Happy New Year!

This year we decided to stay in for the holiday. In years past we have either gone out or I have had to work so this is the first time in quite a while we stayed in. Today is my parent's wedding anniversary too. I always wondered why somebody would want to get married on New years but the more I think about it, the sweeter it becomes. I guess you get to start each new year of your marriage with a fresh start and new resolutions... they were pretty smart I guess. Jennifer and Andrew flew home to Austin today and I had to go to work for a few hours this evening. But after Timmy was done with work he picked up the girls to go visit with his parents quick. At seven-ish I met them at the house and we stopped quick at Papa Murphy's (take and bake pizza) on the way out to mom and dad's. AJ and Anna had just gotten there before us so we weren't to late at all... which I usually am. Anyways, we spent the night eating ginormous shrimp, crackers and cheese, pizza sodas and sweets. Kyra may have had a little too many of those sweets because around 10pm she got sick to her stomach. We had to lay down for a bit and she was rearing to go for the ball drop... we all were. This year is going to be full of changes, and I have decided they are all going to be for the best... yup, that's what I decided.

Road Trip

Today we took a road trip down to Milwaukee to see AJ and Anna... and the Museum. It had been quite a while (summertime) since we had been down there and the Texas crew had never been. I don't know that the museum itself was all that impressive but the drive down was a nice tour of the country side's snow in all its glory. We caravaned the entire way down which is only about and hour and a half. But remind me next time that I say I am going to follow my father or he is going to follow me that its a reallly really bad idea. We were both pretty certain that the other person's cruise control was broken... que sera sera. We stopped in Sheboygan first to see if the target there had Kaitlynn's bins for her bedroom. Scratch that, my car (Mom, baby, Jennifer and Andrew) was ahead by about 10 mins so we decided to stop. After a quick run through the store we pooped over the highway to meet the other vehicle at the Harley Davidson shop for lunch... I know it sounds weird but there is a super cute little diner attached to the showroom. We filled our bellies and our gas tanks before heading south another hour and picking up Miss Anna Banana. After a few directional errors and a bagilian phone calls to Carlos we found the parking structure. It was at this point that we decided maybe it was better that we all go our separate ways and meet at a central location at 5pm when the museum closed. This was not because we were all angry or anything... just needed some space. It is a technique that the Soto/ Steinhausen/ Herrman group has adapted to as a means of surviving in such a large group. Its actually pretty healthy... that is if you want to leave with your body intact. I can tell you that at this point I was ready to bit someones head off. I decided to volunteer to take the girls and dad around the museum for the day. Anna unknowingly subjected herself to the same torture but honestly made the whole experience much more bearable... thank you Anna. The girls were crabby and I was right there with them. I think my favorite part was the butterfly exhibit. You walk in this double doored area and there a like a million butterflies in the air. You can even touch them (not their wings ofcourse) and take their pictures

After an actually really cool experience we headed to a much needed meal at Karl Ratzsch's famous German restaurant... it was awesome. All the ladies were dressed in their little outfits and the beer was tall and dark. We all tried different meals and did our regular passing of the plates so that everyone could try something if they wanted to. We got three deserts at the end too... yummy... I just don't want to know how much that cost. The drive back was a little slower because of the snow but all in all it was an awesome day. I really had fun and honestly will never forget it.

This is a little video from tonight that I thought was pretty funny...

Christmas a la Herrman House

Today we celebrated Christmas at my parents with Mary, Carlos, Jennifer, Andrew, Kyra and Kaitlynn. Timmy was not able to make it because he had to work late. We chose to do a similar exchange as at the farm except this one had to be funny. There were other gifts too but the funny ones were the best! Examples: shocking pen, rubber chicken (that screams), pigs ear, women's underwear, Apples to Apples game, big jar of cheese puffs and multiple other gifts. It really didn't matter what they were... it was that we were all together and had a really great time... lots of laughs. PS- Andrew qore adult Christmas footie pajamas... It blew my mind

Homeward Bound

Today we made the trek back up north to Green Bay. It was alright with me since Timmy was driving and Jennifer, Bella and I slept the first half away in the back seat. We stopped outside of Oshkosh at a little cheese store to check out the "goodies." It seems that it is becoming a tradition to find the cutest little cheese shops to show Carlos and Mary. We have had this one picked out since Thanksgiving. It was a quick trip...Afterwards we went to Tim's parents to celebrate Christmas with them. Kyra was not able to make it but she will be headed over there on Thursday evening to celebrate with them. Kaitlynn had a great time playing with her new presents especially these little foam blocks. We watched Inglorious Bastards until Kaitlynn couldn't take it anymore and then headed home... Thanks Again Mom and Dad Bronander!!!

