Party at school! Last weekend Peter's school had a winter open house that the "big" kids put on. They had all sorts of games for the kids to play- put the nose on the snowman, a cupcake walk, bowling- basically they were just getting mad at the little kids that didn't know how to do it and follow the rules. But it was fun to get out of the house for a while and let Pete show us around college for a while.

 Emelia is getting to be such a big girl with lots of smiles, little giggles and personality! She also has started to roll over both directions once in a while- it usually is after you are watching her for a while and then look away that she does it. That's about it- we've all been sick this week so there has been lots of reading books, watching netflix and baths to relax in- not such a bad thing but it is nicer to do them when you feel good! 

Happy Birthday to Pete!

Pete is now 2 years old! In every sense of the word he is growing up, he is talking non-stop, climbing on top of everything and can do so many things on his own. He puts his cup in the sink when we are done eating, he knows which books he likes on the book shelf and picks those out regularly, he will answer yeah and nonono to questions correctly and can put up to 4 words together at a time. He doesn't like when we wear coats in teh house- "coat off" and will even le tme know which of his coats he wants to wear that day. Playing outside in the snow has become fun for him- sledding, driving trucks and eating it are the top three. Inside we like to play with trains, cars and trucks, trains, duplo, trains, play-doh, trains and reading books. I'd say that Pete's favorite toy is his brio train set... He knows about 7 or 8 of his letters and points them out when we are out and about and all of his colors. He likes to call "ga-ga" (Grandma) on the phone but isn't into talking to her these days like he used to, but he likes to listen. He throws "peass" (Please) onto the end of most requests and is sure that is an instant go. Every morning he sits on the counter while I make him breakfast- oatmeal is his #1 choice and he rips open, dumps and pushes the buttons to cook it. He goes to college 4 days a week for 3 or 4 hours a day. He prays before dinner and yells Nay-ne at the end (AMEN!) At night he takes a bath- sometimes wearing ga-goos (goggles) and then we read a few books (any trains, the mitten and katy the steamshovel) and he gives kisses, and says na-nigh. He is the apple to my eye, the cat to my pajamas and the salsa on my taco. We love you monkey man!

A lifetime of valentines

My senior year of college I must have had on conversation about what the point of Valentine's Day was... Kimberly took it upon herself to set me up with a card that laid it out for me- and maybe Garrick to encourage him to celebrate it with me! Anyhow, that same year on the news my mom saw a story about these two little old ladies that had been sending the same card back and forth for the last 60 some years with a little note written on the card and the year. I thought that was just the nicest story and so as of this year Kim and I have sent the card back and forth for 7 years. It's not 60 but it is a great start and even though it is a sigh of relief each year that I mail it off it is such a nice reminder that I for sure have a life long friend! (Reminder to myself: it is in the left drawer in the TV room)

Pajama Day

Pete's school had pajama day the other day. I wish that I had brought my camera to take of picture of his whole class but I forgot of course. He came home took a nap and then when he got up and I asked him what he wanted for a snack- Oatmeal and raisins of course- he was still in his jams and that made complete sense!

Sleeping like a baby

 One of the best parts of working from home is getting to hang out with Emi all day while she is so little. After she eats in the morning I usually let her lay our and air out for a while in the sun if it is out. As you can see she usually gets pretty relaxed and sometimes will conk out on the floor.

This would have been an almost perfect picture if there wasn't a dried boogy on her nose... that's our life!

Pic-Cole Pees

 This is what we've started to hear every time that the fridge gets opened. Pete comes running and hopes that the pickle jar gets opened. I came home to Garrick and Peter sitting on the kitchen counter eating pickles out of the jar. Pete was really really thirsty for the rest of the day...

 Our knitting night group has just about doubled in the last month! Bri had her twins in January and we've met Claire- Shana's baby before. The twins (hannah and claire) are still teeny tiny- just about 5 pounds each- which makes Emi and Claire look HUGE. In the past month or so the amount of work that gets done has decreased as the number of babies present has increased!