Opening of Christmas presents happened for us this year on Dec. 18 just before we left to visit family.

Nothing better that being both a princess AND cheerleader.

Our trip for Christmas began this year with a visit with Eldon, Shane's Grandpa, Daniel and Mia's Great-Grandpa (or Great-Pappa, as the kids say).

Daniel tumbling on Eldon's spare bed.

Mia kept asking Eldon to draw a picture on her board. He didn't seem to mind as he drew pictures of cows, horses, wrote her name, letters, and numbers.

We spent Christmas with Rom and Mary. While we were there, Mary had lots of fun things to do with the kids including making a ginger bread house. Guess what Daniel's favorite part was?

Mia holding hands with her Pappa, and Daniel crashing the picture. I could have cut him out, but it's just too cute.

Mia and her Pappa holding hands.

Happy Birthday Jesus cake.

Merry Christmas from Shane, Jen, Daniel, and Mia.

Grandma Mary enjoying the kids.

Daniel with his very best friend - his Daddy.

Mia has recently become very interested in coloring. Before, we could hardly get her to put any color on paper. Now she colors every square inch.

We wrapped up Christmas with a trip to Chicago. We visited the science museum, the field museum and the aquarium.

Afternoon nap at the museum.

Daniel laying in the middle of the "ocean".

Daniel, Mia, and Jen's heat images.

Daniel and Shane jumping on a moon simulator.

Oh, don't I look cute?

All creatures great and small... Mia loves them all. Even stuffed opossums.

Mia dancing in man made snow.

We got to see a 4-D movie! Not only were the images 3 dimensional, but there were other added "bonuses" like water squirting, wind blowing, the feeling of critters running across your feet. Mia, Shane, and Jen loved the movie. Daniel was great with it until snakes came across his toes. After that, he was done and ready to leave!

While using an automated assembly line (and a little help from Daddy), Daniel got to make his very own spinning top.

Strong woman!

Winters in Wisconsin - teaching Daniel how to run a snow blower.

Daniel will be 4 next week. The other day in the car, I told him that I LOVED my babies. He told me, "Mom. I am NOT a baby. I am ALL GROWN UP!" It has all happened too fast.

Mia is 2 1/2. She is a bundle of energy who rarely stops moving. She recently learned to tumble and loves rolling all over the living room. She is wearing size 4T and I think is taller than Daniel. Her vocabulary has recently exploded talking (and making demands) in full sentences. A recent funny thing she said: One day in the car she was looking at a book. She pointed to the picture and said, "Look Mommy! A hopgrasser!" I asked her if she meant a grasshopper? "No," she said. "A hopgrasser!"

Winter fun in Wisconsin. The kids are in their jammies, but could not wait to get outside to play in the snow for just a few minutes.