Sunday Dress

Steve's mom got Annika the most beautiful dress ever!  It even came with a matching dress for her baby doll.  On Sunday, Dec 21, she wore the dress to church and even brought her doll to church with her.  She is truly a little princess!

Christmas Cards

Annika loves to scoot her chair around the kitchen to use as a step stool.  She especially loves to look at all the Christmas cards on the pantry door.  She always has to point out her favorite cousin, Carson.  She absolutely adores him.  =)

Annika's First Time Snow Shoveling

With the many snow storms we have been having lately, we have had to clear the snow many times from our driveway and stairs with the shovel and snow blower.  Annika insisted on putting on her boots, mittens, coat and hat and came running out of the house to help.  She is such a big helper.  =)  

Our Christmas Tree

We finally have our Christmas tree up.  It's a fresh tree delivered from North Carolina!  Annika was such a good helper in decorating it.  For the most part she has left it alone, although sometimes the temptation is just too much for her and she has to go hit an ornament.  =)

Annika and her cousins

Nov 2008 Family Portraits

Annika is so smart!

A couple nights ago, Annika was extremely hyper and was throwing her little bear in the air and catching it.  She figured out that she could throw the bear high enough to reach our keys on the wall and knock the keys down.  I have a video of her doing that but I need to wait for the video camera to recharge and then I can post it.  =) It was so cute!  It's the bear that her birthparents gave her on her 1st birthday.  

Taking apart the piano

Last Monday, I was practicing the piano with my headphones on and Annika decided to come over and break the headphones out of the jack of the piano.  Part of the jack was still stuck in the piano, so it you couldn't hear anything out of it.  I had to take apart the piano in order to use tweezers to pull the broken parts out.  Luckily, I was able to put it back together and it all works great.  I do need to buy a new headphone attachment to be able to use them again.  =)  I guess I need to give Annika more attention and practice the piano after she goes to bed.  =)

Sept 2008 Family Picture

Snow!

Annika loves the snow.  Last year she didn't care for it and would cry out in it, but this year she seems to love it.  She says "cold" when she touches it but likes to kick it with her boots.  

Go Boise State!

A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to go to a Boise State Football game and sit in box seats.  It was so much fun!  Annika loved being able to run around and even watched the game a little.  It was very cold outside, so it was nice to be inside with a catered meal and be able to watch the game.  Annika loved to grab the cookies all the time.  She was sure hyper that day!  =)  

Happy Halloween

Annika absolutely loved Halloween this year!  She dressed up as Minnie Mouse.  She loves Minnie Mouse.  She still keeps asking to wear her "Minnie Mouse" dress.  So cute!  She had so much fun with her trick-or-treat basket and would carry that around all day handing it to people saying "candy" or "trick-or-treat."  She had to hold candy in her hands at all times.  Our day was quite busy.  We went to Steve's work, Steve's best friend's place, then back to our house to trick-or-treat around our neighborhood and then to my friend's house for a Halloween Party.  We were all so exhausted, but had so much fun!  

Annika's Bedtime

Annika does not like going to bed.  =)  It has always been a struggle to get her to bed on time.  She just loves to stay up late.  Well, tonight we had gone to a friend's house for a get-together and Annika had so much fun playing there, she must have worn herself out.  After getting home, getting her bathed and ready for bed, she walked into her room, climbed into bed and put her blanket over her.  We couldn't believe it!!  We usually have to tell her to get into bed, and then I lay in bed with her for 10 minutes or so and sing her primary songs until she goes to sleep.  But tonight was definitely a first!  She must have been so tired to just climb in bed all by herself.  Hopefully this is a start to a new pattern.  =)

Our 11 Year Anniversary!!

Wednesday, Oct 15 was our 11 year wedding anniversary!  It seems like just yesterday we got married, yet it also seems so much longer than 11 years because I cannot imagine life before I met Steve.  He sent me the most beautiful flowers ever!!   2 dozen roses!!   We also went to a wonderful french restaurant in East Salt Lake called Franck's.  I did not know food could have such great flavor!  Everything we tried was wonderful!  The atmosphere was so romantic.  It was a perfect anniversary date!  I felt like such a princess!  Steve is so wonderful and I'm so glad I found such a wonderful man to be with for time and all eternity!

Lia Sophia Jewelry Party!

I am having a fun Lia Sophia Jewelry party on Thursday, Oct 16th at 6:30pm at my house.  It will be a fun girls-night-out with some yummy treats and fun socializing as well as trying on fun jewelry.  There's a special going on right now...buy 2 items at regular price and get 1 item 1/2 off, plus up to 3 pairs of earrings for 1/2 off plus $10 off your entire order!  Click on the link below to see the current Fall/Winter 2008 catalog.  The party will be a blast!  Hope to see you there!

Lia Sophia Fall/Winter Catalog 2008

Helping Unload the Dishes

Annika loves to help me unload the dishwasher.  (We have had a few broken dishes, not a big deal though).  =)  Today, she was saying "I help" and putting the dishes on the counter.  It was so cute!!  I love that she wants to help me with the dishes.  

Annika's Winter Hat & Gloves

We just recently bought Annika a winter hat and mittens for when the snow comes, and she couldn't wait to wear them.  She wore them all around the house last night while dancing, jumping and being extremely hyper!  It is amazing the little things that get her excited.  =)  She also loves to do head-stands that she learned in gymnastics.  

2-Year-Old Pictures

Annika just had her 2-year-old pictures done.  She is quite the little model.  =)

Annika & Daddy

Annika loves her daddy so much!  When he comes home from work, she runs to him and hugs him and gets all hyper.  She remains hyper for the rest of the night with him around.  She'll jump on him, tease him, tickle him and ride on his back.  It is the cutest thing ever!

Moab Restaurant

While in Moab, we ate breakfast at a restaurant.  Annika was so well behaved.  She had a crepe and rolled it up to eat it all by herself.  I can't believe how fast she is growing up.  She carries on full conversations with us.  She loves to talk!  Some words that she can say are:  chocolate milk, Hi Sam (her favorite cousin), eat, cars, police car, ipod (pronounced "pod pod"), iphone (pronounced "phone phone"), movie, tv, grandma, grandpa, mommy, daddy, Minnie Mouse, bear, juice, snack, and so many more!  

Moab Park

Annika loves playing at the park.  Recently, while in Moab, I took her to the park.  She loved playing on all the toys, slides and swings.  If I didn't swing her high enough, she would say "higher" and "more."  We spent hours there and when I tried to get her to the car, she would run across the field back to the playground.  She has so much energy!  

Recycle

Annika knows how to recycle now.  The other day, she threw a piece of cardboard in the garbage and I told her to take it out of the garbage and put it in the recycle.  She took it out and ran to the garage and threw it into the garage, ran back into the house and said "recycle."  She must have seen me throw the recycle out in the garage, although I put it in the recycle bin, but she didn't see me to that.  She thinks that I just throw it in the garage on the floor.  =)  So now whenever I tell her to recycle, she throws it on the garage floor.

New Blog

I have never done a blog before...but thought I would try it to document all our family's fun adventures and Annika-isms.  Annika does so many funny and amazing things that I have to write them all down.