playing at the park

We met up with the Crosby's for some fun at the park last Thur. We had a picnic lunch and some fun running and playing. A quick game of kick ball and then it was time to come home and put some children to bed for a nap! I wish I had been one of the children but I was not.

But they were tired. Mini of course tried to get out of the car side ways before we left the park. Fell out of said car in her carseat. Face planted onto the tar. She wanted to come see me. And since I had not buckled her in yet she thought why not. Now why she chose to get out by leaning I will never know. But she got some scrapped up knees, a bloody lip and all was well in a minute. Her mothers heart took a few to settle down but she was happy as soon as I held her.

Anyway we got home and we took naps and we hung out at home the rest of the day.

So many tired children

So Crosby and I went out for the day in her car. And on the way home we were making stops at the cubs in the area for coke for Nancy. (yes that is how far behind I am) and The kids were quiet in the back and this is what I saw. They were watching wow wow wubzzy. It holds magical powers I tell you. But 4 tired children and 2 Mommies who were happy to get home after running around had a great day of visiting and just hanging out.

doing eggs

We bought our dye to make eggs this week. Dennis boiled them today and tonight we may just get to dye them. If not tomorrow night. I know the kids are looking forward to it.

I will get some pictures though when it happens.

Oscar and more

Water breaks were needed from the walking. Me being me I got to push the stroller. Got to have that control. I love pushing carts and strollers no matter where I am.

Look Dad Oscar!! The kids loved this fish! He had names on it for donations but it looked so dang cool! They all had to check it out!

I think it wanted to eat Stephen for lunch!

MN Zoo

So I got Dennis a family pass to the MN Zoo for his birthday. He loved it there last year when we went. So Friday the kids had no school last week so I brought them. We even let Dennis come with. We grabbed him form work and off we went. I know we used it before his birthday! We went to the indoor exhibits as it was freezing outside! I mean like WOW is it Jan again!

Dennis fell in love with this puffer fish. He went looking at it from all angles. No one knows why but we watch it for a long time! It never puffed up. But it was cool to see.

The reef was awesome to see. We watched it a long time. The kids liked the sharks. Sad but true Stephen and Matthew knew more of the names of the fish then the lady working helping us see fish. Got to love little boys who love fish!

this was the strangest bird! It looked like he had 4 beaks! But it was just one. He did not like his photo taken. So he moved all the time.

Loved these! I wish I could have got closer and taken pictures from a different angle. The colors were just neat on them. Some were a light pink some darker.

Matthew's favorite animal. The kimono dragon. He had to tell us of how he will eat lots of things even bigger then it and we had to stay out of the cage. No worries buddy Mom has no intention of getting in there with most of the animals at this zoo!

I swear this is my kids! No not these they just laid around. But they were just beautiful!

Tile work! These each were tiny tiles and made into this. Loved it!

Oh here are my kids! Running all over the place to see this or that! But we had a really good time! We plan to go again when it is nice outside. And they have a few exhibits we plan to see this summer.

kids hats

I found some hats on clearence and rathe rthen putting names on the hats the kids picked a design. That way we knew whose hat was whose. Then Dennis needed his hat to have a design on it. Of course he picked the same one as Stephen so we had to pick a new color but it came out fine. Mine, mine is plain and no design on it.

but the kids love their hats and they wear them all the time. Including just sitting watching TV. I may have to go back and get a few more hats to have on hand.

Christmas morning

Christmas morning came early here and Santa had shown up sometime in the night. Stephen and Samantha had figured it out and we told them the truth but man I can not believe I have kids old enough to know about Santa. The kids loved opening gifts and they got at least one thing on thier lists.
They have played lots the last few days with toys from Christmas. They are even sharing! Nancy the kids were playing the carnival game tonight. It is hard! Grandma Susan gave them a DJ recording thing. It is loud but they are having fun singing into it and playing the keyboard. I will not say what they sound like but htink cats in heat. LOL I love the week after Christmas trying to figure out all the new games!
So it has been quiet here. We have had company almost everyday. Lisa and Allen and the kids left yesterday from here. Ernie came yesterday. He leaves in the morning. Dennis goes back to work in the morning. So our days will go back to somewhat of a routine.
The kids have off this week yet.I am thinking we need a WII face off me and the kids. Tomorrow may just be the day to do it!

so tired

The kids had stayed up late on the 23rd because it was the last day of school for them. The trip to the farm was very quiet. Christmas Eve was strange this year as Dennis went to work in the morning. He normally has off for the whole day. The kids and I laid around till it was time to go. And then they slept the whole way there.

