More cute kids...

We are happy: James right after he woke up from a nap.

Kate loves to sit in the window and play.

Bruce counting 100 Pirate Booty for homework.

Jane built a club house in the basement.

... and for tomorrow:

GO "Stillers!"

Happy Snow Day to You!

When life gives you snow- eat it. .We are so happy we all get to stay home today and have fun together!!!

We only got maybe 3 inches last night,
Our neighbor Tony came to help us out:
He kept spraying Bruce
Then let him help.

We'll see what today brings.
Jane may be doing some of this:

Kate some of this:

and Bruce ... Last night we WON SUPER MARIO on the Wii. Bruce and I have been working hard all month and we finally won!

Bonus:
Last week Bruce was star of the week-

Do you want to come play outside with me?* Happy Groundhog day: The world's most famous groundhog did not see his shadow Wednesday, thus forecasting an early spring.

Friends & Dancing in the sun..

I am so thankful for my friends- all of you, but today I'm especially grateful for my friend Alison who brought me these bright colors to brighten up this cold, gray, January day.

We also LOVE it when the sun shines. I caught Kate dancing in the sun last week.

*Bonus picture: this was just found on my camera, now I know what happens when I am at early meetings on Sunday :)

Snowshoes & Kate's preschool performance

Lots of Powdery Snow (and sunshine) + Snowshoes = FUN!

James couldn't get his car to start..

So he thought he better walk:

On Wednesday Kate had a little program and here's one of the poems:

Books Books Books!

In case you didn't already know- we LOVE books. We are a family of book lovers. My mom is a librarian and she sent me an email about the Newbery and Caldecott winners this year:

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead

Today- these are the books we're reading:

B- The Great Bridge by David McCullough

Eliza- The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer (Thanks dad)

Jane & mom- Rufus M by Eleanor Estes

Jane- American Girls sets

Bruce- Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary & Teeth, Tails and Tentacles by Christopher Wormell

Kate- The Little Red Hen (she has it memorized :) & Sleeping Beauty

James- Drummer Hoff (he says the title in a low grumble), Boss Baby, & any book with flaps.

He's 6!!

Bruce's birthday started at 6:00 am when he was literally jumping off his bed because he was so excited for his birthday.

We ate a birthday breakfast of delicious waffles and O.J.
He opened some presentsA BIG Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Damstedt for the Lego set and shirts.

We gave him some Wii games and told him he could play as much as he wanted today- he did.

At 3:00 we had a party (THANK YOU AMY for taking our kids and RYAN for helping at the party)

Each little boy built a box, built their own cupcake, we sang, played games, and had a fabulous time :)

Bruce got spoiled with even more Star Wars legos, light sabers for the Wii, a Nerf Gun, Octopus thing, and "Moon in my Room."
We also played catapult.
Later we went to another birthday party for little guys turning 1, and they also sang to Bruce.

When he got home from that he opened his present from Grandma Miller (THANK YOU!) He is often planning things he's going to buy on ToysRUs.com or Lego so that will be great.(At school with his birthday pencil- he brought in rice krispie treats)

Thank you for your phone calls, cards, and happy birthday wishes!

Happy New Year 2011!!!!

Happy New Year 2011!

Last night we celebrated with great friends, Chinese food, and of course some Bingo:James was the only one who fell asleep:

Kate got a little scared of all the noise
Today was such a wonderful day- great start..
We slept in, played Mario, played outside (it was in the 50's!) and got very muddy.(James was SOO happy to be outside again)

We wish you all the best for the new year!