We had an early Christmas celebration with Uncle Nils, Aunt Allison, and cousins Sophia and Isabel, where everyone enjoyed opening their first presents of the season. Annette had a lunch date with her boyfriend Trey today, and has been busy teaching Zell how to slide!

This morning Annette helped decorate the gingerbread cookies we made at Mormor's house, and enjoyed eating the icing :-) We went to the playground after to burn off all that sugar!

Today we spent all day at Mormor's house doing Christmas baking - we made 3 kinds of cookies as well as rum balls and fudge! Zell entertained herself by jumping in the kitchen. She's taken to sticking out her tongue and rolling over to sleep on her belly, both of which make her very happy :-)

Zell went to her first Gymboree class yesterday while Annette was at school and LOVED it! Today we went to see Santa - Annette cried at first, but liked him more after he gave her a toy :-)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Mormor and Morfar joined us for the 5k Turkey Trot, and then we all went over to Opa's house for a great feast :-)

We went to a new park yesterday that had lots of riding toys scattered around - the Hummer was Annette's favorite. She also liked playing with Uli yesterday, who seems resigned to being in a house full of girls :-)

The girls have been busy! Annette's been teaching Zell all about jumping and putting on shoes. They're getting ready for Christmas early with their matching festive PJs, and even got matching bite marks from their cousin Isabel :-)

We went to a playground near Mormor's house today - Annette enjoyed sliding and Zell liked feeling the dirt in between her baby toes :-)

Zell had her 6 month check-up today, which she passed with flying colors! She is 18 pounds 7 ounces (89%) and 27 inches (89%). She had to get 4 shots, but enjoyed playing with the paper on the examination table afterward!

Happy half-birthday, Zell! Tonight she enjoyed her first veggie dinner of sweet potatoes :-)

Zell has become quite a good sitter, and loves getting kisses from all her wiener dogs :-) Daddy is bathing both girls all by himself for the first time tonight!

It's the end of an era - Annette went to her last Gymboree class today, where she's been going since she was 4 months old. She'll pass her membership on to Zell, who will start her gym classes next week :-)

Zell graduated to sitting in the cart when we went grocery shopping on Friday, and the girls enjoyed sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed this morning :-)

The girls hanging out at home this afternoon :-)

Annette had a wonderful Halloween weekend! On Saturday we had our annual Briarmeadow Halloween block party, which closed down our street for the afternoon. In a sea of pink princesses, our little yellow crayon enjoyed the bounce house, hot dogs and a hay ride.

This is what happens after eating too much Halloween candy :-)

On Sunday we got our family pictures taken, and everyone dressed up in Chinese outfits from Mormor and Morfar.

Zell enjoyed chatting with cousin Isabel :-)

Annette (and Zell!) went trick-or-treating for the first time on Monday with Daddy. Annette was very excited, and got good at saying "trick-or-treat" in return for candy :-)