Merry Christmas . . . Take 4!

We wrapped up (get it?) our Christmas celebrations at Kory and Mindi's house Sunday night. After pizza the kids opened gifts and we made snow candy like Laura and Mary did in Lexi's Little House on the Prairie book.

Daddy feeds Henry before the action starts

Frankie and Ben hug, okay wrestle, on the floor

Swiper, No Swiping!

Next year Frankie's getting his own bag of Chili Cheese Fritos so he doesn't have to swipe Daddy's

What do you get when you mix maple syrup, butter, and snow . . . Snow Candy!

How lucky we are to have cousins so close in age!

Big Girl Sleepover

Until Tuesday night, Lexi had never had an official sleepover at a friend's house. With all the fun she and Kristian had, I'm surprised she came home!

Hot tub!

fast asleep!

Merry Christmas . . . Take 3!

7:30am + 8 inches of snow + 2 grandparents = The best Christmas morning ever!

Frankie was so excited with the train table & set Santa brought that he refused to stop playing and open any other gifts. Lexi was almost as excited to give us our gifts as she was about her own. I only cried a little when she proudly presented me with a "gold" mother's necklace bought from the Holiday Shop at preschool!

What a wonderful life!

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Merry Christmas . . . Take 2!

With Frank at work on Christmas Eve, the kids and I braved frigid temperatures and a snow/ice storm to spend the evening with the Carden side of the family. They loved seeing Lexi's gingerbread house and, while it was a subdued evening without our beloved Grandma Arlene, it was so nice to be with family.

Frankie crawls into his bean bag toss game!

On the way home I realized that I'd put Frankie in two left shoes but, everything considered, the evening was a success! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas . . . Take 1!

Because Frank has to work on Christmas, we celebrated Christmas in Wichita this weekend. It was the best trip yet (as you can see in the pictures), here are the highlights from each family member:

Lexi

* playing wigs with Emalee & Aunt Carrie (& later, Popo!)

* My Little Pony remote control scooter

* drums at Cousin Andrew's house

* making her first gingerbread house with Nana

Frankie

* Popo

* Popo

* Popo

Henry

* kisses & hugs

* Lots of action

Mom & Dad

* seeing our kids absolutely delight in family!

Christmas never sounded so sweet!

Lexi's preschool put on a Christmas program and here are the highlights!

I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will make music.

—Psalm 101:1

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He Bloomed!

As a teacher, one of my favorite books was always Leo the Late Bloomer (Robert Kraus). A sweet story about a young lion who's always a bit behind his peers. His father worries but Mom is convinced he's just a "late bloomer". The best line is on the last page . . . "Leo bloomed!"

We feel that way with Frankie this week (although Frank was never worried!). He's always been a bit behind: slow to roll, walk, talk. But just this week he's really seemed to bloom! He's talking in full sentences ("I want that, Mama!") and participating in pretend play with Lexi (saying, "Arrrgh, Mateys!"). He thanks people who hold the door for him and voluntarily says goodnight to Lexi & Henry. It's so neat to see his personality come through!

Frankie Bloomed!

She Throws Like A Girl . . .

According to Henry, there's nothing funnier than girls playing football!

This is the first time he's really belly-laughed! The video's a bit shaky because I was laughing so hard at the two of them! At one point, Lexi hit the chandelier with the ball!

If you get these posts via email you have to go tohttp://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/to see the videos!

Rockstar Popo!

Frankie is obsessed with Popo. You'd think he was some kind of rock star as much as Frankie talks about him! He will literally be deep in thought playing, suddenly look up, and say, "Popo?" Like he just expects him to magically appear! We let him look at pictures of Popo whenever he's throwing a fit and it calms him down!

Today he picked up my phone and pretended to call Popo. It's so sweet to see him so in love with his Grandpa! I couldn't think of a better guy for him to worship! We all love you, Popo!

If you get these posts via email you have to go tohttp://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/ to see the videos!

We need this!

This is for all of you who've ridden in the car with us with the sole purpose of "don't let them fall asleep"! Check out this link

And, for those who can't stand to read a post without an adorable picture . . .

$200 Penguin

Here's what $200 worth of preschool ballet lessons will get you . . .

she's the 4th "penguin" from the left in her first ballet recital ever! The highlights were:

1) wearing lipstick

2) being on a real stage

3) getting a flower at the end (courtesy of Keira's mom because she knows we're always late!)

If you get these posts via email you have to go tohttp://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/ to see the videos!

Sit-in

Henry's practicing for his first political sit-in. Will he protest government health care, the Afghanistan war, or musical Barbie vans? Only time will tell.

If you get these posts via email you have to go to http://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/ to see the videos!