Such a nice way to travel!

Logan all tangled up

Mini was not the only one to love all the balloons. Well all the kids did but Logan was in awe of them too as he could tangle himself up and walk and they walked with him. The fun those things have given to the kids even today is amazing. I am not sure how it can be so exciting but it is. They havetied balloons to stuffed animals to see how many it takes to make them float up in the air. And they have ties them to each other to. And many have popped but the others are still floating in the air ready to play with.

Out takes

Yea so these are just some I took 30 pictures of all 4 and 1 came out good. Not my favorite but really I give them credit it was cold outside and they sat there till I was happy and then when I had taken them and hated them all they trooped back out there till I had the shot I wanted. And now I have Christmas cards printed. I have 8x10's for my wall I have 5x7's printed out for godparents. I printed wallets for Dennis. And now all I have to do is write a Christmas letter so I can mail out these cards. I am so not on top of it this year though. But you will receive your card and you will get your enlargments and if you do not get enlargments and you want them let me know. I will get them out to you.

Pictures of the kids

So I got pictures of the kids. I forced them to sit still long enough to take them. I made them wear sweatshirts that matched. I drug them to see Santa and I made them smile. But talking 4 kids and a dog to look at you and smile all at the same time is not an easy task. the lady by Santa tok a great many shots and the one we finally agreed upon was not the best but really it was never going to get better either. These shots are the ones I finally got here at the house. And really the individual ones of the kids were quick and easy and painless. And the one of Matthew and Mini together was a wonderful accident and I love the shot. And it was not the younger ones whom I found difficult to get pictures of it is those 2 older beings that live with me that make it so very difficlut! And least you thnk I got these on the first try I will be posting some of the out takes!

St Nick

So last night the kids tell me St Nick is supposed to come can they set their shoes outside. Sure set them in the garage. Well they woke to candy in their shoes. But after thinking on it St Nick is supposed to come tonight! But whatever they are happy and that is what counts. Though this morning they were not all happy. Samantha and Stephen figured out I had put the candy there. How? They had seen the bag in my office. Thankfully I had 2 bags showed them the closed one and they decided maybe I had not put it there. Yes, I know soon they will know but not this morning on the way to school and all sad. Soon they will know for years we lied about Santa. I am not quite ready for this magical time to be over.

but the irony of telling my kids not to lie and then looking them in the eye and saying Santa and St Nick are real is not lost on me. But oh the excitment Matthew and Mini had over the fact that you leave your shoes in the garage and candy shows up was one I wish I had a video camera for! And they would not wear the shoes St Nick had put candy in either today. No they left them in the garage in hopes he would return to put more in there.

Stephen's Play

So last Thur after I went to the doctor and was ordered home to bed we went to see Stephen's play. I am sure he did not mean I had to go home that second. I watched it and I laughed as the kids were cute as all get out in the play. (Or it could be I was high on the drug they shot into my butt)
Stephen did realy good with his lines and he projected his voice so everyone could hear him. Why am I only putting these up now? Well, to be honest I did not bring my camera. I did it was in the car. In my befuddled state of being I did not bring it in. And so a friend took these for us! Thank you Rich! He is the Dad of the other boy in the pictures a good friend of Stephen's.

movie night

Sat night we watched movies here. Well the kids did. Dennis and Stephen played a game and had a good time doing it to! So it was a good weekend here. Relaxed and not at a fast pace which is my very favorite kind!