Play Space!

I know it's been far too long since I have posted anything. Truthfully, since Christmas, there really hasn't been a lot to post. We started feeling the itch of staying indoors for too long and so I took the kids to this really cool indoor play space on Monday. It's not something that we do often because of the cost, but it always seems worth it when we do. The kids love running around together and getting ALL of their wiggles and energy out. I enjoy that they're not taking it out on me!

Sugar Cookies

Decorating Christmas sugar cookies has become a tradition in our home. For any of you who received a bag of these as an offering of Christmas cheer, I apologize for the mess, clumped frosting and way-too-many sprinkles. As you can see, their creators had a vision and could not be interrupted.

Winter's first Snow Man

"I may be small, but I have a big heart!- and I'm standing on a big mound."

Christmas Morning

Besides the fact that Nora felt under the weather and had a little fever for most of the day, we had a very joyous Christmas! It was laid back, relaxing, and slow-paced, maybe even too much so for Josh, who kept calling kids back to keep opening their presents. The highlights of the morning were reading the scriptural account of the first Christmas and being together as a family. The kids loved the presents that we, and other relatives got them (always a plus!) and were very grateful and non-bratty (even better!) Thanks to all those who sent along very thoughtful and generous gifts for all of us. Hope your Christmas's were also merry and bright this year!

Gingerbread House

Nora made a gingerbread house in school yesterday that she was mighty proud of. I must say, she had very good reason to be. It is really cute. I think of all of us, Wells likes it the most. It has been picked apart a little, so I'm glad I got some pictures when she first brought it home. The greatest part was not having to buy all the candy and deal with the mess of construction at home. Happy Holidays!

Ode to our Old Christmas Tree

We have used the same artificial, pre-lit Christmas tree for all but one of our ten christmas's. It sits in the attic in a long, cardboard box and never disappoints. Josh asks me if he can throw it out each year as he hauls it up to the attic for storage. This year, he may just get his way. We got it out to discover NONE of the lights were working on the top two (out of three) sections. I think our old tree may be seeing its last christmas with us. It didn't stop the kids from having a great time decorating it for family home evening tonight!

Sailor Boy

We spent the weekend with family in Rhode Island. The cousins played great together the whole time- barring one incident of Wells climbing a book shelf, falling off, and hitting his head on the corner of a table. One time we went to the basement for a little 'concert' that they had put together that involved some cello, violin, and recorder playing. This little guy was dressed up to be the 'usher' in this adorable sailor suit. He also did a little drumming and dancing on the side. I couldn't get enough!

Beaver

Every Sunday we try to go for a walk as a family. Last week we tried this new trail around a pond in a neighboring town. I first noticed what I thought looked like a beaver dam . Then, we started to notice the beavers swimming around and slapping their tails. Can you find them? I think we saw two dams and three beavers. When we got home we tried to use the internet to figure out why the were slapping their tails. Apparently it's a way to warn other beavers of possible danger nearby. I think the danger was us.

Princess Tea Party

Somehow Nora's favorite store called to ask if she wanted to attend a princess tea-party there. I thought it would be a fun outing for just the two of us and made Josh stay home on Saturday so that we could go without Wells (it was during his nap time) It turned out to be a little over-crowded with princesses but the whole event was fun because it was just us girls. Nora and I browsed the mall and looked at all the things we always want to but don't because I can't deal with a toddler in certain places. I ended up breaking the bank at gymboree, ironically on clothes for Wells (Nora gets great hand-me-downs from her very generous cousins and thankfully I hardly ever have to buy her anything) and it was great to browse the store without worrying about him climbing a clothes rack like a monkey and pulling it over (yes, this really has happened.) We ended up staying out a little longer than expected and came home to find that the boys had napped, done yardwork and gone for a scooter ride down the block. Thanks, Josh!

Trick-or-Treating

Halloween night this year was COLD. We only got about half of the trick-or-treaters that we usually get. Our street is perfect for trick-or-treating, there's hardly any traffic and the number of homes make it a perfect length for small kids. They usually come back half-way and eat the ice cream that one guy always passes out (as if it wasn't cold enough) and some hot cocoa and then hit some homes on the next street of the people that we know. I love halloween night. It's one of the only times that Josh takes the kids and I have the place to myself- well, me and a semi-constant stream of little monsters, angels and witches with your occasional non-dressed up teenager looking for a hand-out. If Nora looks sad in some of the pictures, it's because she was. I couldn't believe it. She actually cried on her favorite night of the year because her mean mother made her wear a coat. "No one will be able to tell that I'm a witch!" By the time she got home she was so cold and grateful that I had forced her into a coat and gloves that she thanked me with a snickers bar. Sweet!