Quote of the day

Kate was really mad at me this morning when I wouldn't let her put a DVD back in the case. As she was going to her bedroom, crying LOUDLY, I said to Doug, "Gee, I'm such a mean mommy."  Not 30 seconds later, her cry of complaint changed from, "I wanted to put the DVD in," to, "Mommy is mean."  Ah, it put such a smile on my face.  I'll add it to my MommyScout badge collection.

Meanwhile...

Max has been perfecting some of his indoor skills.

Sitting...

 Putting things in his mouth...

 Including the kitty's tale...

 Smiling...

 And looking adorable.

Sledding & Swinging

Snow Days

One of the great things about having an 11 year old in the house is that he's really good about playing out in the snow with Kate!

 This was just a couple of days ago.  About 3 times the amount has accumulated by now. I think Kate looks like a Snow Gnome.

 My snow angels...

 Got a glider board at Costco.  The kids LOVe going down the neighbor's hill.

 We even made a snow man.

Self-portraits

I caught each of Suzi's kids in a self portrait with me....

Assorted Holiday Sampler

Kate really enjoyed this present from her Grandma B. 

She's becoming quite skilled at tracing the letters...

 And some genius (hmmmm, me?) taught the kids how to fight with empty paper rolls as if they were swords.  Though Doug is not one of the kids, he joined in on the play.

 Someone borrowed my camera when we were down in Oregon....

 Bob Marley getting all snuggly with Kate.  And she let him, too!

Brother & Sister

It sure is sweet how much they like each other!

Sweet singing

Kate has been singing so sweetly recently.  Enjoy one of her made up songs about trees....

And one I learned around a campfire at some point in my life...

Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy

Building towers

Kate and the neighbor girls building Lego towers.

Floor time

Brother's hanging out...

 Cat JUST out of reach....

Lovin' the Legos

Look what I got into!

O Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches

 The 3 year-old goes side to side...

  If you're eleven, tall and high...

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

you also hide the cat, we see.

 (The following photo is courtesy of Tray)

Time in Salem

Max and Grandpa

 Hey, I dig your watch.

 We both have stripes!

 Kate's first take in the jacuzzi tub turned a bubble bath into a very very very bubbly bath.  As in, bubbles so thick you could make a snowman out of them.

 Early morning play...

 Grandpa reading Kate LOTS of books.

 Zachary and Kate playing with the dragon.

 Beatrix enjoying an apple peel.

 Apple peels, music, and smiles.

 6 grandkids eating lunch.

Friedler Friday

On Friday, the kids and I drove down to Oregon.  Our first stop was the Friedlers.

Here's my self portrait with Owen.

 Sisters plus Henry.

 Hello, cousin.