Winter Wonders

Rochester got hit hard with snow on 12/19. Dad went out to snow blow the inches of accumulation off the driveway so we decided to go play in the snow for a bit too. Oh my goodness....the snow was coming down so hard and fast. It was absolutely beautiful though. There is just something about the crisp, whiteness that is breathtaking. And then you have my two gorgeous WINTER WONDERS!

Just to Make you Smile

Have you ever seen a happier baby???? Every time I look at this picture I can't help but crack a huge smile. So...this is Just to Make you Smile!

Rub-a-dub...Two Happy Kids in my Tub

It's so fun to have the kids be able to take baths together now that Owen can sit well on his own. Lauren does very well with him in the tub with her. She's so affectionate with her baby brother and loves to pick him up and hug him.

I'm thankful that they both love bath time! Rub-a-dub...Two Happy Kids in my Tub. They'll look back on these pictures and wonder why I took them, but they are beauties that I'll cherish forever that portray their innocence and sweetness. You can all say, awwwh!

Ten Dollar Bills

Daddy always told Lauren that as soon as she could count to ten that he would give her ten dollars. She had been successful for a couple of days so Daddy had to make good on his promise. Before bedtime on July 6, Daddy handed Lauren Ten Dollar Bills while she counted from 1 to 10. We were so very proud of her! It was adorable that she fanned the money to

flaunt it in her excitement. Then sh

e proceeded to lay them out one-by-one and count really loud, "O...n...e, t...w...o, t...h...r...e...e, etc. This was so much fun and a tangible way for her to realize that we count every day.

Little Sweet Tooth

While I was pregnant, I had such a sweet tooth. Actually for both pregnancies. We don't do it often, but when the Keebler's chip deluxe cookies are on sale I love to buy them. I enjoy dipping the chocolate chip cookies in a glass of milk.



Well....my kiddos also have a Little Sweet Tooth it seems. For snack before bed one night in July we got out the cookies and Owen, despite the fact that his binkie was in, decided that he had to get ahold of those cookies.



He reached and reached and Lauren encouraged him as he nearly jumped out of Daddy's arms and toward the bag on the table. It seemed that no matter how far away we moved it that we was going to climb on the table for it. And he pulled so hard on the package that the plastic torn down the center.

He loved trying just a lick of it on Daddy's lap, but wasn't a happy little guy when we took it away. Poor guy! Just wait for that birthday cake in several months.

Enough Cereal Already...Just Give Me the Good Stuff

Owen is so funny! He does so many things that make us laugh, but his smile alone is enough to light up my world. We started him on rice cereal and oatmeal around 5 months. It wasn't but 2 weeks and he really had the hang of it and was opening his mouth for more. We quickly introduced all of the fruits and vegetables (no, we didn't wait the 3 days in between each one) and he loved all of them. Peas are probably his least favorite.

He'll still tolerate the cereal and baby

food out of a jar, but if he sees something headed for my mouth, in my hand or on my plate...he's reaching for it. Owen will even grunt and make sweet noises extending his arm as far as it will go and opening his mouth wide for added effect. It's as if I can hear him say, "ENOUGH CEREAL ALREADY...JUST GIVE ME THE GOOD STUFF!"

Notice how he grabs right on with

his hands? He's certain that he

wants to get ahold of what we've got.

Before long, little guy, before long!

Miss Pouty Face

My adorable little Lauren is not always so adorable. You see...she's a very strong willed little girl who is committed to her goals and persistent beyond belief. We struggle with disciplining her because nothing seems to work.



Anyway, when you put her strong will and discipline together -- what do you get....MISS POUTY FACE!

We love her so....mean scowl, intense eyes and pouty lips! You know, I wonder if I was anything like her when I was her age?

Let's Dance!

Lauren's really getting into dancing. It's fun to watch her start jumping and twirling around the room. I observe that she likes to watch her reflection in the TV or mirror. It doesn't matter the song, she can boogie to anything. I have to be a little careful though that she doesn't get carried away and step on her brother. This particular day I had to catch her in action because as the song started she wanted to engage Owen (aka Owie)and ran over and grabbed his arms. LET'S DANCE! She gently swayed him side to side and he adoringly smiled up at her. She's quite the entertainer, but sometimes her volume is a little loud. She gets in his face and yells, "Hi, Owie!" She's great with her brother overall. I can't wait to see how they'll interact when they get older. I pray that they are the best of friends!

Ready to go

Cory was visiting New York and we were getting ready to take the kids on a walk to the park. I was running around getting drinks and other items when Cory stopped me and said that Lauren was ready to go. She pointed toward the end of the driveway.

What do you know...Lauren had taken her stroller to the end of the driveway, hopped in and buckled herself. She sat there patiently feeding her baby all READY TO GO. Since when does a child go on ahead and get themselves ready? It made me laugh so. I wish she was as independent and determined when it comes to potty training.

Walmart Poster Child

We entered Walmart and the gentleman at the door gave us not one, but a whole string of stickers. I didn't think it could hurt anything and so Lauren carried them all around the store and home. I was making dinner and had Owen in the dining room on the boppy. He was excitedly watching his sister. The next time I peeked on them I observed that Lauren had found a use for her stickers.

Owen was being made a WALMART POSTER CHILD. She was peeling and sticking him all over. I just had to laugh and run grab the camera. How adorable! I promise Owen that one day I will let him beat her up (just once) for all the things she does to him.