CONGRATS to Brian & Cyndi!

Anna Linn Smith was born this morning at 9:29 AM.
She was 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long!!!!
She was about a week late and Cyndi and baby are doing great!
Yeah!!!!!

More January 2009

Wow I guess I liked my camera in January.

I also realized as I go back and look at pictures that Ali did look like Andy but as you see the pictures starting around April she starts to change......

More matching outfits..oh shock surprise....

My Little Cowgirl!

Sometimes after Saturday morning dance class we stop to get treats. Sammy LOVES chocolate..Andy and I aren't even that big into chocolate but she got that gene from her Uncle Brian.

Here she destroyed..I mean ate a chocolate frosted donut! Frosting first of course.

We had a fun night at Becky and Cort's to visit with Dave and Liz who were in town from Florida.

Thank you Emily for the cute matching outfits!!!!

Ali loves to scoot over to the patio door and Sam follows her and "hugs" or tortures her while she just wants to look outside.
Pink PJ's

Sammy and her Doggy! Slater looks thrilled huh?

Eyeore

Ali went to dance class with us and of course she wore her little dancer socks and ballerina outfit.

Sammy still loves her dolphins and whales!

I can't believe we went to our first preschool meeting to try to put Sammy into preschool. We decided in the end that she is getting enough at Daycare and we don't really have a good way as dual working parents to get her to a preschool..but I felt so old and my "baby" is a big girl......

Sammy is also my dreamer. She remembers her dreams and tells us about them. She had a few more crazy ones in January that I actually wrote down..Sammy also is starting to be very dry at night! And going to the potty on her own a few times during the day!

Ali is learning to pull open drawers and understanding the word no...

Andy is a Pilot! January 2009

January was a very long time ago but scrolling through my pictures tells the stories all over again.

January brought about a HUGE accomplishment for Andy. He is now a private pilot! I can not believe it and am a nervous wreck every time he goes up in the air but he has wanted this since he was a kid and I made a deal and had to hold up my end of it.... I have no plans to go in the little planes with him and it is one EXPENSIVE hobby. Of course Andy said once the lessons are done the cost will go down a little...yeah...a very little. He first got checked out in a Cesna 152 which is a very small 2 seater plane that is soo tiny but he passed his test on January 5 and is good to go.

This is a plaque that Mr. P hand carved for Andy (and one for his Dad too!) So amazing!

Andy Flying with his instructor the first time he did the "skyline tour" of the city. He took a friend of his with to take pictures. Andy said you really just follow the roads below. He took the Stevenson in and the Eisenhower out of the city. You have to watch out for the O'Hare and Midway traffic...YIKES!

The Andersons are definitely still having adventures

I am sad that I am so behind on blogging. I love to see other people's kids growing up and I feel like all of a sudden Sammy is a Little Girl not a toddler and Ali is a toddler..what happened... so here goes... Sue I am glad you posted that on my facebook too cause I miss posting just never find the time..too many adventures at the same time these days.

Ali and the Kitchen-January 2009

This play kitchen was one of the best investments we ever made. Sammy loves to play with it..the big girls in the neighborhood love it...and now Alaina plays with it EVERYDAY (since she could scoot over to it!)

Sammy and her Geo Trax

My Sammy asked for Geo Trax back in Christmas 2007 so since then we have been adding to it. She got 2 airplane additions this past Christmas..(I think Andy likes them better than Sam does) And I am okay with my girl playing with all the "boyish" toys. I loved my matchboxes and Star Wars toys as a kid!

Don't mind the absolute disaster of our basement.

Sammy let me french braid her hair again!

My little farm girl!

Random winter Saturdays...

Do you think Slater is comfortable...
Reading to both my girlies..this is rare shot of Alaina sitting still while I read...she is a squirmer..
Sisters!

Sammy and Ali love to play together in Sam's room after bath. It is our family time at night. We all camp out on the floor and play, read, say our prayers and just hang out! Slater even gets in on the fun usually. Sammy needs a bigger bedroom! ; )

Postponed Daycare Christmas 1/8/2009

After the December Celebration was cancelled due to SNOW--the girls got to dress up for their annual Christmas party at daycare! I have to admit I was glad it got delayed..I found these dresses in a box from Disney Store.com that I ordered after Xmas 2007 hoping they would fit. When it got closer to Christmas I kind of forgot about them and then thought Ali would be too small still for hers..but I tried them on and they were perfect!

The girls at Daycare

Alaina refuses to keep anything on her feet....

January 2009

I can not believe I am actually caught up to 2009 finally on the blog..still 7 months behind....

Sammy loved her little boots. What a ham!

These Boots are made for walking....

She looks like such a big girl...

Ali had some too!

Sam likes to "hold" Ali and give SQUISHY hugs...

New Years Eve

Thank you Graske's for hosting a fun New years Eve gathering...

It is funny how your life changes with kids.. I think Andy and I barely made it up until Midnight! : ) And I wasn't drinking due to nursing still....

I don't have pictures in my files but you can see them on Facebook... we got the craziest gift during our white elephant... It was a mounted fox(?) head that almost scared Sammy to death...but then we were able to exchange it for a great empire carpet bobble head and the infamous maroon angle tree topper!

Christmas Morning

Baby's First Christmas
Slater helping Sam find the candy in her stocking
Cozy Warm jammies
I love that PJ's are still fun to get : )

Helping Sister open a gift or 2

Sam was trying to do the moves that the Dancers were doing on the Disney Parade!

My parents came over to help Sammy and Alaina open their presents from Santa

Sam wasn't sure why Santa didn't eat the WHOLE cookie

we told her that he would get WAY too FAT if he ate all of the cookies kids left for him.

Real Christmas Eve--With the McGinnis'

This year Christmas Eve was at my Uncle Terry and Aunt Sandi's house in DeKalb. This is my Dad's side of the family.

Charlie Beth with the stockings that represent every member of the McGinnis Clan!

Sammy and Levi

Christmas outfits #3--pink and black.

With Grandma and Grandpa

I wanted Ali to wear the dress Sammy wore for her first Christmas cause I loved it so much and we had a hand me down pink and black dress from Brooke too for Sam.

My Grandpa and Nana

The McGinnis "Kids" and their spouses

(my Dad is one of 7)

The McGinnis Cousins (Grandkids) with Nana and Grandpa

There were a lot of us missing too!!!

The McGinnis Great Grandchildren with Nana and Grandpa

Not all were present but Aliana was #25 until one more was born after Christmas

Sammy LOVES Jesse!