Our Forever friend, Russell

Russell went to Heaven on Saturday, May 2nd, Annaka drew him a very special picture to bring with him. We miss him so much, but we know he is in a better place running, barking, and visiting everyone he knows.
We love you, Russell x0x0x0x0x

Making Playdough

These pictures really make me laugh, these are the animals that Annaka carries absolutely everywhere we go. By that I mean, the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, anywhere in the house. We decided to make "blue play dough" today. Blue, because it is Annaka's favorite color lately. All her animals had to line up and watch us make it. Annaka really had fun stirring the play dough and adding the blue food coloring. Besides one time out for not wanting to listen to mommy say "no more blue in the play dough" she did really good. The bottom picture of her is playing with it, all of her animals of course had to come to the table with her and they all put their foot prints in it.

Potty Training

This is a typical night with Annaka, we are

working so hard on the potty training. She seems to get it one day and then the next its back to square one. I know eventually she will get it but it seems like it is taking her so much longer than it took Ally and Andrew. She cracks me up when she goes on the toilet, she is so serious about it. Especially if its #2, she has to have you hold her hands and she has to watch what is going on down there if you know what I mean. Then when its over we all sing the potty song and dance the pee-pee dance!!! The joys of a 2 year year old!

Summer Hair Do's

We decided to give Annaka alittle make over for summer. She got about 3 inches cut off and even addes some bangs. We are loving the warm weather and being outside.

The River

Ally and Andrew love to go to the river and play. Ally asked if she could take Annaka there today after school so we decided to have an adventure and check this river thing out.

Other than the bunny poop Annaka had a good time, luckily both kids had rain boots so it didnt matter how dirty they got. Poor Andrew had to miss out on the fun becuase he had a robotics class at school. We are lucky to have the "river" the kids go down there alot and have adventures with the neighbor kids as well. Even Uncle Kip ventures out into the unknown when he is here.

We have also started potty triaing in the last 2 weeks, Annaka really caught on once she figured out what the toiliet was for. Tonight she even did #2 for Scott and I. She told us, "I have a turd coming out". At least she lets us know!

Next week we leave for DISNEY WORLD! We cant wait, 7 days of magical dreams come ture. I think I am as excited as the kids are or maybe even a little more. I have heard so many good things about Disney World that I cant wait to go.

expressions

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Annaka?"

Miss. Annaka says she wants to be a COW (preferably a black and white one) when she grows up. If you look at the first picture above you can see that her Halloween costume from 2 years ago is getting rather small, that is her pink pj's sticking out the bottom. She loves to dress up in it, last night she sat and watched tv with her favorite flash light and her cow costume. She sure cracks me up!

Annaka's 3rd Birthday at Mall of America

This is the zebra Annaka choose at build the bear workshop.
T picking out her zerbras message maker, she choose Happy Birthday.

Working with the girl to make it a happy, fun, huggable bear. Annaka had to do several things with her zebra to make it this way. She had to turn around 3 times with it in a circle.

Filling it up, if you look close you can see Annaka pushing on the foot pedal.

Filling...filling... filling...
Giving it a good wash when he was all done.

2 years home... Some snap shots of our trip to get Annaka.