Let's Cruise!

I am uploading these pictures with the biggest smile on my face!  The cruise was such a great time.  The girls loved it and even though we missed Charlie, we enjoyed having so much time with the four of us! 

Allie twirling the napkin at dinner!

Claire discovered her love of orange sherbet!

Enjoying the shows and the cousins!

The girls loved their beds!  Claire did great in the top bunk even though it made us a tad nervous!

Loving on GG Laverne

Girls in coral

Celebrating family!

 First formal night

 Entering the show, the girls did great and went to many of them!

Waiting for champagne at the Captain's party for us PLATNIUM (me!) and gold card holders ;)!

Mary and Greg got pulled into one of the shows since they are adorable newlyweds!  They did great!

Pamma provided silly gear for every family dinner!  Commander Laverne

And Harold too!

The girls got a kick out of the towel animals

Pamma let the girls pick out an animal from the gift shop.  Allie picked out the sea turtle.

Claire found this cute animal named Pamme.

Cuddle and tickle session!

These girls adore Kayla!

Family pic!  Claire loved wearing what Pamma surprised us with at dinner!

Waiting for the show

Posing by their towel animals

Getting fresh air on the balcony

GG showing the girls some great photos from long ago!

Young ones!

Waiting to go back to freezing cold Chicago and killing time at the Fort Lauderdale Airport.  We can't wait to take our next cruise!

Charlie- month 5

He is just the best little dude!  He cracked me up, he was sitting so upright in his swing, which isn't as obvious in the picture. He doesn't swing as much these days, but he will go in there and play with the toys attached.

 Charlie really likes the activity center!

 Charlie has transitioned to food!  He started with sweet potatoes, followed by bananas, butternut squash and mangos mixed with rice or oatmeal.  So far, he likes it all!

Christmas Day

Santa arrived!

 Claire got the monkey that she wanted.

 Allie got her elephant!  The girls asked for their animals in a letter that they wrote to Santa at the Mt. Prospect library.

 We went to Pamma and Grandpa's for brunch.

 Cuties!

After our fun time in Long Grove, we headed to Mt. Prospect for fun at Grammie and Papo's with the Zielke's.  Unfortunately I did not take many pics in Long Grove and I didn't take any in Mt. Prospect.  We had a wonderful Christmas, apparently I was too busy having fun that the holiday went undocumented!

Christmas Eve

We went to church at EPLC where the kids sang, and it was adorable as usual.  We headed to the Welke's house after for dinner and presents.

Girls in their dresses from Pamma!

 The kids were all about the toy horse!

 Smiling the same way!

 Emmie looking darn cute with the skirt of her dress flipped up!

 Almost bedtime!

A great Charlie smile!!

Happy boy!  He is such a good baby, we are so lucky!

Charlie's Baptism

Pastor Sparby welcomed the family and Charles and we really enjoyed the service.

 Awesome Godparents!

 Beautiful handmade gown and cap, keeping the tradition alive!

 Charlie was all snuggly with Aunt Mary

 Cousins reunited!  They had so much fun together.

 Charlie in his second outfit of the day!  Aunt Kristie is excited about something in the background!

 Family shot!  Claire is wearing a dress that was Aunt Lyssie's!

 Singing to Papo-it was his birthday so we had to celebrate him as well!

Aunt Jill with Charlie! 

Charlie with his Aunt Luz and crew!

Charlie in his 3rd outfit of the day with Granby and Gramps

Charlie loves to fall asleep on his aunt Lyssie!  He kept crashing on her!