Minnesota

Last weekend we went to Minnesota to visit our friends Luke and Cortney and their daughter Laney. Ben and Laney played very well together, with Ben usually moving too fast for Laney to catch up. It seemed that Ben's walking coaxed Laney in walking, as she took her first steps while we were there.

Our friend Katie and her friend Tom came over Friday night and they were entertained by the kids.

On Saturday, the weather turned warm (40 degrees), so we walked around a lake close to their house.

This is an armchair carved in snow out on the lake.

This is a sofa on the lake.

These people, who we assumed carved the furniture, are playing croquet on the frozen lake.

Here, Ben and Laney are ready to get out of the car.

Ben got Laney a Valentine's Day present, which was a matching shirt.

Working Man

Ben is at Mike's office working hard on the typewriter.

Go Marquette!!!

We traveled to Milwaukee today to walk around campus and go to the Marquette basketball game. We first went to the Union to stock up on our Marquette gear, then we walked around campus to retrace some of Mike's steps as a college student.

Ben with Auntie Em and the Golden Eagle (Ben was slightly frightened).

Ben sleeping after our walk around campus.


Good ol' McCormick. Room 532.


Ben had a great time at his first Marquette Basketball game. Marquette beat Syracuse 76-70. It was the first time MU beat them as a member of the Big East. Maybe Ben was their lucky charm.

Happy Birthday Lu!!!

On January 27, 2010, Lucas Alexander was born. Last Saturday we celebrated his first birthday. All the cousins had a great time playing together. Great party, Lu!

Chattanooga Aquarium

While we were in Tennessee, we also went to Chattanooga for the day and visited the Tennessee Aquarium. Even though Ben looks pretty serious in the second picture, he had a great time and so did the rest of us. Lots of neat stuff to see there-thanks again Aunt Mary and Uncle Gene for taking us!

This picture is in front of the Walnut Street Bridge-one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. It spans over the Tennessee River. It was a very nice day to be outside and explore the Riverwalk area of Chattanooga. We hope to visit again soon!

Tennessee

After a busy holiday weekend Mike, Ben and I drove down to Tennessee to visit family. The weather was great while we were there and we were able to spend a lot of our time outside. On Thursday we hiked in a State Park where my cousin is a 'jr' ranger (just kidding Aaron-he is a regular ranger). We got some great pictures and we think Ben really enjoyed himself :0)

At the bottom of the steps to the Stone Door,

not to be confused with the 'stone table' from TLTWATW.

The Sikora boys fearlessness is rubbing off on Mike although I think if Justin or Jeremy would have been with us this would have been a much more dangerous pose.

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and were very thankful to spend it with our families. We started off our Christmas Wednesday night at home opening gifts and listening to our favorite Christmas songs. Our next four days were spent at different family gatherings around the state. We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, please enjoy our pictures below!

Ben getting ready to open his gifts at home.

Posing in his new "Radio Flyer" -thanks Grandma and
Grandpa R :0)

Michael was very excited to get all of his new tools/toys!

Ben loves his new truck-thanks for the gifts Aunt Joanne and Uncle Dick!