Annual Gingerbread house making

We make a gingerbread house every year (from a box!) and this is the first year that Gwen could help with it. Of course the best part about it for the girls is eating the candy that goes on it. The house is already now half-bare cuz they keep eating the candy off of it!

Daddy getting serious about it....

Gwen looking for more candy in the box!

Gwen-isms

Have to get this stuff written down before it fades out of head forever....
Gwen has been saying the darndest things lately!

One of my faves~ She asks whatever everything is whether it is a thing, animal OR person she says 'What are those?' We were at my Mom's on Thanksgiving and my godfather Ron was there and she points at him and goes 'What are those?'

When she says Percy (our guinea pig's name) is comes out pus*y
when she says clock it comes out co*k~so therefore NEVER talk with her about Percy and a clock in the same sentence!

For everything she says "Nnnnnope"

She is in love with Jon and my brother right now (who are both 28...weird I know!) She has a thing for 28 year olds!! oh boy!!!

She is so independent~putting on own shoes, hat, gloves

She is putting 4-6 word sentences together now

She gets this cute little laugh/giggle now when she thinks something is funny

She does EVERYTHING Bella says/does!

I have lost her~she is officially a Daddy's girl now! boo-hoo! (Paul told me it would only be a matter of time!)

Strongsville Square Lighting

After living in Strongsville for 9 years, we finally made it up to the Square lighting ceremony! What a blast! It was mighty cold but we had fun! They had Santa there (we did not wait in line cuz neither girl will sit on his lap let alone talk to him!), free doughnuts and hot chocolate, reindeer, horse rides, ice sculpting to watch. We will for sure make it an annual event!!

the donkey ( he looked like the donkey from Shrek) at the manger scene

more manger scene

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year as we have so much to be thankful for (each other, our health, love, food and a home).
The WHOLE Krenz family rented a hall as they do every few years . For whatever reason though this year was especially enjoyable!



Kids at cookie decorating table (thanks Jennifer!)

Jon, Mike and my man

Kammers

Gwen and her love

Aunt Mandy, Gwen & Jon

Mom, Paul and Jon

kids at craft table

Gwen's Thanksgiving Feast

Gwen's Mommy & me class had a thanksgiving feast last week. We took fruit to share.....


Gwen & Haylee

Surprisingly, Gwen loved the pumpkin muffins

whole class

Cousins & Christmas

It has become a new tradition (2nd year now) that we take the cousins for pics and give them as gifts for Nonny & Opa and Aunt Mandy. This year was not so painful...I did not leave there a sweaty mess so that is always a good sign!

Hey, not everyone is smiling but everyone IS looking at the camera!

Percy

The girls continue to enjoy Percy (dont EVER ask Gwen what his name is!)!


Bella and her lil' man

hangin' in Noah's ark

holding him after a bath

Fondue Party!

We had an impromptu fondue dinner at our house after Paul got us a new Melting Pot cookbook so we wanted to use it. So we had Nonny, Aunt Mandy, Papa & Grama over. It was alot of work but dee-lish!!!

We opened with a cheese course served with bread, apples and veggies.
We had chicken (Marinated a few ways), steak (marinated a few ways), shrimp and lobster as the main course!
Then dessert was chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, graham crackers......(did i forget anything?)


Gwen & her Aunt Mandy

and Percy now

November park day

We had a beautiful November weekend a few weeks ago so we took advantage of it and took Gwen to the park while Bella had a sleepover at Nonny's. BEAUTIFUL, CAREFREE DAY!

Michelle's going away dinner

The Upchurchs moved to Omaha, Nebraska a few weeks ago and so a few friends took her out to dinner at Melting Pot (my fave!). Then we went to a local wine bar (where Jen's sister worked) for some more fun!



Jennifer Tedeschi, Kristy Dubsky, me, Michelle

Michelle & I

Jennifer & Kristy

Halloween 2009

My girls loved the Mancuso's house as usual. It was awesome! Gwen went back 3 times and Bella I think only twice!

Gwen & her cheetah tail

kids at neighbors house (Gwen, Aaron, Aidan)

girls and Papa & Mama

Bella as Little Mermaid

Pumpkin carving

Following tradition, we carved two pumpkins this year. Bella picked them both out this year and I think we had already done them in years past but it was her choice!

Dora Uniqua