Hot Chocolate

Every playtime in the snow has to be follow up with some hot chocolate. Grace was surprised by the warmth of the hot chocolate, and she spit it out.

Gabriel likes his like Mommy does: so many marshmellows you have to eat it with a spoon!

Playing in the Snow

Gabriel wanted to go out in the snow at 7 AM on Tuesday. I made him wait until 10 AM . . . what a mean Mommy!Grace is crying because Gabriel smashed a lump of snow in her face as soon as I set her down.

Here is the stinker!Notice that he isn't sinking into the snow because of the layer of ice on top.

She was mad because the snow was cold.

If anyone ever took a picture of my behind like this, I'd be mad. Hers is SO cute though!

Grace's First Snow Play

Tuesday was Grace's first time to play in the snow. She went between crying and giggling the whole time we were outside. Here is some video of the giggling part.

Wrestling

Grace thought that she would ride her big brother like he was a horse. He was a good sport about it for a few minutes. Then he had had enough.

Watching the Snow Fall

The kids were in awe Tuesday of the snow as it fell.

This was the scene in our backyard on Wednesday following the worst of the ice storm.

Grandma's Kitchen

The kids were a little bored this afternoon and Grandma and Papa's and decided to clean out Grandma's kitchen cabinets. Grace pulled out the pots and pans.

Then she sorted them out on the kitchen floor.

Gabriel helped out too.

He is such a good big brother.

Before Grandma got home from work, Grace and Gabriel put the pots and pans away.

Trying to Stay Warm

Our electricity is out again. Despite the generator, we have not been able to keep the house warm or cook. Luckily, this time, Grandma and Papa have power. The kids and I are temporarily living with them until electricity is restored. The kids make themselves right at home, and spread their toys all over the floor at their house too.

Grace loves to say, "Dee-es!" for the camera.

Gabriel got ahold of some stickers on the coffee table and decorated the couch with them. He also colored on Grandma's white table cloth. . . talk about making yourself at home! Geez!

Flying Grace

Rob and the boys came over for a quick visit tonight. I was in the kitchen cleaning up and heard Grace cackling. This is what I saw. . .

Yes, this is my daughter flying through the air and loving it!
A cute pic of "the flying wonder" and Ben

A Night Out

We went to Don Pablo's last night for dinner. It seemed like it had been forever since we had been out for dinner.

After dinner we went to the mall so Dan could pick up a book. I stayed at the play area with the kids. It was Grace's first time to play in the play area. Since one of her favorite things is being chased, she spent a lot of her time running out of the play area so Dan or I would chase her. She is such a stinker!

She wants to do everything Gabriel does.

She got really good at sliding backwards down the slide. She almost threw herself down the slide.

Silliness with Grace

This is a silly video, but oh well!

Giving Kisses

Grace is learning to give kisses. It is so cute to see her toddle across the room with her lips poised for a kiss.

She loves her daddy.

Little Fireman

Gabriel's Definition of Pretty

Me (handing a cup to Grace): Here, pretty girl.
Gabriel: She not pretty!
Me: Oh, yes, she is. She is beautiful.
Gabriel (indignantly): She NOT pretty! Pretty means when you have lipstick on.


I guess I stand corrected. HA!HA!

Sweet Pictures

My sick boy allowed Daddy a little cuddle time today.

Grace was saying, "Dee-eess!" Her version of "Cheese!"

Sleep Over

Despite illness in our house, Bobby and Ben were brave enough to come over last night and stay the night. They are so helpful and such fun when they are here.

We have tried hard today to stick to quiet activities so Gabriel can rest. Gabriel and Ben colored this afternoon.

Daddy, Bobby, and Ben played Don't Spill the Beans with Gabriel this morning.

Grace is always a clown. Here she is with Uncle Rob this afternoon.

Hot Off the Press

Uncle Rob took a picture a few months ago of Gabriel sitting in the Worshipful Master's chair at the Utica Masonic Lodge. A friend submitted the photo to the Indiana Freemason magazine for publication. Here it is . . . .

This is the actual photo that Rob took.

Too cool . . . our kiddo has been published!

Sick Boy

Gabriel has been a little under the weather. He has a stuffy head, cough, runny nose, and fever. This morning in the bathroom we had the following conversation:

Gabriel: I don't want to be sick.
Me: I know, Buddy, but sometimes we don't have any choice.
Gabriel: But my choice is not to be sick.
Me: That's mine too.

Poor kid!

Grace Says, "Cheese!"

Grace has learned from her brother that when someone puts a camera in front of you, you are supposed to yell, "Cheese!" at the camera and keep going. We have so much "Monkey see; Monkey do" going on in our house.

Tight Squeeze

I know that I have posted similar pictures before, but Grace is getting quite adept at hiding herself in the table and pulling herself from one side to another. It cracks me up to see just her feet dangling from the end of the table.

She is such a little character! We laugh at her silliness all the time!

LOVE THEM!!

Need I say more?

Where a Kid Can Be a Kid

Grandma, Papa, and I took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese's Saturday. It was a rainy, nasty day outside, so it was one busy place. We waited about 20 minutes just to get in the door. Gabriel only wanted to ride things at Chuck E. Cheese. He wasn't really interested in playing games. The school bus is his favorite thing to ride.

Gabriel waited SO long to ride this car. There was a little boy in it who just kept feeding it tokens without ever getting out. I swear Gabriel watched him ride the car about five times before he had to get out and ask his mom for more tokens. That's when Gabriel jumped at the chance for a ride.

Gabriel liked this game when Daddy played it with him. He did NOT want Mommy to play it with him though.

This was the first time that he rode the horse. He had so much fun with this ride!