Dirty Babies

These are a few pics of little Brockers and Kaitlynn Bella eating their Christmas feast and the bath that latter ensued... they are adorable!

Here is a video of the two little stinkers...

Christmas on the Farm

Yah Christmas!!! Today we celebrated Christmas over in Sparta with my dad’s side of the family and my mother’s sister Mary, Carlos, Jennifer and Andrew. It was a blast. I realized that it has been over 12 years since the last time the Soto/ Steinhausen group has been here on the farm. I have some pics that I will scan onto the blog of the last time they were here… they are awesome. We started off with the traditional run to WalMart (Timmy, Carlos and I) and then ate dinner (lunch) when we got back… and it was good! There was ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, Krissy made beer cheese soup, veggies (for those health nuts) black olives and more deserts than I could even begin to list. The babies (Brock and Bella) ate in their usual twin highchairs and enjoyed their tubby time together afterwards. After we were all finished eating we gathered in the living room for the gift opening… It was sooooo much fun. The babies went first along with little Owen. Kyra was at her mom’s this weekend but she will get her gifts on Monday night. We started a new tradition this year where every adult that wanted to participate had to bring a 10 dollar gift. It could be anything… and it was. There was candy, nuts, booze, nude posters (Tim’s favorite) a hair dryer and many more. The objective though was to have the first person pick and then everyone that follows could either pick from the pile or steal the gift of someone that went before them. What a hoot! AJ claimed the gift card right away but Bruce stole it. Kristina got the bottle of wine and Jennifer snagged it before anyone else could. I stole Carlos’s piggy hot gloves with the 10 dollar bill inside but felt bad afterwards… oh well J We sat around all afternoon and caught up with the family. A group headed out for a drive around the valley to see the “Amish” and another group went off to WalMart to catch the after Christmas sales (you know I went). Leftovers for supper… which were surprisingly good as usual. And then the cousins (with significant others in tow) all went out to the bowling alley to celebrate the holiday. We didn’t get to start right away because it was a league night so we hung out at the bar next door for a few hours… might have been too long of a wait. But it was fun ;) Andrew and AJ kicked out butts and I think that I had the all time lowest points in bowling… ever. Might have to try that next time sober. Thanks Theresa, Andrew, Dustin, Nikki, Justin, AJ, Andrew, Jennifer, Anna and Timmy… I will never forget the cousinly love tonight… I bet I wake up with quite the headache.

Christmas Day

Today we headed over to the farm for Christmas. Mary and Carlos got here yesterday from Austin Texas in the late morning. Last night they took Mom, Dad and Kaitlynn to Christmas mass at Holy Cross. I wish I could have been there with them but who can argue with 12 hours of time and half, not to mention a night differential? I have to say though that the majority of those 12 hours included watching “A Christmas Story over and over and over… I guess its not really Christmas without it right? Jennifer and Andrew flew in this afternoon around two and we made the slow going drive across the state. The weather was better than anticipated but still a little hairy. It took longer than usual but we got there, right around five hours. Of course nothing was open so our meals today consisted mainly of gas station delicacies… peanut butter Twix anyone? The best part was that Grandma Herrman had her super delicious chili waiting for us. AJ and Anna beat us there by about an hour… figures J Little Bella baby was excited to get out of her car seat for a while and crawl around. She had done very well up until the last hour or so… then she wanted out! These are a few pics of Kaitlynn and Great Grandma Herrman going through her new Tupperware... Bella loves it, especially the bag. Who new a baby would like a bag so much... the things you learn!?!