Winter Fun

Iris and Daddy at the Dad-N-Me Night. She really enjoyed her special time with him.

Parker and Daddy ice skating at Lake Ellyn. They are now taking ice skating lessons on Saturday mornings, which Parker is thrilled about. He can't wait to do jumps.

The kids decorating Valentine boxes for their school project.


Parker received his gymnastics award medal at a small show for the families.

6 months and counting

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas and Gabe's picture at 6 months.
He weighed 20lbs, 6oz (90%) and was 28 1/2" (96%)...the doctor thought he looked great!

Leodler Family Christmas

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

And the Winner is....

Mike and I went to a Cookie Exchange Party (which is actually more of a competition), they give prizes for best tasting, most unique and best presentation. Mike took home the prize for best presentation. The project started with my idea of snowball cookies pasted on rice krispie treats shaped like a snowman. It wasn't working out and Mike came up with a better idea of a ski hill. We bought the meringue cookies and Mike made the ski hill (he used the rice krispie treats) and I came up with the Dots Skiers. We certainly had a good time putting it together and the kids were so excited to find out we won.

Here are the kids decorating their gingerbread house...not too much of the candy is left on the house and what is left has finally hardened so they are no longer interested in sneaking some pieces off.

Thank You God

....for answering Parker's prayer and sending more snow. After school on Monday he was throwing snowballs at me and I was throwing them at him too when we were driving in the car he said "Dear God, Please send more snow so my mom and I can throw snowballs. Amen." He was super excited yesterday to build a snowman.

Little Lambs Christmas Program

Ready to go the Little Lambs Christmas program with our friends. Everyone looked so beautiful and handsome!

Daddy and Gabe ready to watch the show.

Parker was Joseph, and Lorna (friend of ours) was Mary. The kids all did great, Parker had no stage fright and waved at Mom and Dad off and on throughout the show, then he and Lorna had to walk across the stage and sit in the stable, once they were there they were talking and at one point Parker was holding baby Jesus...he then put him in the bed. Iris was really serious when she went in and never did wave to us (now as I'm writing, it is probably because her glasses are missing and she couldn't see us), she did the best job singing all of the songs and doing the motions. They had a man dressed in a lamb costume with a strange voice, Mike and I were waiting for Iris to run off the stage screaming, her eyes never left him while he was on stage. And saving the best for last, Tia (she's in the purple dress in the corner of the picture) she had a funny look on her face and her hands propping up her cheeks and elbows on her knees most of the show, except for when she started picking her nose, it was hysterical, we were all laughing so hard, tears were coming out of my eyes. She then stood up, still picking her nose and then used both hands to pick both nostrils...it was never ending, everytime we looked back over at her she was still picking her nose, finally she stopped and started doing the motions of the songs. On the way home she proudly announced "I tooted" so we reminded her that young ladies shouldn't do that or pick there nose. I will laugh for days remembering that!

Santa and Soccer

Parker, Iris and Tia watched in amazement as Santa rode in on the Firetruck and lit the tree. He must have thought Iris was very special because he pulled her on his lap when he saw she was frightened of him and then he called over Parker and Tia too...Iris was so excited to come home and tell me she got to sit on Santa's lap. Then she tells me she was mad she didn't get to talk to Mrs. Claus.

Playgroup now consists of organized activities, here the kids are playing soccer in the basement with Coach Dan.

Here they are after soccer, eating a well earned dinner.