Surprise Visitor

Will jumping on the trampoline
Come on, papa, crawl through the tunnel

Will emerging from the bouncy house

Will likes to cruise around on the Big Wheels

Gotta have lots of sprinkles

Dad helping Will frost sugar cookies

A rare picture of me and my girl! I'm usually the one behind the camera!

This was actually one of the first pictures I took. Will was very excited to see his Papa!

This winter I decided to join the local indoor park. It's a great way to let your kids run around even when it is pouring outside. Friday they had a Valentine's Day party so I made sure to take Will. He was very excited when I told him there would be a bouncy house! My dad happened to be in Albany that morning and drove down to the house. We weren't there so he did some sleuthing. I'm surprised that he found us, but my dad is amazing and snuck up behind me at the indoor park. We were all glad to see him and share our morning together. Dad crawled through tunnels with Will and helped him decorate sugar cookies. What a nice surprise!

ORA Conference

Look at those amazing blue eyes!
I took many pictures of Ella over the weekend and she is smiling and laughing in almost every single one!

I LOVE hanging out with my auntie Katie

Yay! We love auntie Kristin!!!!

The first weekend in February I had the great privilege of attending the Oregon Reading Association's annual conference. I know the pictures above don't look like I attended a professional conference, but I swear to you, I did! Ella was also in attendance. She came with me, strapped in the ergo carrier. She learned a lot about literacy instruction! It was a good conference. A little different from years past in that I was in and out of sessions with my fiesty little mama. Fortunately, Kristin came for an afternoon session and entertained Ella with her mad auntie skills! Thank you Kristin!!! We got up to Portland Thursday night for an 8pm board meeting and stayed the night with Katie, who was such a gracious host. Who else puts up with a screaming infant at 4:30 in the morning??? We were just paying back the neighbors who have children learning to play various instruments. It all evens out in the end, doesn't it? I had a great time getting to see my teaching buddies from the past and catching up with my friends. It was a great weekend!

Bedtime Snack

That's my girl!

Will is always trying to stall right before we put him to bed. Tonight was no exception. As I was coaxing him back to his bedroom he rushed into the kitchen because, according to him, he just had to eat a "baby pepper". So here he is! As I was taking the picture, Ella was playing with a box of raisinettes. Don't worry, we're not feeding her junk food. We save that for ourselves! Raisinettes are my weakness!