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Christmas party

Tonight was the Christmas party of our friends Dan and Karissa. Anna had a great time playing with her buddy Lillian and begging for food.


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Snow day!

... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...

HEAVY SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON LEAVING BEHIND FROM 6 TO 12 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION. BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL BE A PROBLEM THROUGH EARLY EVENING AS NORTHEAST WINDS INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH FALLING SNOW AND SNOW ON THE GROUND WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Anna and I had an appointment this morning but it was cancelled. Hurray! Anna's very first snow day!

The two of us celebrated by spending a fun morning at home.

I gave Anna a fun hairdo. She is using her own sign for "more" in this photo.

We read some books.

We took a bath.

We snuggled up on the couch with a bottle. (That's prune juice and water, not coffee, just in case you were wondering.)

See all the snow on the back porch?

We played with some couch cushions.

And Anna let me photograph her teeth. She has four now.

A visit to the Gardens

Anna and I met a couple of friends at Frederick Meijer Gardens this morning to have another look at the big train set and the Christmas tree display.

Anna did not feel like posing by the train for me.

But her friend Oliver was happy to oblige.

He took a photo of me, too.

Anna posing with the Dutch tree for her Grandma Van Hal.

Yep. She's still afraid of Santa.

Blankie

We decided a few days ago that Anna is old enough to start sleeping with a blanket. She looks so sweet when she snuggles up with it to go to sleep!

Anna heard that having tubes put in your ears can improve your balance.

Organic PJs on sale at Hanna Andersson

I know everyone just loves it when we post of our order, but I wanted to share this with you. We haven't dressed Anna in organic clothing in the past due to budget restraints, but I've decided to try to at least get her organic pajamas since she wears them about 14 hours a day. Hanna Andersson has some really nice (and very expensive) ones that are currently on sale for $18. I feel better about her wearing organic PJs without flame retartdants, and, let's face it, they're pretty stinkin' cute. In these photos Anna is wearing the pajamas she got for her birthday yesterday. She wore them out today because she had her 12 month check-up at the pediatrician's office. When we go for check-ups I put her in outfits that are quick to get on and off.

The Van Hal Family Singers

What we lack in skill we make up in gusto.

Yum, yum, yum!