Happy Dedication Day

Henry was dedicated on Nov. 29. Here are some pictures of the great day!

Andrea's grandparents came to support us

A tired Henry rests in Aunt Casey's arms!

Henry with Godmother, Dee (my sister, Shelley, is also his godmother)

The Wonka boys

Pastor Johan and Henry

Thanksgiving Day!

Here's what we're thankful for this year!

After a terrific Thanksgiving lunch and wedding reception with the family, I headed home with 3 wound-up kids! With all of the play places closed (seriously, McDonald's, help me out here!), we resorted to bubble popping!

If you get these posts via email you have to go tohttp://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/ to see the videos!

Limbo!

Here's Henry sitting in a big boy booster seat! He doesn't eat any food yet but likes to be with us while we eat!

Good ol' fashioned Wednesday afternoon fun at the Wonka house! Notice Frank whistling while holding the "limbo stick" (aka: broom):

If you get these posts via email you have to go to http://wonkafamilylife.blogspot.com/ to see the videos!

Rub a Dub Dub

Henry was really fussy tonight so we put him in the bathtub to kill time before bed. Of course, the other kids wanted to join him. They all did surprisingly well in our small bathtub!

I don't have any pictures to prove it but we do have two medals . . . Frank ran his first (and probably last) half marathon this morning! He was quite the trooper and finished in 2:07, without walking at all! Great job, Daddy!

3 in the bed and the little one said . . .

There were three in the bed and the little one said . . .

. . . Roll Over!

Henry rolled from tummy to back for the first time earlier in the week but, of course, I was running. Seriously, I'm away from the kids for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week and he chooses that short time to do his first trick?! He repeated it for me on Friday, though! Yea, Henry!

Worth 1000 words!

"Rake them again, Mama!"

While the kids were at school, we raked the thousands of leaves that had fallen in the front yard. I bagged all but two large piles for the kids (less fighting that way!). Henry tried to get in on the action but, with Dad at work, we opted to keep him in his car seat!

Frankie was pretty excited about sidewalk chalk!

Frankie's party - Take 2!

With Frankie being sick on the day his birthday party was scheduled, we postponed the celebration and have been doing it bit by bit. Nana and Popo came to town on Halloween and brought a rice krispy cake for Frankie since he doesn't care for traditional cake!

Pumpkin Goo!

Let's get this straight right from the start . . . pumpkin carving is a "Dad job". Sharp knives, stringy mess . . . it's right up there with weed eating and digging the silverware out of the garbage disposal. BUT, it's October 29 and the Wonka pumpkins were yet to be carved so Mom stepped up to the plate.

Don't let these pictures fool you - they cleaned approximately 4 seeds out of each pumpkin before wandering to less messy activities!

Lexi's quite pleased with the Tinkerbell pattern she chose!

Frankie's much easier traditional Jack-o-lantern. FYI - pumpkins are MUCH easier to carve if they've been dropped from the kitchen table a dozen times! Thanks Frankie!

Halloween Program

Lexi's Halloween program and party at preschool were this morning. The whole family went to watch her sing the songs she's been practicing for weeks! Here are the highlight videos!

Frankie really wanted to sing with them and threw a small fit. Luckily Mom found some stale Cheerios in her purse!

At the Halloween party, Frankie was encouraged to participate and even given snacks! What a wonderful morning was had by all 5 Wonkas! Happy Halloween!

Trunk or Treat!

One princess + two animals + a vegetable + a soldier = a Fantastic Trunk or Treat!

Rain kept us indoors this year but we think it was even more fun (and definitely warmer!) that way!

Henry was the hit of the evening, although Frank thought it awkward people kept complimenting his "pea"!

Meticulous Frankie

At Frankie's parent-teacher conference last week, he was described as "meticulous" and one who "likes to take his time with crafts and activities". He proved that when he created an intricate project with his Sweet Tarts instead of eating them!

Oink! Oink!

The Swine Flu has apparently come to Cooper Street! Frankie was too sick to celebrate his birthday as planned on Saturday but Grandma and I took Lexi and the Colorado Cousins to Wonderscope anyway. We'll take Frankie when he's feeling better!

Doctor Maddie heals Lexi

Jack with his Lego creation on display

Maddie with face paint

Later we all went to Pizza Street since we'd paid to reserve the party room. We kept Frankie away from the other non-Wonka kids and he was pretty subdued.

Super Surprise!

Lexi earned a sleepover at Grandma's several weeks ago but we postponed it when we learned cousins Maddie & Jack were coming for a visit this weekend. We kept it a surprise from her until she came downstairs and saw them standing in her living room. She was literally speechless!

They went to KU's Late Night Friday night