Visiting the Dentist!

In February Austin and Kylee went to the dentist to get cleanings.  This was Austin's first time at the dentist!  I was really nervous about how he would act but he did really well.  I think it helped having his big sister there with him.  We talked about what would happen and even watched a little cartoon on going to the dentist.  Here is is in the waiting room, content with playing with the toys.  Little does he know what is to come :)

Kylee went first to show him how easy it is.  She LOVES the attention from the dentist and the hygienist. This was her second trip to the dentist.

No cavities for Kylee!

 Next it's Austin's turn.  He was excited at first...

Then a little nervous....

 Big sister Kylee sat next to him at first to calm him down.

Austin was nervous but held really still for the dentist.  The dentist didn't see any cavities! 

He even held still for the hygienist to clean his teeth and put fluoride on.  I was so proud of him for being so brave.  After their appointment we went grocery shopping and they each got a donut.  I know,  kind of silly after just leaving the dentist, but that is what I bribed them with.  See you in another 6 months!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year we celebrated Valentine's Day with a huge heart shaped pizza!  The kids thought it was great.  Kylee and Austin also helped me make heart shaped sugar cookies for Daddy.  I love my little family so much and it was fun to celebrate this holiday with them.

Kylee and Austin's friend Curtis had lunch with us :)

Enjoying a delicious sugar cookie!

Valentine's Day morning... checking out the loot.  

Cabin Fever...

So... What do you do when it's BELOW FREEZING outside??!!  We have found some fun things to do, but are starting to get a little cabin fever.  I even walked the kids to the park the other day because it was a "warm" day of 40 degrees.   That is something I never thought I would say.  

In December Jeremy took Kylee to a West High School boys basketball game.  Since we have also been as a family to a University of Iowa girls gymnastics meet.  It was really fun!  

We go to the Children's Museum A LOT!  The kids love all the different rooms and could play there for hours.

We also have a lot of lazy movie days :)  I think the kids were both sick in this picture.  

We went to another fun cooking class at Hy-Vee, our local grocery store.  This time the kids learned about 10 new citrus fruits.  They got to try all of them and draw either a smily face or a frowny face, depending on if they liked the taste or not.  Then they got to go in the back and see how fresh squeezed orange juice is made and got to try some!

Austin loves hanging out with his best bud Curtis.  Here there are in their matching Iowa shirts!  Curtis is about 9 months older than Austin.

And yes, there is even dress up going on.  I only put the dress on Austin when he asks me to.  Not a big deal.  They have fun playing with each other.

This is my favorite.  The kids pretend like they are going on a trip and will actually pack up the car and pick a destination.  Sometimes it's Curtis' house, sometimes it's California.  Kylee will sit on the back and Austin will actually scoot the car forward.  They crack me up!

Then there is always bath time.   They have so much fun when I let them put bubbles in and actually play.

Kylee is in a pre-school co-op and we host once a month.  She loves when the kids come to our house. Today we played with streamers, ran in circles to let out energy, painted alphabet pictures and practiced balancing with hop scotch.  I'm pretty sure it was 10 degrees today.

Spring, you cannot come soon enough!!!

Fun in the SNOW!

January 2013

We took the kids sledding for the first time and they loved it!  Kylee wore her princess helmet that Grandma and Grandpa Murdock bought her, and the pink gloves from Papa and Grammy Poole. Thanks so much for all the snow gear!  We took them on a huge hill right by our house so we were able to walk there.  Once we were done we came home and had hot chocolate and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.  It really was the perfect winter sledding day.  

Daddy and Kylee

Daddy and Austin (Our friend Jenny in the back)

There she goes!  She held on the entire time!

Austin even loved it!

Later that week we got a bad ice storm.  Church was even canceled.  Thankfully we didn't lose power.

The first thing Kylee does when she walks out in the snow is makes a snow angle.  

 Austin was a little hesitant to play in the snow and hung out by the front door until he warmed up.

 The kids and I built a snowman.  It is a lot harder than I thought it would be!  Kylee is holding his hand :)

Austin finally warmed up and started to play with Kylee.  They would throw snowballs at each other and climb up that big mound of snow and slide down.

Our deck out back.

I'm glad the kids can enjoy this time when we live in the snow and I'm glad I actually still had energy to let them.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2013!!!  

Jeremy and I were able to go to the Iowa vs Indiana basketball game on New Year's Eve.  The arena was packed with everyone wearing black and yellow.  There was so much energy and it was a really close game.  We had a lot of fun!  

Later that night we went to our friend's the Christensen's and ate a ton!  The kids had fun blowing poppers at each other.

They got to watch Monster's Inc and huddled around the small dvd player and didn't seem to mind :)

The next morning Jeremy made us a yummy breakfast that has become a tradition.  Kielbasa with peppers, eggs and hash browns.  It was yummy!  Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2012

The kids helped me decorate some sugar cookies to leave out for Santa!  I'm so glad that they love listening to Christmas music just as much as I do.  It was a lot of work to get everything ready for Christmas Day with all the baking and cooking but I was so lucky to have my two little helpers.  On Christmas Eve we watched Joy to the World.  The kids actually sat and watched for a while.  They liked seeing the Mary on the donkey and then baby Jesus when he was born.  They are young but still understand the true meaning of Christmas.  I'm so grateful we can teach them to feel the spirit at a young age.  

Our attempt at a family picture on Christmas Eve.  

I didn't take many pictures this Christmas because I had the video camera out a lot but here are a few.  Austin (and Daddy) were thrilled to see the basketball hoop that Santa left! 

Kylee was so excited she got her princess castle that I couldn't get her to look up for a picture.

Austin enjoying his fire station from Grandma and Grandpa Murdock.

Kylee loved her new Max and Ruby dolls from Uncle Reed.

Christmas Sunday outfits.  Love Austin's face:)