Snow time fun...

Jim and the kids are outside enjoying the morning "snow flurries" as forcasted for today. We got about 3 inches. Mmmmm... At the end of our culdesac the snow gets plowed into a huge pile and the neighbor kids then make snow tunnels and slides on all sides of it. We take full advantage! Matthew is out there right now making his own trail. He's such a joy to watch in the snow; so able bodied and such control over his movements. He handles the snow better than his prego mama.

Ella Jane is way into Little People these days. She loads EVERYBODY into the bus and off to school they go. When it's full there are about 12 little characters in there, construction crew included. We have the little buldozer and the other day and said "mommy look!! it's the snow pick up guy!" Nothing about scooping dirt or making roads, just picking up the snow. That's because here in IA. after the snow has been piling up, they come in with the dump trucks and bulldozers and scoop up the snow. I imagine there is a kid's dreamland of snowforts and slides just waiting to be built somewhere.

A balmy 24 degrees

We finally warmed up to 24 degrees on Saturday and I thought, what a beautiful day to go OUTSIDE! After a week of single digit weather and below, it was just too cold and uncomfortable to be out there. Temps in the 20's felt pretty nice. You can imagine how excited we were when we saw 44 degrees forcasted for today. We've already been to the park where we trudged through the deep snow to get to the playground. Matthew went down the slides and pushed all of the snow down and even made Ella Jane and I chicken soup with bread rolls. He's such a little star.

Oh my goodness...

Matthew is so funny. He just came downstairs to ask me if he could climb into the baby's bouncy seat and use it as a sled to slide down the stairs.

I've recently cleaned up the tornado that was the baby's room and in the process gotten out some newborn clothes, baby toys etc. The kids are fascinated by teethers, rattles and the sort. Ella Jane constantly carts them around and reminds me that they are for the baby. "When baby comes out of your tummy, if she cwies then I will give her a toy." I think they might be ready! Although I might have to keep an eye on that bouncy seat. It's currently piled to the top with EJ's babies to which Matthew offered to push it down the stairs for her. (laughing)

Library...

This is the kids' new favorite game. I think it has something to do with the self checkout when we go to the library. Although I must say, I have yet to master the one here; I set of the beeper everytime we walk out the door and end up having to haul everyone, and everything back to the counter.

We had a few empty boxes lying around upstairs in the office not long ago and it didn't take long for the kids to discover them and make a new game. It now holds all of the movies and videos and is the checkout box. Ella Jane is very dramatic when she is playing library, in fact she tells me she is "returning", which means that she puts the book into the air into the pretend scanner and then pushes it out to the customer and then takes it back again. It's a very funny process to watch. Her other new favorites these days are putting things into a line, game pieces, cups, blocks; whatever she can get her hands on!

Matthew has gotten into games recently. He really enjoys playing Go Fish. This morning we tried Chutes and Ladders and I'll tell you what, that game can drag on forever with all of the slides that can put you back at the bottom again! School is going well for him. We've even had a playdate already and refers to his friends when talking about his day. He had the chance to feel the baby move last week, it was such a sweet moment. With his hand on my belly anxiously waiting for little girl to kick, he was so patient. And then, thump! and his face lit up in such surprise. So fun to see.

No pictures for awhile. The camera broke a few days after that last posting much to my dismay. There are ways to get around that though, as I still own a camera that takes film!

our dancing kids

Wow, now that I know this works, I'll have to get some more footage to send along. How exciting! Dancing is a daily occurance in our house; usually after dinner. Some of the latest favorites are Walk the Line, H.S. Musical, and the feelings CD which is posted here. As you can see from the picture there is plenty of room to run, so we crank it up and let them go!

Baby love....

my baby love...the kids are in love with baby. Matthew almost daily tells me he can't WAIT to see the baby when it's born. And if you know Matthew he doesn't just say this to me, he expresses it through his whole body! He gets a huge smile on his face, then touches baby so gently and gives her kisses. He's so tender. Posting a few pics of our growing family. Enjoy!

1st day of school! 1st day of school!.....

...as in Nemo when he chants this in the beginning of the movie. Matthew started preschool today here in Iowa!!! What a big day it was for our little family. He was a little nervous but was quickly shown where he could put his coat and find his name tag and that helped him make the transition okay. A hug, squeeze, and a kiss and EJ and I were out the door. Came home, fed her lunch, (it was so quiet!) and put her to bed. Woke her up from her nap (not happy about that) in time to go get big brother and forgot her shoes in the process. We have a few kinks to work out yet.

All things girl...

We have it on good authority that we'll be adding another little girl to our family! This is good news since Matthew had declared that he loves girls and hopes it's a girl! Now onto thinking of a name....

Christmas was spent at a friends church and then overnight at their house to celebrate Christmas morning and presents. The kids had a good time; Matthew, "now which one can I open?" and Ella Jane content with just one gift for 15min. then realizing that she had more to open. Some of the favorites have been EJ's new princess cell phone, purses, lip gloss and Matthew's movies; Mary Poppins, H.S. Musical and a beach ball decorated with the world.

Matthew discovering how fun a sink full of bubbles can be

Playing together

Ella Jane and grandma in DBQ.

Snow angels with grandma

Gingerbread houses

The start of the holiday season