Park

We had a gorgeous weekend.  It was around 70 degrees.  What a tease because  now it's cloudy and cold again.  But we took advantage and walked down to the park to let out our energy.

The kids drove in McQueen.  I can't decide which of these two pictures is my favorite.

Sidney kept looking behind at us and giving us a sweet little smile like she was having the time of her life. 

At the park we found a garbage can lid for sledding.  We're always finding something there: cardboard boxes, real sleds.  There's a massive hill that's really fun.  Jayden had the brilliant idea to sled down the slide with it.  It could have turned out very badly, but didn't luckily.

And then I did something I've been wanting to do for the longest time.  Get some photos like this:

 I never realized until I was looking at all the pictures that every single one of his McQueens has a different expression on his face.

Success

You know you're succeeding as a mom when your kids tell you you're spoiling all their fun.

You know you're succeeding as a mom when you hear a crash from upstairs and one of them says, "Ooooh nooooo!  I'm in trouble!"

You know you're succeeding as a mom when you come downstairs and find your 2 year old on the kitchen counter, who then gets mad at you when you take her picture instead of rescuing her.

Aunt Kiron

Josh's sister, Kiron (pronounced Key-ron if you're wondering), left this morning.  We're all sad around here.  We LOVE having our family come to see us.  She is such a fun aunt and the kids were eating up all the attention they got.  We didn't get out and do a ton because the kids have been sick, but having an excuse to lay around, play games, watch movies, eat, and play some more was okay with us.

Kiron let the kids take pictures with her camera.  They couldn't get enough.  I can't believe how much Sidney loved it.  She is a pro, and was taking pictures of absolutely everything and at every angle.

Here are some of her pictures:

 Pretty artistic, right?  There are about 100 more like it.

 Jayden took this one.  They've got some talent.

 Hippo is Jayden's must have stuffed animal, a gift from Kiron when he was one.

So more of our week included making cookies....

....lots and lots of playing....

....did I mention eating?  A couple of our favorite places....

.....and more.

Sidney randomly started stretching and got Josh and Jayden to join in.  It was hilarious.

We had a balloon get stuck in the ceiling fan and Josh still couldn't reach it with a chair.  So he made me get on his shoulders to get it down.  I have a slight fear of heights and things got really funny and I thought I was going to fall off when I couldn't stop laughing.  But we got that dang balloon down!

Miss you already!

Snack

Jayden made my day today.  First, he had a surprise waiting for me after my shower.  He had me close my eyes and when I opened them I saw a sparkling clean play room and a grinning Jayden.  Then, while I was busy cleaning the bathrooms he got a snack for us.  As we were sitting there eating together he said, "Normally, you get me a snack.  But the tables have turned.  This time I got you a snack!"  I always wonder where he hears these phrases.

Lately

My blogging for this new year has been really pathetic compared to normal.  I'm not really sure why that is.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we had an entire snow week last week so Jayden didn't go to school and we were cooped up in the house for 3 days.  Or maybe because every time I sit down to write some of the funny things Jayden says or does, it doesn't make sense in words, so I delete it.  Or maybe I've just been too busy to think about this.  Or I haven't really pulled out the camera much lately.  Inside pictures tend to get boring for me, so I can't wait until the weather warms up and we can get outside.  Anyway, I finally pulled out the camera last night because the kids were being really funny in the tub.  (This time they weren't spanking each other and laughing their heads off; that was an entertaining one.)  So here's a new picture to look at until something more exciting happens around here.

Snowman

Every time I've walked by the back window I see this thing out of the corner of my eye and it freaks me out every time because I think someone's out there.  Every time.



Cardinal

I looked out my window and saw the prettiest thing today.  In my neighbor's tree sat this single red cardinal on the edge of a branch.  I ran to grab my camera before he flew away.  This isn't a great picture because I took it through my window, but seeing a gorgeous red bird through falling snow made me think of a Christmas card.  I wanted to go outside to take the picture, but I knew he would fly away before I had a chance to bundle up.  It's the little things.