Easter was a wonderful celebration this year - beautiful weather, early flowers, and adorable kids.
Poor Naomi wasn't really in the mood for a picture... otherwise, you'd be able to tell that she & Linnea had matching dresses (compliments of Nana).
We enjoyed our now-annual egg hunt with buddies Elle and Evan...
and even eked out a family picture (except Mommy forgot to take the Baby Bjorn carrier off - oops).
And here's another photo of Naomi... just so you know she does more than cry :).
Since Naomi came along, we've been quite busy here in Geneva. Above is Linnea's 4th birthday party - a zoo theme - with the Birthday Girl playing Pin-the-Trunk-on-the-Elephant.
Above here is a visit from Nana & Papa... and LOTS of accompanying stories read. Below is T's 2nd birthday - a trip on the train...
followed by a train birthday cake - yum!
The highlight has been, though, loving on our new baby sister... she is indisputably the most popular member of the family. Hands down.
After a week's delay (guess that's what happens when you're #3).... we are proud to introduce Naomi Kristine Daniels - born Friday, February 10, 2012 at 3:58 p.m.
She weighed 7 lbs, 9 oz at birth and is doing wonderfully. We are so grateful to God for the blessing she is to our family.
Above is the proud Big Sister and below, the new Family of Five.
As one friend put it in her congratulatory email.... Let the madness begin!
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years snuck up and flew by us this year. We tried in vain for an adorable Christmas card photo (above) and ended up sending out a collage of sorts. We did manage to squeeze in some festive fun around home, including a trip to see Santa Clause in Geneva (another photo op gone wrong) and, below, Zoo Lights @ Lincoln Park Zoo.
Then it was off to Western New York to spend Christmas at Nana & Papa's, joined by cousins from Michigan and lots of area family/friends.
Here are just a sampling of the happy surprises awaiting Linnea & T on Christmas morning.
Once home, it was off again to Rockford for Daniels Family Christmas over New Year's weekend.
Again, a small sampling of the seasonal joy...
Now it's on to 2012 and preparations for Baby Sister's arrival in just 5 short weeks. Wow!
Thomas the Firefighter and Linnea the Dinosaur had a fabulous Halloween...
They trick-or-treated with Evan the Fire Dog and Elle the Butterfly.
Earlier in the weekend, we got away to Galena, IL with Nana & Papa. More pics to come but the above was too cute not to share right away - Linnea's first canoe outing with Daddy.
Highlights of the rest of the summer included a visit from Zander (& baby brother Sebastian... and their parents) and an accompanying visit to the Chicago Children's Museum (note the view, above). That's Linnea in the hard hat above and T relishing the waterworks below.
August brought a trek to Western New York to see family, a high point of which was a raspberry-picking foray at Brown's Berry Patch on Lake Ontario.
With the onset of fall came Linnea's first day of preschool (below)...
as well as a few camp-outs with Daddy (and campfire dinners including T & Mommy).
Other autumnal delights have included some "hikes" with Daddy (below)...
and last weekend's first apple orchard/pumpkin patch outing.
Picking up where we left off... summer kicked off Memorial Day with the annual Geneva parade...
and accompanying candy booty.
Above, some special time with Aunt Aimee & Uncle B; below, a visit from the Ferenczis - Mommy's college roommate, her husband and their four girls (three pictured). Ryan, Jason & T were greatly outnumbered.
Above & below are a trip to Swedish Days in Geneva...
and last but not least, that staple of American childhood Julys - swimming lessons.
