Happy Birthday Anika!

I can't believe my baby is four now! I guess next year I will be saying goodbye as she heads off to school.

It's not what you think!

Yesterday Hannah found some raspberry Crystal Light powder and started eating it. Then Anika assisted her by dumping some on her head too. Add water and *POOF* instant pretend gore.

Our Ten Year Wedding Anniversary

Last Friday was our tenth anniversary. I can't believe how fast time flies. It seems like just a short time has past since we met at the institute piano, fell in love, and married six months later. A lot has happened in that time. We have lived in four different little places, we have had two beautiful daughters, we have lived in Germany, I have gotten my degree, and Jamie has earned both his Bachelor's and his Master's degrees. Our love for each other has become very strong through both difficult and less-difficult times.

Last week we celebrated our anniversary by taking a trip to Oceanside, California. We left the kids with Jamie's mom and his sister who generously took care of them for us. We got to go to Ruby's, and Sea World, but mostly we just bummed around.


Here is our picture with Ruby's in the background at the end of the Pier.


Here we are standing on the pier with our hotel in the background. If you ever want to visit So. California and not stay in San Diego, we really recommend Oceanside. If you want to be really close to the beach we also recommend this hotel, the Wyndham. It is only a couple of years old and really nice.

Fun Messes!

Here is Hannah having a fun time with our shredded 2008 papers. You think they would like toys.... Paper is MUCH better!

My Budding Little Artist

Well, it looks like Anika might have a knack for this painting thing :) I was impressed with the rainbow she made with her little watercolor paints.



Later, she asked to take pictures with my camera. It is amazing to see the world through her perspective!

A visit to see Grandma in Payson

On New Year's day we went to go visit Great-Grandma Buckpitt in Payson. The weather was a little cold, but not too bad. She took us to eat lunch and took the girls Christmas shopping. After that, we drove over to the airport to see if there were any airplanes taking off or landing.

Anika LOVES airplanes. We used to come to this little airport all the time when Oma and Opa lived in Payson too.

On the way back home, Anika complained about feeling sick so we pulled over. Jamie helped her out of the car and as she stood there waiting to throw up, he scratched this into the guard. It says in German "Anika was here". He is so strange :). (She didn't end up throwing up at all, yay!)

The Zoo

On Monday I asked Anika if she wanted to go to the zoo to see the animals or the lights. She told me she wanted to see the Animals so we went on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day for the zoo, although really crowded. We had to park pretty far away, but it was worth it!




The funny thing is that during our trip, Anika didn't seem to care as much about the animals as the water. Every time we saw water, she said "mommy,I want to look at the river!"

Christmas 2008

Christmas was fun for us this year. I wrapped all the presents and Anika added all the bows. Well, I guess I wrapped all but one present. I let Anika wrap Hannah's present--she loved it!


We gave Hannah her present first because we knew it would take her a long time to open it. In the end, we had Anika help her. She was more than delighted to assist.

Later in the evening we all went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a gift exchange. With eight cousins there the kids had a blast, but it was really crazy!

On Saturday, Oma and Opa came over and we spent an after-Christmas day with them.