Misc winter pics

here are some dribs and drabs to tickle your funny bone!

new year's day with uncle greg and aunt mary

one of nate's favorite activities

yes, they seriously asked me if they could clean out the recycling bin.  go to it, kids!

baking with mom

this little goober just cracks me up!

the boys with the toboggan

sliding down the wall of the snow fort

yep, that's the fort!  and we even have their plastic chairs inside!

nate had to bring his conveyor belt into the bath with him...

**snort** i can't help it -- i love my nekkid babies!

Nate's 5th Birthday

nate turned 5 on january 28, and he wanted another party at the bouncy house, just like last year. 

however, this year, i gave him a choice:  he could either invite 2 or 3 friends over to the house and keep any birthday gifts, or invite everyone he knows to the bouncy house, but any gifts would be donated to the local homeless shelter kids.  he chose the latter!  **sniff, i was so proud!** 

unfortunately, when he realized EXACTLY what that meant AFTER all the invitations were sent out, he got a little crabby.  oh well!  we took up a collection of coloring books and art supplies for the homeless kids, and nate was actually pretty cool about the whole thing. 

i think it helped that we were collecting only art supplies, and not cool new trucks!

anyways, we all had fun at the bouncy house, and the kids' coordinator at the Haven was really happy to meet nate.

best idea ever from a magazine:  use washable markers to draw on a shirt, then it washes right out!  nate now likes to color a new picture on this shirt whenever it comes out of the wash.  yes, he knows that this is the ONLY shirt he is allowed to do that with!

see ethan in the red/black striped shirt?  (nate is in the bouncy house)

nate was VERY specific about his cake.  last year we had a fire truck.  this year it had to be a FRONT-LOADING garbage truck.  **sheesh**

nate's not big on playing competitive games if he can't guarantee he'll win...  which is why you do not see him playing here!

Bowling!

nate REALLY wanted to try bowling, so we took the kidlets out for candlepin bowling (thank god for bumper guards!).  we all had a great time, but i'm still amazed that the floor did not get any divots from ethan's send-off!

daddy helping ethan

...still waiting to hit the pins...

gotta love that enthusiasm!

ethan even got a higher score than daddy!  woot woot!



Xmas 2010

here are a few xmas pics to enjoy!

master apprentices

let the wild rumpus begin!

nate and his new conveyor belt from santa

 ethan and his new guitar from santa

i love this last pic.  ethan was eating his jumbo candy cane and it actually STUCK to his shirt! 

More Polar Express Pics

okay, let me try this...

hey!  whaddaya know!  i don't feel quite so stupid now.  i actually figured this thang out.  **sheesh**

Yeah, I'm a slacker. Deal with it.

okay, so i have essentially dropped off the face of the earth.  i know this.  between TONS of frickin snow, sick kids, the re-emergence of my depression, and any other spare time devoted to reading and writing, i have totally neglected the blog and pictures. 

a few months back, i tried to post more than one photo and the computer got cranky with me.  so i'll try it again. 

DECEMBER 2010

ahh, remember way back then?  winter had just started, we were happy to see snow, xmas was a happy time.  the four of us went on the local Polar Express train and had a blast!  we were served cocoa and cookies, listened to a storyteller read the book to us, SAW SANTA, and the kids even each received their own silver bell!

hmm, won't let me add another pic.  anyways, we had a great time!  and the boys were so tired after they they both went back home and slept.  ethan napped for 3 hours!

Gulp...

well, let's see if i can manage this additional priority on my ever-increasing to-do list, shall we?

ok, it is 10 pm, the house is quiet, and i am actually attempting to start a blog when i really should be writing my story.  argh!  i blame silent peer pressure, jeff and wendy!  hee hee!

BIG NEWS OF THE DAY:
nate no longer uses his bed rail.  he now has the official, grown-up, big-boy bed.  ya-hoo!  he loves it, although it did take a little convincing at first.  now ethan wants to get rid of his, but i had to convince him that he is still a little boy and still needs it. 

OTHER BIG NEWS:
steve and i attended our very first parent-teacher-conference today!  he is adapting so well to his new school and we are very proud of him.  his teacher, mrs. hansen, spoke very highly of him and commented on his love of regimentation and rules.  sigh.  yes.  engineering or military, here we come...  his language skills are phenomenal these days, and he is even trying to help ethan articulate sounds!  ("ethan, say d-d-d-d-daddy!")

ethan's language is also growing at a rapid rate.  he likes to sing along to his favorite song, "chicka chicka boom boom", or as he calls it, dee-dop-moom-moom.  too cute!  "wheels on the bus" and "eensy weensy spider" are also huge favorites with him.  and don't even get him started on The Goodbye Song unless you want to sing that a few times.  the "ooo-bye" song is sung each day at the end of preschool, and is to the tune of "goodnight ladies":

Goodbye ladies,
Goodbye gentlemen,
Goodbye everyone,
We hope you had a good day!

and on that note, it is time for momma to go to bed.  wish me luck that i'll remember to write another post soon!