SNOW!!!!

Finally, after many failed predictions, we had a beautiful snowfall!! It was only 2-3", but it was enough to out and play in!!

All bundled up! I love that we have both ends of the spectrum being expressed!


Alden wasn't sure of the snow- he didn't move from this spot where I placed him. I honestly think it was his boots- he's not a fan of them....

Addie LOVED it! She thought it was hysterical that the snow stuck to her mittens!

Working on making our Snow Midget

Our Snow Midget- there was a carrot nose, but it kept falling out....

Attempt at getting a picture of us and our Snow Midget....

Catching snowflakes with her amazingly long tongue!

Mommy trying to get Alden to catch a snowflake.... He wasn't buying it.

Warming-up inside by riding "horses" (aka dusters)

My Man can multi-task- ride his horse AND play the piano!

Indoor Fun

The weather has been cold, so we've been keeping ourselves entertained indoors. Here are a few pics of what we've been doing!

Making arts and crafts

Learning to use the glue stick

Pretty as a Princess

Mr. Chef- Mr. Cool

The men setting-up the new dryer

Addie Funnies

This past week, Addie and Alden have been pretty pathetic with a nasty virus- high fevers. As sicknesses go, I'll gladly take this- no bodily fluids are involved! Alden was just a lump when his Motrin wore, off, but mostly he just moved at a slower pace. Not the case with Addie.... She needed to snuggle- which I gladly did since she's never been a snuggler. And since Addie was pretty pathetic, I allowed her to watch TV and DVD's. Honestly, she probably watched more TV in this last week then she has in her entire life! Thank goodness for Cable and a pretty vast DVD collect! Here are a few of her funny observations:

Addie: Oh, Mommy, look! A 'mercial (commercial) 'bout Baby Dezus ( Jesus)!
This is said about any commercial that has a baby in it- vacuuming, baby food, carpet, etc.

Addie: Oh, how funny! Look, Mommy, somebodies Mommy is a teddy bear (said with total awe in her voice). Please, Mommy, can you please be my Teddy Bear?

She has become a total fan of Jon and Kate Plus 8. She often requests, "Please, Mommy, I wanna watch the boys and girls!" Thankfully during this illness, TLC was playing marathons of that show just about every day!!

Addie has been learning how to not whine and it's been a bit of a struggle lately. Once again, TV to the rescue. I turned on Nanny 911 when the info said that it was about a family struggling with a whining and tantrumy 5 yr old. Addie got to see what whining looks like, and here are her thoughts:

Addie: Mommy, that girl 'noying (annoying). Her not make her Mommy and Daddy happy. Her not be my friend.
Me: Why would you not be this little girls friend?
Addie: Her whining. It makes her ugly but God made her beautiful. I don't like whining.
Guess me telling her that God made her beautiful has sunk in! And it looks like, just maybe, she's starting to get how unattractive whining is!! Now, over 5 days later, she comments that she doesn't want to whine like that girl on TV. She wants to be beautiful! Yay!!

Inaurguration

Today is a big day in our country- we are getting a new president. Regardless of my beliefs about him, he is now our President. I wanted the kids to see this, even if they didn't remember it.

Here is a 3 yr-olds perspective of all the pomp and circumstance:

Addie kept asking if someone was getting married....Why else would everyone be all dressed up?

She wondered where the floats were for the parade (not a bad idea though...)

While watching the events, she decided that Mr. President (Barak) needed some peanuts, so that is what she made him- the PlayDoh version. She is under the impression that I'm going to mail them to him....

She now wants the camera the Obama girls have- at least it shows she was paying attention!

A 17 month-old perspective-

What's that? What's that? - he had questions about everything....

Ohhhhhh! - he LOVED the cannons going off- he even cheered!

Addie watching and making PlayDoh creations

Her long line of "peanuts" for Mr. President

I swear they were watching- at the moment though, Mr. Pig is more interesting....

