The Kriz Family

Ok, I’m not even going to try and explain or rationalize the fact that we haven’t posted anything here for 7+ months. I could go on about how busy we are, or how much time it takes raising these kids, or any number of other lame excuses, but what good would that do. So I’m just going to say that one resolution of mine this year is to keep things more up-to-date so that our family and friends who are not close by can still have a small window into the little things that go on here.

Anyway, on to the first post of 2012 – which is actually a recap of Christmas 2011… We did have a really busy Christmas season this year – cutting down our tree in early December, decorating the house, me risking life and limb to hang icicle lights from our second story, Lukas’ preschool Christmas pageant, finding time to shop for presents and make cookies, Heidi having to work til 2 days before Christmas, me procrastinating on building Elsa’s Christmas present (a kitchen with oven, fridge, and sink) and having to work 50+ hours in the 12 days leading up to Christmas to finish it, etc. I feel like December ran right past us without us even seeing it.

But I can’t really say enough good things about this holiday season either. The kids were both really excited this year, and Lukas especially is really starting to get the real meaning of Christmas. He would tell us all about Baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph, and was fascinated by the little manger scene we have. Of course he was also looking forward to presents, but hey, he’s only 4 And little Elsa was so cute, it seemed like every day she saw the Christmas decorations and lights was like the first time she was seeing them again. Even today (over a week after Christmas, and when the tree and decorations are about to come down), she was pointing out all the pretty ornaments to us. All in all, despite all the rushing around and seemingly endless last-minute errands, we had a really wonderful holiday season, and we really enjoyed having time to spend with our family (one more week would have been great!). We feel truly blessed.

Thank you for checking in, and we wish you the best in 2012.

Hauling the tree back to get wrapped up and strapped onto the 4-wheel drive sleigh

Elsa loves checking out all the ornaments

Lukas takes his decorating job very seriously

Our little angel – he sang great in the Christmas play!

The kids in some silly hats

Elsa didn’t help make the cookies this year, but she sure loved licking icing off the beaters!

Boone thinks he is going to get some icing

Lukas helped make the kolacky this year – his Great Grandma Kriz’s recipe

Elsa was beside herself – all the people, all the presents, and staying up past bedtime!

One of the many (many, many) presents Lukas was excited about

Elsa’s kitchen – hope she likes it

Lukas on the streetcar

Elsa on the streetcar

Burger Cheese!

New PJs (complete with tutu…) and new hat

McQueen, we have you surrounded.

So we made some pancakes (“flapjacks”, as we like to call them around these parts…) after church this morning, and Heidi, Lukas, and I are sitting at the table eating. Elsa is walking around being busy, but she is pretty good and doesn’t go far from us. Then all of a sudden I see her peeking up over the back of the couch. I was pretty surprised, because she isn’t quite tall enough to climb up there yet. And I’m also immediately jumping up out of my chair because she isn’t the most careful kid around, and I can see her flopping over the side onto the floor, or back on to the hearth or something like that. As I get around the couch to scoop her up, I lost it when I saw how she actually got up there. She scooted this little black folding stool over there, moved it up next to the couch, and voilà – now she can climb up. I didn’t realize she was problem-solving like that yet. She is also the one who you see pretty often trying to climb out of the crib – never saw that with Lukas… I think we’re in trouble…

Yes! That stool sure comes in handy for climbing up on things!

Now I’ll just chill on the couch with my "iPod"

We finally had a sunny day today. I think we’ve had about 3 sunny days in the past 30, it is getting a little ridiculous. What better to do than play outside and climb a tree!

It’s tree-climbing time!

Our little Elsa has started throwing fits when she doesn’t get her way. Tonight, she was really letting us have it because Lukas was at the table eating Goldfish after he ate his dinner, but she only had Cheerios on her tray. She was happy once we gave her some Goldfish too, but then got mad again when we brought out the Girl Scout cookies (Thin Mints – mmmmm…), and didn’t give her any. But if you put other things (veggies, fruit, etc) in front of her, she’ll just shove it away or throw it to Boone if we’re not looking. How the heck does she even know?? Anyway, we gave her a Thin Mint too, and she was happy again. What a stinker.

She won’t eat her vegetables, but she’ll sure eat the Thin Mints…

Heidi discovered a turtle in one of our flowerbeds today while she was weeding. I’ll bet he’s 100 years old, at least that’s what I told Lukas. I’m assuming he will hang around the house for a while (can’t go too far too fast, right…), so it will be fun to go out and search for him, which is what Lukas wanted to do every time we went out today. I think Mr. Turtle was getting a little miffed that we kept moving him though.

Out of my way, I need to get back to my flowerbed by sundown!

I’m not coming out til you put me down!