My kids...

We've had some gorgeous days here lately. Weather in the 50s to 60s...ahem, NOT normal for WY! So, I sent the kids out to play one day (this was mid-Feb.). A little later, I looked out to check on them and I actually saw them playing nicely together. Awwww...OK, so that's not altogether unusual, just a pleasure to see. Jonathan loves to wear his ski helmet and goggles. What a crazy boy!

Check out Annisia's long ponytails! Aren't they cute?!

That afternoon, while doing laundry (and cleaning the house because the workers were coming!), I got the box of K'Nex down. Kayla had these when she was younger and recently gave them to us. I had been thinking Jonathan was still too little for them, but I was Wrong! He is so smart! I built a windsurfer while he watched. Then I told him, "Now you build one just like Mommy's, OK? Look at the picture in the book and look at Mommy's and you build one." and walked away to continue with my chores. With just a little help, he did it! That evening, after the workers had gotten here and we had eaten dinner, Daddy helped him build a motorcycle. That one was more complicated...but I won't be surprised if he builds one of those soon!

Come over for dinner...

Nate and Ralna came over for dinner one night. That was fun! We made a delish spinach and bolognese lasagna. But the best part was the visiting and spending time with friends. Jonathan and Annisia thought it was great because they got to stay up late...and play with Baby Brody.

Isn't that sweet?! Annisia loves Baby Brody.

Then Jonathan needed his pic taken too. He has the most beautiful eyes, doesn't he?

Sweet, sweet Annisia!

Isn't she a cutie? Annisia wanted to go outside this morning before we went to the Y. So I got her out the door and the next thing I saw was this. She had her second hand dolly on the front of her trike and was giving her a ride. Isn't that sweet? I grabbed the camera, ran outside and said, "smile!", so she did!

The continuing saga of Robin Hood...

Well, Papa made Jonathan a long bow on Tuesday when the kiddos were out to the ranch. It is made just for him...Papa measured his height and span of his arms. However, it is my understanding Jonathan shot an arrow at Annisia later with said bow. So he is restricted with it at home. He can't string it, literally, so he is under supervision while shooting the bow. We made him a target out of a box and he does really well. Here is a video.

Annisia is a good retriever of arrows. This is the arrow he shoots in the video. See how it is stuck in the ground?

This shot shows his determination...

...and this one his nonchalance. "yep, see all those arrow I shot?"

After the Super Bowl...

Daddy took Jonathan and Annisia to Uncle Jon's to watch the Super Bowl. Jonathan came home all fired up to play football. Daddy, however, was tired. So Mommy got to play football with him. Then he put his pj bottoms on and a pair of shorts over the top of them along with his bike helmet. He was set!

Another day in the snow.

On Tuesday last, we went out to play again. Michael had taken Jonathan out to shovel the sidewalks, then started to shovel the driveway and I took over when he left for work. The kids were happily playing in the snow, staying cozy warm in their new long underwear from REIs super sale! WooHoo! I had to remodel Jonathan's a bit. The pants were about a foot too long, so I folded them up and tacked them. I think he'll wear them until he's at least about 8! Anyways, that underlayer followed by fleece pants and topped with snowpants and coats and the kiddos were great! It was somewhere between 10 and 20 degrees F. First order of business was snow angels. Jonathan knows how to do them, but I had to teach Annisia! Here they are!

Then the neighbor's dog came to visit! He is a kick! His name is Igby and one of the first times I remember seeing him after Aaron and Shari moved here he was outside picking up a rock with his mouth (obviously!), tossing it for himself, then running across the yard to get it! I laughed so hard!! So Igby came to visit. He is so good with the kids because Aaron and Shari have kids too. Anyways, some of the snow I was shoveling was compacted from being driven on. So the kids were picking these compacted pieces up and throwing them at/to Igby. The rest of the snow was too powdery, really dry. I occasionally got in the action, especially after I remembered Igby's abilities with catching and throwing! Here's a video to share...



Then Jonathan wanted to ski. I had made a pile of snow that Igby had packed for us. (Take a 150# dog jumping on a snow hill and you get a pretty packed pile!) So we got J's skis on him, then I placed him on the top of the hill and down he went. He thought it was pretty fun!

Dancing with Daddy

Michael got me some AirPort Expresses for C'Mas. Basically, they are wireless (Wi-Fi) ports that enable you to play iTunes music through our stereo or powered speakers anywhere in the house. So I have a bunch of music in the computer in my iTunes. I can now turn my iTunes player on, make sure the kitchen speakers are on and the stereo up in the loft is on and the music will play throughout the house. I used to have to hook the iPod up to the kitchen speakers, or have a magazine of CDs loaded and playing in the loft. But then I could only either have the computer playing, the iPod playing in the kitchen, or the stereo on upstairs. Now, I just turn the computer iTunes on and its synchronized all over the house! Am I spoiled?!

So Michael and Annisia are dancing one evening while said synchronized music played. Annisia thought that was so fun!

Some outside pics

On January 12th, it was 31 degrees F. The kids wanted to play outside and who am I to deny that? Jonathan loves to wear his ski helmet and goggles.

South view of our lovely home

We had just gotten some new snow along with some wind, so the drive was clear. They rode their bikes (or trikes as the case is.) Here is Determined Annisia making her way down the driveway.

Then they posed with smiles at the end of the driveway. They are such hams!

It steadily grew warmer until January 20th when it was 61 degrees F. We were "scheduled" to go to the YMCA for my workout. Jonathan was dressed and ready to go at 9am. I was sweeping the kitchen before we left and had taken a rug outside to shake. Jonathan came to the door and asked if it was nice outside. I told him it was and that he should go out and play until it was time to go. Then I went back inside to finish my sweeping. I got to thinking, "Why go to the Y? It is so beautiful outside, I can get a workout in here and the kids aren't stuck inside a gym playing." So that's what we did! I did squats and deadlifts in the driveway by the garage, walking lunges up and down the driveway pulling the kids in the wagon, and brought the free weights outside to do my upper body. It worked out perfectly!

Jonathan asked for a purple coffee. (They see me occasionally drinking a blended iced coffee and wanted one just like mommy. So I made purple gatorade, added a frozen piece of banana and some yogurt then blended it all up.) Annisia stacked their cups then they thought it was a hoot to drink at the same time! Then Jonathan said, "get a picture of us drinking without them stacked too, Mommy."
I downloaded an album of kids songs from the iTunes store. The kids love it. There are several songs about going to England, I guess, because that's what Jonathan is doing here. He hooked the swing rope over the ladder, climbed partways in, then worked the rope off the ladder to swing out and "sail" away to England!

Here is Annisia on her turn. She's not so sure about this whole "sailing" thing...

...but once she's swinging, all is well!