Sick Days

Our trip to Richmond was fantastic. Hopefully the only thing we left behind are happy memories- but I have a feeling that is not the case.... Sunday night, at 10pm, with only 2 minuets left in the football game, Addie woke-up, screaming with a fever of 101. Alden then woke-up at 6am with a 101 fever. They were both sad, pathetic, wilted flowers- until the Motrin kicked in- and then they were still clingy, but at least capable of of moments that were full of vim and vigor!! Of course, this is the 1 Monday a month that Al has to work in the morning! Thankfully I teach homeschoolers, so they weren't too bothered by the extra noise in the background as I taught. Overall, the kids were very good- and Alden took a nice long nap for 1 class, and then Addie actually fell asleep in my lap for 30 min while I was teaching. Guess I AM that boring....

After teaching, we had a "picnic" in my room as a fun reward. They loved it! Of course they tag-teamed the napping, so I was holding a kid just about every minute yesterday. I love the fact that they want to snuggle when they feel especially yucky (ie when the Motrin has run out and the fever spikes again). My kids were never snugglers- Alden is a hugger, but not a snuggler. Not the best for trying to get laundry folded, floors vacuumed, dishes washed- oh well. I'll take this time to be just with my kids- the dirty-ness is, and did, wait for me!!

So, we will be stuck home for the next few days as this runs it course. Not too bad considering it's really the first illness we've had this season!! I just hope they are well enough to go to Anna's birthday party this week!!

Yummy picnic of cheese & crackers, raisins, and chocolate milk!

Alden digging in!

My Motrined-up girl!

My snuggle-bunny- see what a difference Motrin makes!

Richmond Visit

This weekend, we took advantage of Al's 1-Weekend-A-Month off, to visit Richmond. The Wasch family was gracious enough to house us and we had a great time with them! Hannah is far more mobile and the kids had fun with her! Thanks for sharing your toys, Hannah!

On Saturday morning, we headed to Chick-Fil-A to meet up with a fellow TPS teacher and friend, Heather, and her son Augy, who is 1 month younger then Alden. The last time we had hung out, both Heather and I were about 7 mo pregnant! The playground there is great- the little kids section is a jungle theme with all kinds of buttons to push that make various jungle nosies. The kids LOVED it!! Even though it was a short visit, it was still fun- thanks for meeting up with us!

The rest of Saturday, Karen and I hung out while various kids napped, but we were able to squeeze in a trip to Hancock Fabrics so I could get all the "stuff" to make Addie's flower girl dress!! Hannah even helped pick out the material- she's got good taste that girl! That evening, the guys headed out to watch a Richmond Renegades hockey game- they say they had fun. Karen and I chatted and played Phase 10. For what is probably the 1st and only time in my life, I won. I wonder if Karen let me?

Sunday we were able to go to our old church and enjoy a wonderful worship service. It was also nice to see and catch-up with old friends. After church, we came home to a fantastic meal that Karen had prepared. Yummy!! With full bellies and tired kids, we headed home. It was a great trip- thanks for having us Karen, Mike and Hannah!!

Heather and I with our kids!

The kids playing in the jungle

Hannah keeping an eye on Addie

Addie "helping" Hannah with her sippy cup.

LOVING the Ball Popper toy!

Working together to totally empty the box of toys- tasting each one, handing to the other to taste. I guess you could say they were kissing they swapped so much saliva!!

In-Car entertainment- pretzel rings!

Being a man, he just wanted them 1 at a time!

Addie's First Date

Addie has 2 special friends here. Anna is her special girl friend who lives in our same neighborhood. Her other special friend is Grayson and he only lives a few miles away. I'm so thankful that she has these friends as she learns so much from them. Not to mention that their Mom's are pretty awesome, too!! They also come with pretty snazzy Dad's and very tolerant younger siblings.

With that said, Addie had a difficult choice the other day. She had earned chocolate icecream at BJ's and could choose 1 friend to take. She had a long time to think about it- it took her almost 3 weeks to fill her "I Can Still Sleep Quietly And Well Without My Paci" chart. In the end, Grayson won out. I'm sure Anna will be the recipient of the next reward....

