Anniversary #4

We loved our anniversary celebration so much last year that we decided to recreate it.  The only differences were a different room at The Anniversary Inn and different gifts!

We did continue the tradition of giving traditional gifts.  Year 4 is fruit/flowers.  So hard to get a guy anything fruity or flowers.  I was only successful at it this year because of some lucky google searches.  Marcel received a gift card to the Apple Store.  I let him open it before we headed out for anniversary activities in case he wanted to spend it while we were in Boise.

Marcel had an edible arrangement sent to our room.  He even made sure that one of the fruit pieces could be cut into a flower so he would have given both parts of the gift.

This was not our most favorite room, but still what an oasis it provided for us to escape the stress of everyday life.

We had dinner at Cheesecake Factory, and found humor in the fact that we go there but don't even get cheesecake.  Normally we'd probably splurge for dessert on an anniversary but it comes included in the room :) 

Marcel's Golden Birthday

Marcel got home from school to discover 26 wonderful presents to celebrate being 26.

Lilli was such a helper and was so proud of all the presents we wrapped

After all the excitement from the presents we took the girls to feed the ducks.  It was more like Lilli took Marcel to feed the ducks, because she had planned it for a fun activity to do on his birthday.

When the day was over, we took the girlies to their mom and headed out for our real fun activity: Wahooz.  Thank goodness for free passes on your birthday!

Easter

This year we used kool-aid packets to dye Easter eggs.  It worked really well, except the flavors we had on hand made very similar colors.  Lilli didn't seem to mind, but next year I'll do more research about what flavors to buy

Playing in the Snow

Lilli started skiing with her dad, so she wouldn't play in the snow without her full ski attire.  Fleece face mask, goggles, and the backpack that keeps her close to dad skiing.  She even wore her helmet on occasion.

Building her own little snowball for her own little snow girl

And Marcel made the big one

Lovely day of snow 

After the snow, we came inside and made peanut butter cookies.  Lilli even did the criss cross fork design

Rest of 2012

Here is the randomness that ended our 2012:

We enjoyed another date night at Linder Farms corn maze...

even if we (or just I) ended up freezing

Our church's Mommy & me group went to The Berry Ranch to pick pumpkins and do the kiddie corn maze.  Lilli loved it!

Marcel was BUSY with his second year of helping with Skyview's marching band.

And randomly one day, Lilli decided she was moving to Victor (where Emily lived) so she packed up everything she has at my house.

Lilli decided to start reading books on the potty

She also got a big girl bed from Grandma Wende

Grandma Wende also decided that Lilli needed a gingerbread man as big as she was to decorate....

and eat!

We had Christmas Eve at my mom's after 3 church services at 2 different churches.  Christmas started super late, about 8:30pm

We also tried to take a group shot, but this was as good as it got

A mere 12 hours later, we had Christmas morning with my dad.

And sadly, that is the extent of our fall and winter photos.