managing winter

I'm gonna go ahead and say that I'd be fine if winter ended anytime...but since that's not likely, here are some pics to account for how we've been managing another long, cold winter.

We almost got our wood floors installed. We made it to within six inches and then ran out of wood...so more is on order and hopefully that gets completed soon. Then on to the finishing details (like trim...)

In January we had a little warmer weather (yay 30 degrees!) and we spent some time outside. Travis and Ethan built a snowman in the back yard.

The only way I can get Capri to go outside is with promises of the park. So we went, and although it took a lot convincing that she wasn't going to fall through the snow, she had fun in the end.

I don't know what it is, but Minnesota winter sunrises are my favorite. I always laugh when I go back through the pictures on my camera because I always have three or four new sunrise pics. Maybe its all the arctic air that hangs around.

This little peanut is four months old now. She is full of life and personality. She loves to talk and squeals with delight when Ethan and Capri talk to her. Her eyes haven't changed much yet, and I'm dying to see what color they turn out to be.

 

Most days, we can be found inside, playing legos, princess castle, doing an occasional craft and reading books.

2 months!

Shelby is two months old now and she's developed a lot of personality over the past month. She's started similing pretty consistently and it's just the cutest. Her biggest simlies come when I compliment her...things like, "you're such a cute baby!" and "such a pretty simle!" She's a girl through and through.

She's loved by all of us. Ethan and Capri love her so much they are usually fighting over her. They insist on kissing her at least 20 times a day and love to hold her on their lap and tell her stories. I'm not sure she knows what to think of it all yet, but hopefully she can feel the love.

Too cold, too soon

Here's a cute baby and an update of what we've got going on around here...

I'm a little behind on this one, but for Halloween Ethan went as a box troll. My dad took the kids to see the box troll movie while they were out visiting and Ethan had is heart set on being one for Halloween. So, Grandpa set to work making a costume for him. Ethan totally loved it. Capri went as herself and mostly just rode in the wagon. In 30 degree temps, neither of them really wanted to stay out for long.

We've been playing outside as much as we can, but cold weather has set in early this year. Highs are only in the low 20's. Its going to be a long winter.

I'm plugging away at my school work, mostly during the kids naptime. I still think I might be a little nuts for trying to complete my degree while the kids are so little (and needy) but hopefully it pays off in the end.

Last week, we got snow. About a foot of it. As soon as Ethan woke up he started asking to go sledding.

And, we'll end with another cute baby picture. :)

one month

this little peanut is one month old already.

a remodel and an addition

Here's whats been going on in our neck of the woods...

A few weeks ago, just before my due date, Travis started remodeling the main level of our house. I was nervous about his timing, but its working out alright so far.

On September 24th, Shelby was born. She's a little angel. I never knew a baby could be as good as she is. I've definitely been blessed.

She gets hundreds of kisses a day.

Even Capri likes her (I was a little nervous about what her response would be.) She's not handeling th attention shift very well, though. She's become even more dramatic, which I didn't think was possible.

Ethan has turned into quite the protective big brother. He carried around the baby monitor non-stop for the first few days after Shelby came home.

Capri made sure Shelby was introduced to a few stuffed animal friends.

Its crazy how overnight Capri went from our baby to such a big girl.

Travis has continued to make progress on the remodel. Yesterday he tore out the kitchen. Hopefully it gets put back together soon...

We're having a beautiful fall.

And, again, this little girl is an angel.

capri's week

This week, Capri has been busy discovering all the finer points of being a girl...

 She insisted on doing the dishes even though I said I would.

She's also delved into the world of picking  her own outfits. This was how she insisted on leaving the house on Monday.

She's picked up the art of talking back (lucky me). Our conversation at lunch, as she asked for her third piece of cheese...

Capri: "I have more cheese, mama?"

Me: "Well, how about we have some grapes."

Capri (matter of factly): "How about cheese."

She's developing a refined taste for the finer things in life. After her first bite of this donut she said: "I yuuuv donuts." She's definitely my child.

And, for the final step into girl-hood, she's mastered the art of sneaking into my makeup. I have to give her credit, though, for doing a pretty good job of getting the mascara near her eyes. I never realized she watched me that closely. Lesson learned. On a side note (and to her defense) the stuff up her nose is most likely because she has an obsession with smelling things...candles, food, blankets, play-doh, and apparently mascara.

summer time

 Summer's in full swing here in MN, and that means it's hot and humid. 

We've been doing a lot of afternoon coloring inside to try and find some relief from the heat. I'm thrilled that Capri likes to color, its something I've always liked to do as well. I may or  may not have some coloring books in the cupboard reserved just for me...

Ethan has been having some epic water gun fights with the neighbors. Travis usually joins in when he gets home from work and that's when things start to get real. We're all loving our neighborhood more than we ever could have imagined. I feel really blessed that this is where we ended up.

On the weeks Travis is gone I find myself willing to make some exceptions to the rules for the sake of these two playing together. In my moments of desperation, I let them do what they really want to do-strip down and bounce their hearts out.

Travis has been on quite a few trips this summer and we've all taken a toll from it. The kids miss him a lot and I know they get tired of being with me 24/7. So, in some desperate moments of his own, he's been bringing the kids home surprises from his trips. They voluntarily cover their eyes in anticipation and it just cracks me up.