Here are the pics from her special "date"with Grayson. As you can tell, 3 parents and 2 younger siblings were there- so there wasn't much room to be really romantic....

Waiting to dig in!

Yumm!!

A girl and her prize!


Grayson was excited about his icecream

Really romantic...

Playing with Avery!

Ear Infection Pics

I've already shared about Alden's double ear infections- here are 2 pics of what he's been like- notice the extremes.....

Happy (as long as the paci was in his mouth), ready to cook me a meal or make a mixed drink!

Complete melt down! Yes, we are in public, and I still grabbed the camera to document....

Bushels of Fun

Addie's friends Grayson and Avery came over the other day to nap and play. I just love having a friend that I can child-care swap with!! After naps, they had a BALL playing and eating apple slices. So cute, that I had to pull out the camera and document the joys of being 3 and almost 3!

Making silly faces at each other.

Sharing! Notice Addie is the Mommy Hen- guarding all the slices and then judiciously handing them out to the boys....

She LOVES to have peanutbutter (or mud as I call it) on her slices- she takes it very seriously...

Grayson making me a silly face!

Alden didn't want to be left out! He's being, silly, too, wearing his Paci on his head!

Poor Alden

It all started 3 weeks ago.... He had nasty, gooey, colorful (I'll just leave it at that) snot. He was happy and only got upset when I would wipe his nose. All of a sudden, 3 days ago, the snot disappeared and grouchiness entered. He stopped eating (as much, he still ate some), only drank from 1 sippy cup, fell down ALL the time, and was constantly crying. The icing on the cake was when my solid sleeper, started waking up in the middle of the night, crying for 2-3 min, then falling back asleep- doing this over 5 times a night!

Today, I finally took him to the Doctor. Our current insurance doesn't cover office visits- thankfully the Lowes insurance starts in 15 days, not that I'm counting! The Dr's office originally quoted me $80 as my no-insurance-fee.... I kept hoping that Alden would just get over his ear infection on his own- I was sure it was an ear infection as the exact same thing happened at the beginning of the summer with him. After his teachers at MOPS even commented on how he needed to be held the entire time, and how tired he looked, I caved.

The Dr. took 1 look in both his ears and said they were both infected and completely full of fluid. Poor baby! After only charging me a fraction of the $80, we promptly got him some amoxicillian from a local grocery store who was offering free antibiotics! How great is that?!?

Hopefully Alden will be back to his happy, sweet, normal self soon! He's already sleeping a bit better- and that's only with 4 hrs of antibiotics under his belt!

For the Love of Dolls

Alden loves having a big sister. He has recently started copying her- from what she says, to how and what she eats. Here's his latest obsession.... And yes, I do plan on saving these picture for blackmail when he's older.

It started manly enough- he enjoyed stealing her "babies" and running away with them, tossing them over the railing, putting them in his trucks and driving them around.... All that changed last night...


Yes, he is holding a baby doll in his lap. Notice how she is carefully covered up with the little pink washcloth- such a sweet Daddy!

Here's how he carried Baby Madelyn (named for our friend, Baby Madelyn, who was born around the time that this doll was brought into our family)- over his shoulder. He is grabbing the washcloth to put it over his shoulder, like a burp cloth.


Being a patient Daddy as his baby sleeps....


Yay! I love playing Daddy!!

Warning- Underage Alcohol Handling

With a BJ's opening near us- less then 2 miles away- we have been having fun buying in bulk. One of our recent purchases was a case of beer. Alden was completely enthralled and quite the helper! Don't worry- we stressed the importance of respecting alcohol, waiting until he's 21 to drink, etc.

This makes a great seat!

Oh, even better! I can CLIMB on it!

Wow- it opens! I love that sound it makes when I pick 1 up and then drop it...

Want me to help you put them in the 'fridge?

Here ya go, Daddy! He actually helped hand most of them to Al, too!