A month. Wow. It's been a full month since I posted. No excuses, just life getting in the way.

Katherine and I went to Zoo School - "Apes and Monkeys" - It was fun as usual. Do you know the difference between an Ape and a Monkey? Monkeys have tails - notice Katherine's here.

We ran to Evanston on the Friday before Thanksgiving to bid Joe and Brenda "Bon Voyage!" It was great to see them, and also the Iowa cousins and the rest of the family as well. Katherine was especially sad that we didn't get to sleep overnight, but we had much to accomplish that weekend! (and there was no room at the "Inn.")

The next day we had Maggie's Birthday Party. She and her best friend Lauren shared the party with 5 of their friends at a local Gymnastics Gym. A good time was had by all, and for her first "real" party it was super easy for the adults - just bring the cake, nothing else - It was perfect!
Abby also celebrated her 7 month birthday. And by celebrated I mean, had her picture taken a few times and probably took a few naps. I try to keep up, but it's usually Maggie who reminds us of the date!

I just love this picture of Katherine after her school's Thanksgiving Feast.
Our favorite little Turkey before heading to Gram and PopPop's for Thanksgiving.
Abby spent a fair amount of time playing with her Uncle Matt's beard the day after Thanksgiving in West Bend. She's not used to facial hair. She was intrigued, not scared a bit!
Her other favorite pastime these days - reaching into her basket and choosing her own toys. She's a girl who knows what she wants!
Sometimes she looses her balance though! This picture was taken just after I found her face first into her basket. She lifted her head as I snapped the picture, but she had flopped over and was face-first and content when I found her!
And, last but not least, here you see Abby enjoying the first real snowfall since the day she was born.(If you recall is snowed the day she was born and was 80 degrees on the day we brought her home!) Katherine, no surprise, felt that pants were optional in the snow and that sunglasses were most appropriate accessory that day.
It is possible that Katherine had her glasses on to protect her eyes. She was home sick that day due to pink eye. Abby had it 2 weeks prior with a bad cold, then Maggie had it, then Katherine, and finally this weekend, Mom and Dad got it too. Seriously, I realize we're only just this week getting our first real snow of the season, and spring is a LONG way off - but we've had so many different illnesses in this house , I am ready for Winter to be DONE! I truly think we have only had 2 consecutive days of all 5 family members healthy since September!

So now we're on to Christmas....Cards, parties, school programs, cookies, shopping. The tree is up and the girls are having a blast playing with our Nativity pieces and ornaments. It's not unusual to overhear conversations between Jesus and Mary, Santa and Angels, or Joseph and Rudolph these days. All of the characters play together and the stories they create are ridiculous and so cute! Even though they are testing our patience daily- Christmas is a magical time with little kids!