Favorite faces

Scott is the most expressionable little boy! I love it so much. I amazingly captured his most common expressions. This is his mischevious face. You know those wheels are turning in that little head!  

 This is his shrieking face. He LOVES to have shrieking contests with Sarah.

 I do this a lot when something is exciting or really cool, so he does it. A LOT. I love it.

He loves his tongue. LOVES IT!

Sarah found 4 babies the other day. One was her favorite, one was left at our house and two were ones I had put away she pulled out. She was a happy girl. And when Sarah smiles, it lights up the whole room! Love this girl.

Heat Wave!

What do you do when it's January in Minnesota? Go OUTSIDE and go sledding! It has been the craziest winter since we've moved here. We get snow, and then it gets warm and the snow melts. This has happend a few times now. Apparently it's been warm all over the country, maybe not Denver, but it's been hovering around freezing most of the time. That's warm for us. So at the end of January it was (and still is) in the high 30s. I decided to brave it and go outside with the kids, in the snow and have fun before it's all gone! So we got all dressed up, proper Midwest style, in snowsuits. Scott hasn't really worn his and thought it was hilarious. Him walking in his way too big boots was what was hilarious. He crawled around instead.

 Sarah helped me build a snowman. Complete with a carrot nose. It's still there. It hasn't 'died' yet as Sarah suggests.

 And then we went sledding in the backyard! So fun! Scott didn't really know what to think and didn't like Sarah squeezing him.. but we all had a good time.

 Then Sarah tried to pull me and Scott.. but we had eaten one too many cookies and were just a little too heavy for her. Better get going on my workouts.

January

I made it a goal to post at least once a month and so here I am! January has been full of warm weather, lots of playdough and learning how to be gentle with Roxy. Oh, did I mention before that we got a dog? Yes, we did. In December. She was MY Christmas present and she's the sweetest thing. She's a rescue from a puppy mill and is still getting adjusted to her life in our crazy home.

Isn't she so cute!

We love her. It's a big adjustment..but we love her.

It's questionable on whether she loves us....... but I think she's coming around.

 Our favorite thing is probably tickling. There's nothing better than hearing our children laugh!

 At 2 and a half.. Sarah finally got a haircut. I decided to chop it! She was very good..nevemind the fact that she looked like she was being so violated as it happend.. but she got a lollipop out of it so alls well in the world!

 Whatdya think?? It's so whispy that it's hard to keep tame but it's a lot better then when it was longer.

 So one day it was too quiet. You know, the quiet that means something is up. So I went investigating and found Sarah with a bottle of lotion half-squeezed and all over the floor, carpet, herself, a toy vaccum.. luckily I had said a prayer that morning and had some angelic help.. I didn't get upset. Just cleaned it up and put her in her room because she was supposed to be in quiet time. My bad for not watching. Anyway, then the next day we were fingerpainting with pudding. Am I sending her mixed messages? Who cares. It is always way fun.

 Scott loves it too. Isn't he just adorable!

 We are attempting potty training. Loosely. Scott can't be left out so he sits on the stool next to the potty.

 Much to Sarah's surprise.

 We had one major success on the potty.. but nothing since. It'll come.. right???????? So they say!

 Kurtis taught Sarah how to draw happy faces! So smart.

 My little man. With his little belly. Love to: scream, bite, eat dog food and play in the water, play in toilet water, climb, pinch-or squeeze you to death, ummmm and just be so sweet. Church is not so fun at the moment but only a few months until Nursery!

 Sarah is obsessed with hair now that she got hers cut. And watched Roxy's get her haircut too. Sarah loves brushing hair and follows Scott around with the brush getting the tangles out.

 Did I mention climbing? 

Christmas 2011: There's no place like home for the holidays!

So we took a break from traveling and spent Christmas here in cozy Minnesota. It sure felt that way with a very mild December, compared to last year's December with over 6 feet of snow. We had a 'dusted' instead of white Christmas this year, but it was lovely just the same! To start things off, we went to see Santa. Now, Sarah is still very shy and clings for dear life to us if we leave her with strangers so I built up seeing Santa for weeks. She was totally excited and literally jumping in line as we waited. Yes, we waited half an hour to see the wonderful Santa at our mall. He's a good looking Santa! And I see him all the time at the grocery store after hours.. so funny. He's got a different themed shirt every day. He's a great guy. Anyway, so it was finally our turn and I kid you not, as soon as we stepped onto that red carpet Sarah's joy retreated like a turtle into his shell. So Kurtis held the kids, as Scott was a little questionable of Mr. Clause as well and I took the pictures. At least no one is crying right?

 Then I was sort of in charge of the ward Christmas party.. by my own doing actually.. and I offered the idea of doing A Night in Bethlehem. Google it with LDS ward party and you'll see what I'm talking about. With the help of a fabulous Relief Society president, and practially everyone in the ward, we transformed the gym into a street of Bethlehem and had a wonderful nativity presentation by the youth. It was A LOT of work, but SO fun!

We decorated our Christmas tree.. which died within a week of buying it. We are done with real trees for a while I think.

 We sang some Christmas songs..

 Enjoyed a quiet Christmas day opening presents..

 Played with some toys, boxes and wrapping paper.. and ate some frog legs.

And just enjoyed the holiday! We had a great dinner with some friends and just relaxed. We were also able to get some things done around the house and go on a couple dates. It was a wonderful Christmas.

Scott's first birthday

We had a quiet birthday party for Scott but he sure didn't mind! His favorite people were there to celebrate and toys and cake was involved. Enough said.

He really wasn't into his cupcake though! He mostly crumbled it and then at some whipped cream. Funny kid!

Sarah had no problem showing him how to eat a cupake.

The first thing he did when he got his new car from Grandma was use it to climb up to the piano. Smart kid I tell you!

This little guy has sure captured our hearts over the past year. After 6 months of colic and switching to formula.. he (and all of us!) thrived. He has always been so eager to pass those milestones like walking at 9 months, waiving bye-bye and clapping around 10 months, dancing to music, and much more. Now he loves to feed himself with a spoon, read books, point, ride his little car, pull Sarah's hair and take her blankie, climb to the highest point possible, fall into the couch cushions, give tight hugs and big, wet kisses and smile all day long. He also loves to scream and hear the sound of his own voice. As a younger sibling, he's making himself known in the family!

We love you Scott and are so grateful to have you in our family!