Character day

Davy Crockett went to school today. It was character day where they had to dress like their favorite character. It was in big letters on the calendar but somehow we forgot until the drop off line. Mommy saved the day...or really redeemed herself by driving home and bringing Colin his costume. He said all the kids kept wanting to pet his hat.

Snow videos

 

Snow!

 It actually snowed here. The forecasters were right - almost exactly. They said it would start snowing at 3pm friday and at 3pm we saw our first snow flakes.  The kids and I were on the way home from visiting my grandma and by the time we got home our backyard was covered in a blanket of snow. 

 Norah kept looking out the window and then back at me.  It was pretty cute.

 We took the kids in the snow outside that night. You never know if it'll all be melted by the time we woke up the next morning.  Except for Joel's snow gloves falling off and him crying everytime, they all loved it.

Norah just kept eating the snow off her mittens. 

 Saturday morning before 8am we were out in the snow.  We went down to the pool and went sledding on the only little slope around. It was enough for the kids.

Then Ant Ant came to visit.

 And we built a snow fort

 Colin adores his Ant Ant but is quick to pelt her with snow balls. If you can see he got her in the back of her head.

And Joel entertained Ant Ant with his snot bubbles (he found it more amusing than she did)

I made a little snowgirl the size of Norah. 

 
 She didnt like it. I think it scared her. 

We tried on Sunday but she wasn't having it either.  Then Joel protected her and kicked it over (he really wanted to kick over the snow fort but settled for the snowman)

The only bad part about all the snow is that it happened on a day off from school and over the weekend.  It would be nice to get one actually snow day from school/work but we'll take it any way we get it.

 When did he start getting so big?

My handsome boy

Yoda

Today my parents came over to enjoy the day off from school that Colin had.  At one point we were all outside when the boys started trying to attack Grandpa and wrestle him to the ground (which they never did - the boys were thrown on the ground several times but they couldn't get Grandpa)  They went at him full force and were amazed at how there were two of them and they couldn't take down one Grandpa.  At one point Colin said that Grandpa was like Yoda.

He might have just retired but he does have special Jedi powers to take down two very very active boys.

I think I need some Jedi training.

Here are some videos - these were after all the wrestling when the boys were getting tired but still fun.

10 months

 Norah is 10 months old. This little girl is into everything.  And is super fast. The doctor confirmed what we already know today by saying she thinks Norah will just start running - that she'll skip the walking altogether.  Its the only way to keep up with her brothers who she desperately wants to follow everywhere.  She is standing more and more but will crawl to the furniture and then let go leaning on the furniture.  She has lunged towards us like she wants to walk but hasn't taken a step yet.  I'm on the fence about whether I want her walking.  It would be good when we're outside so she's not a muddy mess but they only crawl for such a short time I want to keep her baby a little longer.

 The doctor called her petite for weight today.  I had to laugh.  Such a difference from her cute chubby cheeks and rolls she was born with.  She is above average for height which is normal for our kids.

Norah is so sweet. She loves her blankets and dolls/stuffed animals. She will squeal and then hold them and give them slobbery kisses(tries to eat them) over and over.  She now has 8 teeth and still sleeping horrible.

She loves to snuggle all the time. Its fun to sit on the couch with her and her blanket and she just lays her head down on my shoulder for a while then look up at me and go back to snuggling. Love it.

She loves playing with her brothers and loves when they drag her all over the house.  The other day they were holding her feet and pulling her (like a wheelbarrow) and she loved it.  I tried to stop it but she got upset when they didnt do it so I let them and everyone was happy.  She is going to be one tough girl.

We love you baby girl.  You are just the sweetest and melt our hearts with your smiles and snuggles.

Zoo Time

 I am enjoying this warm weather we've been having although I would like it to get cold enough to kill all the bugs or this summer will be awful .  But last week the weather was nice I took Joel and Norah to the zoo. I could have watched these monkeys all day. Its the mother and baby. The baby was born in August and the mother carries her baby like I carry Norah.  When we were there she was letting the baby climb a tree.  The baby got a little too high for the daddy who was watching at the bottom so he raced up the tree and scooped up the baby and then gave the mommy a look.  Joel wasn't as enamored with he monkeys as I was so we didnt get to see what happened after that.

Norah wasn't impressed either. Or she was trying to figure out how she can climb trees like that baby monkey

Joel had fun leading us around and lead us to all his favorite animals.

Norah did love the giraffes though.  A fun day. I even had both of them napping at home for an hour at the same time. That was nice.  Joel being up until 10 because he napped that day wasn't.

Mud

Mud Man..... meet Mud Girl

I think these two will have a lot of fun together outside this spring and summer.  Norah loves it as much as Joel. I see lots of baths in our future.  Or just a garden hose :)

She loves to help.  It takes a lot longer but who can say no to a helper with a face like that.

Love him

Crazy kid :)

The other night Joel wanted me to read him one more story before bed.  I told him it was time to sleep and he tried to convince me with the following argument. "But mommy one more book its like a piece of chocolate. Purple Chocolate (dark chocolate) Your Favorite. ITS THE LAST PIECE OF PURPLE CHOCOLATE.  At the bottom of the bowl." 

He got his book.  Plus a few more.

Beautiful Girl