Winter Wonderland

We are experiencing winter once again. Wisconsin was dumped about 15 inches of snow over the weekend (in two separate storms). We even had to cancel church! (That was a first!) It was good snowman making snow this time so here is how we worshiped this weekend! Enjoying God's creation!

Carra even stylish in the snow!

"Watch me!"

Oops!
The wall of snow behind here is all the snow from the driveway. It was taller than the kids.

Brice (with the help of Buff and the neighbor) built a fort in the wall of snow.

Carra being stalked by the snowman.

They had help getting those large snowballs stacked!
A pretty impressive snowman!

Narnia??
(Sorry about the foggy lens)

Introducing..... Bandit, Kita's half brother

Potty Training

I have been dealing with children in diapers for over 10 years and I am ready to be done. Owen turned 2 in December and we had a visit with his doctor who dutifully informed me that little boys don't generally potty train until they are 3 years old. They may show some interest, but most moms are not successful until the boys are at least 3. (Actually, I believe him. I have 3 potty training stories to tell and they are all nightmares! I have one more to go - and I'M the one asking moms for advice!)

My response was "It is my goal this year to prove you wrong!" He laughed and said to go for it.

So we have introduced Owen to the potty. It is quite a big deal. I say, "Owen, let's go potty in the potty." And he says quite enthusiastically, "POTTY, POTTY!" Of course, if he goes, he gets a "spushul tweat". We just do it occasionally. Nothing serious. But now if I tell him to go - he has the ability to control - and go.

Occasionally, though, our timing isn't so good and he can't make himself go. Tonight was such a night, and so he looks at me, tilts his cute little head to the side and says,

"It not working, Mommy. I need a new one."

Yep, I'll get right on that!

Preach it!

A minister was completing a sermon about temperance. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it Into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song,

Let us sing Hymn #365, "Shall We Gather at the River."

Thought...?

Do you think we could put pictures of missing transvestites on cartons of Half and Half?

Can we build it?

I just love it when my kids learn to talk. It is by far one of the funnest stages of childhood - I think it is because it lasts the longest. They are still saying funny and cute things at ages 4, 5 or even 6!

Owen came to me today with a Bob the Builder puzzle and wanted to put it together. Once we started assembling the puzzle, he started saying something over and over. Once I got over the amazement that he was saying a quote from Bob the Builder, I tried to interpret what he was saying. It went something like this:

"Bull it"

"Yashu's tan!"

The Barn!

Here it is... almost finished! Dad had some dirt/sand delivered for the runs. Hopefully this weekend we can get some time to work on them! Cinnamon and Pansy love to explore the hills!!

Finally... here are some updated pictures of Cinnamon

These were taken last week, right after we let her out of the barn. She loves to RUN!! She is going to be fast!! When she was born she was just a little taller then dad's hips... now look how tall she is!!

We are looking forward to giving her her first bath... she is really really dirty. She loves to roll in the dirt, too!! She has dapple spots like Callie... they both winter with dapple coats!

Cooper's Zoo

Cooper with J.J. the hamster

Junior - another hamster - they're actually brothers, and sometimes they fight like it!

J.J. again

The nameless hermit crab - any suggestions?

Cooper's pets are a very big part of his life - he has such a big heart. He also has a rabbit - Percy, 2 more hermit crabs - also nameless, a beta fish - A.J., a goldfish - Lightfoot, and 11 tadpoles - down from 17 (hopefuly we'll have some frogs soon.) We used to have a sign on his bedroom door that said "Cooper's Zoo." The biggest challenge is to keep it from smelling like one!

Museum

Here are some pictures from our day at the museum last week. We recently became members of the museum so that we get in free. Because we are members the kids get to participate in some fun search and find hunts published by the museum. It makes it a bit more fun to be searching for stuff and we actually saw more than we would have otherwise.

The museum has a live butterfly exhibit that is always a hit with the kids. Here are some of the highlights of the visit:

Here is a chipmunk, er um I mean Mater, oh wait . . . that's Brice holding a butterfly.

Funny story: There are hundreds of butterflies in this exhibit and we just happened across two butterflies that were, ahem, well um mating. Buff pointed it out to the kids and Brice looked up, saw the couple and immediately turned red and said, "Well, move away. I think we should give them some privacy." That's my thoughtful boy!

Owen climbing on the big bug. He wasn't to thrilled with the
butterfly exhibit, but for some reason a giant bug was okay.

Well, I guess kissing a frog wasn't very productive so now Carra is cuddling up to statues of old men.



















Carra loved the butterflies. She seems to have no fear. Even Brice was timid to touch them at first. They have another exhibit of giant walking sticks and cockroaches and sometimes they have them out to hold and touch. It makes me wonder what she would do with those!

Good Morning

Good Morning!!!!

This is a picture I took of Buff eating breakfast. . . . .

Just thought you could use either a good laugh or a good scare to get the blood flowing and the day going.

Actually, we went the museum this week with the kids and this was one of the exhibits - and we just had to share our amusement. To prove how productive and educational the day was - I don't even know what this exhibit was supposed to be (other than highly amusing!).

More museum pictures to come! (of the kids)

Princess Owen

I think Mikayla put it best "Well, I guess he isn't ALL boy!"

Full Moon

Cheeks

Owen had just snatched a bag of M&M's from one of his siblings and had chocolate all around his mouth.

I picked him up and asked "Owen, what is on your face?"

"My cheeks!" was his reply.

I just had to kiss them - chocolate and all!

I think Byren's figured out what a camera's for - talk about a pose!

Here's some pics of my baby boy helping with the laundry - gotta train him early.

Rocket Stars

Carra and Owen felt a little left out when Mikayla and Brice got glasses a few weeks ago.
I agreed to get them sunglasses instead.

Carra can be now be found dancing in front of the mirror -
she is a "rocket star"!

She is even dressed like one! Crazy hair and that outfit!!!!!!!

For Grandma

This one is for Grandma Powers. Owen has had a cold this week, so he laid down to watch "gasgar" (Madagascar) with his "docodio" and "banket." There is a "ribbit" cuddled in there with him too. They are his favorites! Thank You Grandma!

P.S. Buff and I love those blankets you made the kids - but we need adult size!

Good Advice

Owen was playing "basheball" with Buff - one of his favorite things to do - and Buff was encouraging him too . . .

Keep his eye on the ball!

Before and after

We have finally painted the kitchen! It is no longer blue and white striped wallpaper peeling from the walls!

Before!!!


After!!!!
(Dirty dishes, toys and all!)

The first floor is officially painted! Now we have to work on the upstairs. It will take us another year I am sure. And then the basement . . .
Oh, the joys of owning your own home!