Getting some fresh air

We've been hearing about this great new park near our house, so the kids and I decided to check it out last week.  The play structures are huge!  It will definitely be high on our get-away list come more nice weather!

Lauren loved these crazy stairs.  Owen, not so much.

Why is it that they are more interested in the water 

fountain than anything else?  Even in cold weather!

"Bubba, don't fall in the hot lava!"

Two little swinging monkeys

Walk the plank, pretty lady!

We went to Sierra's third birthday party yesterday, and the theme was Princesses and Pirates.  Genna was spending the day with us, and the kids all had way too much fun.  When we walked in the door everyone was handed a treasure map.  There were treasure chests hidden all around the house, full of goodies to loot: necklaces, rings, gold chocolate coins, etc.

Helping Owen make a pirate door knob hanger.  Note the chocolate on his chin!

My two pirates

Cinderella came to play games with the kids

Here's Lauren all set to get flowers painted on her arm.  She's anti-face painting!

Lauren, Owen and Genna in front of the castle

Perspective

On this lovely* rainy day, we were having a discussion about hot chocolate.  Lauren mentioned that we've never had it with marshmallows and I reminded her that we had indeed, but not for awhile.

Lauren: "You mean a long time ago when I was little?"

Owen: "But Sissy, you ARE wittle!"

* No, I am not being sarcastic, I love the rain!

In the loop

Just wanted to let you know Zoe's family started a website for her here.  I've also put up the link on the right hand side so you can keep up to date if you want to.  They'll be in the hospital for at least another week with this round of chemo, so please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Like it was yesterday

Last night we had a quarterly parent meeting at preschool.  After all the usual fundraising business was discussed, we began the emotional (for us as parents) topic of kindergarten.  Where our kids would be going, if they were ready, how to get them ready, etc.  Ms. Lily passed out small slips of paper and asked us to each write one memory of our own kindergarten experience, anonymously.  They were so funny and poignant.  How someone purposely fell and scraped their knee to be able to stay with their mom out on yard duty.  How someone passed gassed and the teacher closed the door and blamed a skunk.  Someone remembered a girl who hide behind the door everyday after recess and wet her pants.  As for myself, I can clearly remember Jake and Matt comparing their superhero Underoos.  Not to be left out, I lifted my uniform skirt to show off my Wonder Woman ones.  And I was the one who got caught!

Prayers please!

I'm going to make this short and sweet so I don't get teary.  A few posts down I put up pictures of Lauren and her friend Genna.  Two days after those pictures Genna's 2 year old sister Zoe was diagnosed with leukemia and will start chemo on Friday.  Please please please keep her and her family in your prayers.  The recovery rate for this type is around 100% for females, so that's a wonderful thing, but she has a long road ahead of her.

Nature's Critters

Amber and I have been friends since third grade, and it's been so nice to raise our kids together.  Her little girl Paige turned 4 on New Year's Day, and for the second year in a row they had a birthday party with wild animals.  No, I'm not talking about preschoolers, I mean actual ANIMALS.  Lauren wanted nothing to do with touching any of the animals.  Which I though was surprising because last year she was all about the albino hedgehog she got to hold.

Owen, mama, and a frog

He is so crazy.

Dani petting a beautiful birdie.

Owen and a baby hedgehog.  Notice Lauren backing away!

Sammie and her new scarf - a snake!

This chinchilla was the softest thing I've ever felt.

Lauren and Mariah helping Paige out by delivering presents.

Nothing says excitement like laying on your birthday presents!

Dani admiring Paige's new outfit and pony.

Let's play

Adam's parents, sister, and one of his brother's came up last week to visit.  We spent our time catching up, playing the Wii, and eating way too much, as is usual when there's a houseful!  Here's a recap of their trip:

Lauren and Aunt Abi playing dominoes.

Owen and Uncle Andy racing cars on Owen's new racetrack.

Grandma bowling with the Wii.  Nice form!

Here's cousin Jessica, taking her turn.

We went to Lisa and Uncle Aaron's house for dinner Saturday night and helped them break in their new kitchen - which included a pizza oven!  

How many of them do you think it takes to check the temperature??

Grandpa was having the kids do rolling races across the living room.

Owen and Uncle Andy playing dominoes. 

Uncle Aaron helping Lauren and Abi make a pizza.

The perfect way to end the weekend - wrestling with Grandpa!

We made it out in one piece

Lauren and I went ice skating today for the first time ever.  Yesterday was her girlfriend Genna's 5th birthday, so a small group of us met up today to celebrate.  It went more smoothly than I expected - no broken bones, so that was good!  I didn't take too many pictures, considering I just got my new camera for Christmas and if I fell and broke it I'd be so mad.  Here's a picture of the girls, and below is a quick video I managed to get grab, as I perilously braced myself against the wall of the rink!

Gray hair

I just talked to my dad and he told me this hysterical story:

He was babysitting Owen for me on Wednesday while I worked at Lauren's preschool.  He said they were wrestling on the living room floor and all of the sudden Owen stopped, looked at him very seriously, and said, "Papa, you have spider webs in your nose."

She must've picked this up from her great grandfather

I was trying to figure out a new game on the Wii today and I was having a tough time.  Lauren was watching me struggle, and she finally shook her head and said, "Mama, you're a disaster."

Welcome 2009!

We spent New Year's Eve at our good friends Trisha and Fran's house.  Two other friend couples joined us, and between us we had 10 kids under age seven.  We ate dinner, played games, watched Dick Clark's last celebration, whooped it up outside at 9:00 when the ball dropped in Times Square, waited 3 hours, let the kids out to whoop it up AGAIN at midnight, and then hit the sack.  We had the yummiest breakfast buffet and then we all headed home for naps!

Here's Trisha laying the ground rules for the kids: stay upstairs!

Me and my silly boy.

My uncles will be so proud.  Aren't the paper ladybug cups classy?

Making a HUGE mess in the playroom!

As it should be - all the men in the kitchen!

Ringing in the New Year - east coast time.

The pied piper handing out poppers.

Banging pots and pans at midnight OUR time.

"Mama, I can't believe you let me stay up this late!"

Three two year olds enthralled with a pretend cat.

Breakfast time!

Sierra and Owen make sure the year starts off right - snacks on the Gator!