Winter Baking

I am cold. It's snowy outside... again, still, forever.... will this winter never end???? In an effort to stay warm, the boys and I decided to hover around the oven and bake some peanut butter cookies. Warm belly, warm heart, right?

Birthday Boy

We celebrated Robbie's birthday a few days early - the last birthday of his youth. Rob turns 39 on Wednesday! Time really does fly when you're having fun. The cake had a tail-dragger theme -- not unlike the plane that is currently growing in our garage. Happy Birthday Big Man!

When SuperHeros Go Outside To Play

I was told that "Spiderman doesn't need a hat".

Winter Weekend

Not that it's a documentable moment EVERY time we go ice-skating, but I just want to remember how we have survived...er... I mean... thoroughly enjoyed.... this winter. If it's GOING to snow and be cold for months on end, we might as well be out enjoying it. In that vein, the boys and I went ice skating again this weekend. They had the choice of cross-country skiing or ice-skating, and they chose the skating. I think this was because there is a heated room beside the ice-skating rink, which is where they spent the majority of their time, while I skated solo. It garnered hot chocolate afterwards, though, so it still counts as "outside time".

My Funny Valentine(s)

In honor of this most romantic day, we had a "fancy meal" (un-microwaved, and eaten in the dining room instead of in the kitchen). ALL of my Valentines were present, along with the tulip they gave me :). The LITTLE boys had a cold, though, and Colby elected to lie down on the couch instead of eating dinner. Quinn ate his meal, had his desert, and then promptly asked to go to bed. We always know when the boys are sick, because they suddenly become well-behaved: Quinn set the table and helped to feed the baby, both boys played quietly with each other while I fixed dinner, and afterwards brushed their teeth the first time they were asked. You know, weird things like that. Maybe it was their little Valentine's gift to their Dad and I, making us feel like good parents for once :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

A few days early, but Quinn and his friend Amelia from school just wanted to wish everyone a very romantic holiday. Typically male, Quinn doesn't look too excited about it, though!

Good Friends

Playdate this afternoon with the Sommerville's. A Kodak moment was a-brewing when all four boys decided to dress up. Reagan and Elli bonded, too. Too cute!

Sillhouettes and Fireworks

We were invited to our friends the Sommervilles' house last night for a "Wine and Cheese" party in honor of Winter Carnival. Every year, Michigan Tech hosts the carnival, with students making elaborate snow sculptures, and all kinds of winter activities. The festivities end with a torchlight parade down the ski hill, and then fireworks over Portage Lake. It certainly adds a little spark to the humdrum of winter here. This picture is the view from the Sommerville's bathroom.... all five kids were SOOOO EXCITED about the fireworks, it was pretty cool. The blur on the far right is Colby (of course... stay still for the .00006 seconds it takes for a shutter to click? Of course not!!)

Family Skate Day

FINALLY. Double digit temperatures! It feels like spring, and it's only 26 degrees!!! We celebrated with an outing to our local rink. The boys did AWESOME! They like speed, these boys... and the helmets were a very wise accessory :). I love family time.