Christmas 2008

After a snowy start and a missed connection, we finally made it to Atlanta and celebrated Christmas with the Strydom and Quint families. Karina loved spending time with everyone, especially with her cousins and Jesse, Nikki, Aries and Tigger (the pets). It was a great trip. We spent new years with friends on the beach and are heading back to reality (work) tomorrow.



After I had cleaned the car and shoveled (with a garden hoe :) we don't own a shovel and usually don't need one)...this was the night before we left for Atlanta.


More snow...


Hanging out with Oupa and Matthew.


Playing with Ouma and Emilija.


Getting a big hug from her cousin Jonathan.


Learning about fish at the aquarium with her cousin Daniel.


Waiting patiently for something on Christmas eve.


Sitting on Emilija's lap, who is sitting on Rinus' lap.


Not a big fan of posing for pictures...but here she is with all her cousins.


Here they are again, waiting for Santa...


Playing around with Daddy before going to bed on Christmas Eve.


Matthew hugging Karina, who is hugging Jesse.


Optimus Prime (aka Emilija) and Matthew about to engage in battle :)


Karina had fun with everyone, but was very happy to be home :)


Karina walking! (with help)

14 months old!

Karina is really growing! She is scooting faster and faster around the house. She really understands what we are saying to her and tries to test us :)



We had our first snowfall over the weekend and Karina was not a fan.


Karina in a dinosaur egg at the Woodland Park Zoo. I don't think she was too pleased.


Karina with a book. She loves to read.


A happy girl posing in front of our Christmas tree.


Playing dress up with Mamma's scarf.


Flying through the air with the greatest of ease :)


Cute in pig tails drinking her milk.


Karina enjoying her dinner :)

Thanksgiving

Karina really enjoyed her Thanksgiving dinner! She was even nice enough to take her nap while Rinus, Tim and I ate :)



















Mmmm...turkey leg....















Oom Rinus and Karina reading a book together.




















Karina standing at the table.















Peanut butter and jelly...I think jelly made it mostly on her face and into her hair.















Clare, Karina and Dipsy at the toy box.















Karina and her mirror twin.




















13 months old, can you believe it?!


Karina's favorite pastime.

When you cast your vote on Tuesday, remember this from Seattle's cutest pundit...

Happy Halloween

Karina was a little grumpy on Halloween, but still had fun as Princess Leia.

Family fun in downtown Ballard.

Karina and Alice "trick or treating"

Karina and Clare shaking "paws"

One year old!!!!!

"It's my birthday, I don't have to smile if I don't want to, don't have to smile if I don't want to..."

This is the closest she came to smiling during picture time today :) Pull the camera out and she freezes. Put the real phone up to her and she freezes. Her fake phone on the other hand, if you put that to her ear she will say "hewo."

She has become very inquisitive. Every couple of minutes she points her finger at something (or fingers of both hands in different directions) and says "Whas sat."

Karina also loves to dance. Even the anticipation of music makes her shake her hips and her head :)

She still isn't moving around much, lucky for us, but is starting to show more interest. She scoots on her bum around the floor when she is on the hardwood or the tile in the kitchen. Karina is pulling up using our hands and taking a couple of steps. She will probably just skip crawling and pop up and start walking one day :) She likes to turn in circles.

Here are some fun videos of Karina. We will post some more pictures later and coming up is the "out take blog." Some of the "best" pictures that didn't make it to the blog earlier...


Karina getting down and unfortunately, then taking down her friend.


Karina in pigtails and "talking" up a storm.

11 months old and a real comedian

It is hard to believe it, but she is a month away (less than a month away) from being 1 year old! We have been keeping busy during this last month of summer. Ya Ya had a wonderful visit. She saw quite a change from January :) Karina showed off all of her tricks :) Unfortunately she was here for the only few days of rain that we have had in the last couple of weeks, perpetuating the Seattle stereotype :)


Ya Ya and Karina at Fay State Park on Bainbridge Island. Luckily the rain held off a little on Sunday, so we enjoyed a day exploring. Karina was trying to take Ya Ya's glasses.


Showing off for Ya Ya...


With Tim on her first carousel ride at the Woodland Park Zoo.


Posing so nicely at Golden Gardens Park, near our house.


Karina loves to swing...


and swing some more...she cries when you take her out. Luckily we have a park about a block from our house.


"What are you people doing to me?"


"So big!"


Asleep after a "bowling brunch" with friends.


Karina "reading" a book to herself.