MoNsTeR jAm...and more SNOW!

On Saturday afternoon, we took Uncle Matt + Aunt Lisa to Cleveland! We had a great lunch, toured the city, and then went to MONSTER JAM!

TURN IT UP (your volume, that is)!!!!

When we got home, everyone was pooped! We grilled out, sat by the fire, and enjoyed some time together. Keith was OUT by 6:00 and slept the whole night through...dreaming of monster trucks and other great big boy adventures, we're sure!

On Sunday John and Alex took our best guests to Amish Country. Just a short drive away, they had lunch, toured a quaint little downtown Millersburg, and saw some horse-drawn carriages! It started to snow a little on Sunday, which made for great scenery to our big pot of homemade chili and fire in the fireplace...and a chilly walk to our favorite ice cream shoppe!

The weekend passed too quickly and Matt and Lisa flew out Monday morning...we were sad to see them go and VERY happy for the memories we made this weekend! THANK YOU UNCLE MATT + AUNT LISA for coming to visit us - you made our year so far! :)





And...then the snow began to fall...and fall...and fall some more. Today the University is closed and the local school district as well...we're sorry you missed the major snow, guys!



We'll look forward to catching the snow again next year! Love you both passed the sky!



TUBING!!!!!!!

We are SOOOO lucky to have Aunt Lisa + Uncle Matt visiting us this weekend! They arrived on Thursday afternoon and we haven't stopped since!

Last night was the first big adventure of our weekend - TUBING at BRANDYWINE! BIG snow covered hills, tubes, and S-P-E-E-D! It was really awesome - kids kept going, and going, and going...and by the end, were taking the smaller hills "by myself"!

Without further adieu...

And this is a picture of Keith the morning after...clearly, those bumpy tubing rides might have knocked a few screws loose! :)

TODAY we are waking up and getting ready to head to MONSTER JAM - yes, that is monster trucks! We are looking forward to seeing GRAVE DIGGER, MONSTER MUTT, and BATMAN - those are the most popular of the monster trucks!

HAPPY SATURDAY, everyone!

VaLeNtInE's DaY!!!

The kids celebrated the DaY of LoVe with their friends at school last Friday! It was so much fun! They both made Valentine's for their friends and it was so sweet to get to visit them at school (I heart being a room-mom!).

Keith made BATMAN valentine's for his friends and Alexandra chose HELLO KITTY! 

She's really growing up! 

 My sweet boy!

Alex with her best friends at school - Allie is hugging her and Shea is in the foreground! 

These girls are like teenagers together - chatty, sassy, and silly!  

Another of Alexandra...just had to include because she is so beautiful.

(...and by the way, she has asked to be called Alexandra like she is at school - she likes her "whole name" now!)

Tomorrow is mommy's favorite holiday of the year - one day set aside to tell all those you love you do, all those you appreciate "thank you", and all those who have made a difference in your life that you are grateful. Who is on your Valentine list?

CABIN FEVER!!!

Today is SNOW DAY #2...it's' cold, windy, and icy out so we're stuck inside! This is what we do to pass the time...well, this is what we do to pass the time when daddy's away! :)

The finished product!

Now, it's snack time and back to fort building and blocks! Naptime is soon...sweet silence to come.

Happy Groundhog Day everyone! 

+ the stuck-in-doors-crazies :)

Saturday + snow = SUPER FUN!

We woke this morning to 1-2 more inches of snow - pretty typical for this time of year. And while the snow is starting to be a bit of a bother, it's still pretty and fluffy and fun to play in!

Most of the time it's John who takes the kids out to play in the snow...but yesterday when I picked the kids up from school and we passed the park on our way home, I told them we'd play at the park this weekend! AND SO WE DID!

Across the wiggly bridge...

The spiral slide is more fun when you ride the snow all the way down! 

And here's Keith! 

Every slide was a new adventure - this one was super fast!

To fast to land on their feet! 

 And another slide! 

SWINGS! (love the tongue in this one)



This is what happens when you go down the giant spiral slide on your tummy!

Keith LoVeS to eat snow! 

MY snow angel :) 

ALL SMILES TODAY!

I love the days when we get to play together...we laugh, we run, we enjoy each other and the world in which we live. Our babies are not babies any longer...and the adventures we have with them are only getting better. Each day I never believe it possible...but each day I love them more. 

HAPPY WEEKEND!

CLASS PICTURES!

Things have been pretty quiet around here lately so not much to report! BUT, I was ordering Teacher Appreciation gifts for Catholic Schools Week and uploading the kids class pictures from this year - thought I'd share!

They are both so cute in these pics and they love their school!

Keith's Class (Young 3's)

Alex's Class (Older 4's + 5's)

We are really blessed that the kids have such great teachers and are really being nurtured in preschool!

Weekend Wanderings...

After a very long week for all of us, we were happy to have the weekend to catch up on rest and some quality family time at home. Yesterday, we took the kids bowling - they L.O.V.E. bowling! It's a blast! We're even thinking of signing them up for a youth league on Saturday mornings (Shhhhhh...secret: I used to bowl when I was a little girl and I was pretty good!).

Today was a lazzzzzzy day around the house! Kids played and read to each other, colored and chased the dog around the house. And this evening, decided to build a "fort" out of blankets and their little table in the family room!

Ready...Set...



GOOOOOOOOOO!

It's amazing how much fun this is!

Alex got two spares and a score of 80! She was very proud!



Alex loves to work with Keith on his letters and he's starting to show a real interest in writing! :)

Peek-A-Boo from the FamilyRoom Fort!

Sometimes...simple weekends like these are the aboslute best - rest and recovery for the soul!