Here's the Happy...

A while back Mike said that this is a very sad, yet very happy time in our lives. Sad because we have been losing some very precious loved ones, but happy because we are experiencing the joy of new life that little ones bring to us. So here's the happy... Tonya, this is your life right now... *Sitting on a bench in the sun (that's right there was a sun break today) while the kids climbed on a rock structure. Will and Ella pretended to be mountain goats. I hand fed them their hearty meal of grass. I love these moments and I want to hold on to them. The age of innocence is short and fleeting. *"Mommy the pee pee is coming" *"Mommy, I went poop and it went plop" *Audrey crawling towards me so that she can be picked up and snuggled *Celebrating the completion of our first chapter book--Mouse and the Motorcyle *Will reminding me to check out the next chapter book installment at the library--Runaway Ralph. *Will asking me to tell a Ralph and Bernice story. These are stories I make up on the fly. It's good for my imagination. Ralph and Bernice are characters that I made up. They live in the Jackson-Frazier wetland here in town. * Ella running around with her beautiful hair flowing behind her. Happy and free. *Storytime at the library. The kids come home singing the songs. *Audrey's gummy smile *Ella saying, "Mommy, I want you". *Kissing boo boos and using my magic spell for healing Sana sana, colita de rana Si no sanas ahora Sanaras manana

Happy 60th!!!

I'm glad Audrey gets to use this cute little hand-me-down from Ella

Storytime at the lodge

View of the lobby

Mike and Ella at the hotel. Aren't they a cozy pair?

Getting ready to go

Last weekend we went to the Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate my father-in-law's 60th birthday. It was quite the excursion with three small children. We just had to laugh (or curse) on the way home. When one of them was quiet the others would be wailing. At one point Ella was crying for Boogaville (Burgerville). I think Mike wanted a milkshake so he gave in to her request. When we arrived we asked what she wanted at Burgerville and she said, "nuffing". Oh well, we still got our milkshakes!

While at the lodge, we had a good time splashing around with the kids so it was all worth it. All of us had to accept Carolyn's challenge and go down the Howling Tornado. I recommend you try it! I liken it to being flushed down a giant toilet bowl. :)

Look Out!

Check out those baby blues!
She is standing!

Preparing for her grand feat...

Can you even believe this? Audrey is a baby dynamo! I can't believe she is already standing up!!! Of course, she has no concept of how to get herself back down again so she usually has a crash landing if one of us isn't there to spot her. That's a little dangerous. She just wants to move and is now getting into everything. We are VERY busy around here! I wanted to keep her a baby for a little longer, but she's just not having it. She reminds me very much of Ella at this age. Such a cutie and a little go getter!

Happy Bithday, Kelsee!

Photography by Jeff

The classic birthday cake picture

We all got together at Mom and Dad's house to celebrate Kelsee's birthday. It was fun hanging out with the whole family. Will and Ella made cards for the birthday girl. I helped Will sound out some letters and was very proud of his ability to write many of them out on his own. He wrote out Bad to the Bone (one of his favorite songs). He also wrote out some music notes and then commented that there are usually lines that go with them. Yes, Will, yes, there are. So he drew those in as well. What a little smarty! I'm a mom, I've gotta brag sometimes!

Snow!

A while back we all woke up to SNOW! Having grown up in the valley, I always get excited when it snows. Mike took the kids out and I was inside waiting for Audrey to wake up so I could go play too. I eventually woke her up (isn't that terrible?) and brought her outside so we could all have some fun together before Mike had to head off to work. We spent most of our morning outside playing and visiting with a neighbor and her two boys. My neighbor was even kind enough to watch Will while I tended to the girls. I repaid her with a gourmet lunch of frozen pizza. It's nice to have some company on a cold winter day. Hope you all were able to enjoy the snow too!