Instructions for putting your winter coat on

Anne has learned how to put her jacket on by herself. Here are the lyrics to the song she learned at Peter Panda Preschool :)

You put your jacket on the floor, and you stand at the top. You put your arms right in and you do the "flippy flop". You do the zipper pokey and you're ready to go out. That's what it's all about!

Getting closer to crawling... still working hard!

Rudolph-the-red-nosed Reindeer is sick

Today Mike and I planned to meet during his lunch hour at the mall with Anne and Whitney to see Santa and get their picture taken with him. I got the girls all dressed up and did their hair and we headed out to see Daddy and Santa. I even checked online to see when Santa takes his "break" so we wouldn't get there during his break and have to wait with a three-year-old and 15-month-old. Mike got there before us and called me on my cell as I was in the parking lot to tell me there is no one there --- the chair, tree, set-up, etc... is there, but no santa and no photographer. I thought "that's odd" - I even told Mike how I had checked to see when his break is, maybe he had to go to the bathroom and couldn't wait??? I then found a place to park, got the girls out of the car and headed into the mall. Mike met us at the entrance and told me that Rudolph is sick and Santa had to stay home to take care of him. I said, "very funny!", he said, "I'm serious" - apparently there is a sign near where the photographer is normally set up stating, "Sorry folks, Rudolph is sick. Santa is taking care of him. He will be back tomorrow." Mike is convinced that Santa had a little too much fun at the Indianapolis Colts football game yesterday and just couldn't make it in to work today to take pictures with little kids and find out what they want for Christmas. We decided since the set was there and Santa's chair was available that we were going to at least take a few pictures of our own with the girls all dressed up. Here are a few of the pics (minus Santa and Rudolph):

D.A.D.S. Holiday party

This past Tuesday was the D.A.D.S. (Dads Appreciating Down syndrome) Holiday party. I guess every year they have their holiday party at Recreation Unlimited's showroom (which is a company that makes awesome playground equipment). We had a great time and even had a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus! Whitney was not scared of Santa or Mrs. Claus and was happy to sit with them! Anne was very funny about Santa - she was definitely not scared, but was in awe - Santa was really here at this party???!!! She just looked at him and couldn't believe he and Mrs. Claus were really there at the party with us --- when we left, she looked around the parking lot and asked us what car they drove to the party. Mike explained that they came in their sleigh, but we also told her they might have decided to drive their car to the party, we weren't sure. Here are some pictures Mike took with his cell phone (I could not believe I forgot to bring my camera!!!)

Whitney is on Mrs. Claus's lap and Anne is sitting on the ground just below her with the red and green hairbow.

funny comment from Anne

Last night as Mike took Anne to bed and was tucking her in, Anne said "Daddy, scrunch me up like baby Jesus" (we are guessing she meant swaddle/wrap in swaddling clothes like baby Jesus --- they have probably talked about when baby Jesus was born at Anne's preschool.) Mike proceeded to tuck the covers around Anne and apparently Anne did not think it was quite right because she said in an annoyed voice, "No! Like Jesus!"... Come on Dad, get it right! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Anne & Maddie 7-2006

Whitney & Maddie 12-2009

Whitney's One Year Surgery Anniversary!

(Mike here) - It is hard to believe that it has been one year since Whitney had her open heart surgery. December 1, 2008, was a very tense, nerve wracking day. Around 4:00 p.m. that fateful day we were finally able to see our little Whitney post-surgery. She was lying there with tubes, monitors, machines hooked up to her, etc., and it was scary. In the end, Whitney came through just fine. She has made leaps and bounds since her surgery. She has really flourished lately. It took her about 6-8 weeks to fully recover from the surgery and since that time she really has taken off. In retrospect, we are so thankful to the doctors, Dr. John Brown in particular (her heart surgeon), the nurses and the entire staff at Riley hospital.

Without their knowledge, expertise, care and round the clock attention we don't know where or how we or Whitney would be. THANK YOU! Here are some picture to demonstrate the strides that Whitney has made since her one-year post open heart surgery. Doesn't she look great?!
What a difference a year makes!