue paper strewn across the driveway.
Our wait in line to see Santa was finally up and the kids could hardly stand it!

Andrew refused to smile so Katie was trying to tickle him! It didn't work.
The kids were able to take turns telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas.
Precious outfits...sewn by our sweet Meme!

Riquewihr, France

This was my second favorite spot (Next to Lucern). I should have been born 500 years ago. Riquewihr, France was this quaint medieval village complete with a torture chamber. (well, I could have lived 500 years ago without the torture chamber) It looked more like a movie set than an actual town. I was so amazed by the way of life here. No large supermarkets here! Beautiful, Beautiful architecture. I will go back someday! This was the trip of a lifetime and I'm so thankful that I was able to go! Next time, I'm taking my family! FYI...wear flats when touring Europe. Cobblestone streets and heels are not a good combination.

Who is this crazy lady?

Well, I never! I cannot believe my eyes. I started snapping pictures! This has to be a clinically insane person. It is freezing cold here. I mean there is snow here and your swimming in the lake. She wasn't even wearing a wetsuit. To top it off she stripped down naked right there on the dock and changed into her sweatsuit in our backyard. Only in Europe! (By the way, she's still wearing a swimsuit in the following pictures. I would never post pictures of naked people!)

My Mom's Here...in Switzerland!

Carter couldn't wait to greet "Granny" and show her his VBS t-shirt. They didn't see me snapping pictures of them snuggling. Sweet!

Lucern, the Glass Factory, a Castle, and The Black Madonna

Yet another sunrise over the Alps. I can't get enough!
Rapperswil Castle and Village






Einsiedeln Monestary- Just beautiful! Hand painted ceilings, ornate carvings, singing Monks, and the Black Madonna.


The Black Madonna. I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures in the Cathedral or of the Black Madonna. That's why it's blurry, but I couldn't help myself. It was beautiful!!!
Lucern Day Trip




Me and Tricia
I know it's weird, but I was at the glass factory and I got to make my own ornament. It's really pretty.
Strange how they are using fiery furnaces to melt glass and make plates while wearning flip flops. Seems a little unsafe to me, but as I said in a previous post the Swiss people are very different!
This guy made vases while smoking a cigarette. Hmmmm...not sure if that would fly in the States. They must not have very many ambulance chasing lawyers here!
Tricia and Mikki touring glass factory.