All in a week's work

Apparently, my children have been at it again this week. The following are only some of their escapades (some I was too distraught to think about getting the camera out. Like when Ashton threw my last glass plate from our wedding off the table and broke it. Or some I had to act immediately and couldn't take the picture. The gallon of spilled milk, or windshield wiper fluid, etc.) Ashton showing me his handi work. He also cut his chin open with scissors and tried to light a candle with the lighter all before 8 am this morning.

Devin was being hilarious with the chocolate fountain auger. Ongaurd!

Devin somehow flipped off the chair and broke one of the legs; he looks very contrite, doesn't he?

Child proof caps did not stop Ashton from getting into the baby ibuprofen while looking for a bandaid for his bleeding chin. The red dye stained the countertop. This is why the house were planning to build will be indestructible.

The White Witch

I feel like the Narnians in CS Lewis' series where they say under the white witches' rule it was always winter and never Christmas. It seems like it will never thaw and there is no more reason to have winter--no skiing, no Christmas, etc. Atleast the kids are still enamored with the ice after we forced them to go outside since they were getting cabin fever inside. I enjoyed the snowy day by running in the Polar Run downtown. I've taken Sister in law Sarah's advice since she lives in Minnesota where it's even colder--embrace the cold. So I was downtown at 8 am with 2,000 other brave souls running 5 miles just because. I was proud of my PR; I finished in 47:33. Not bad when my toes felt like they were going to fall off.

More picturesque scenery from our ice storms last week. I will say snow and ice is better than bleak and bare.

I told the kids we have snow snakes and they make these patterns. I don't know if they bought it or not:)

Six months old and Sitting

Here's our happy little Lucas at six months old. He's so proud to be sitting up on his very own. He's a sweet baby and very good natured. He sleeps all the time, and we think it's because he's scared of his waking hours with three older brothers who are not so gentle. His poor shots. He screamed and screamed.

Happy Boy! He doesn't look too skinny to me. The doctor wants him back for a weight check because he has only gained a half a pound in two months and at 15.8 lbs. is not even near to doubling his birth weight of 9.14.

Playing at the new YMCA

The kids had a blast playing at G'm and G'pa's new Y. Taylor loved the slide.

Ashton with a ball. He loves anything that's a ball.

Daddy even got in with them and played around. They had to work all week doing extra chores and earning points so they could go.

Ready to Swim

Devin and Ashton are very excited about going swimming. Devin actually can swim a little ways on his own. He just started lessons last week. I know, funny since I'm an instructor to pay someonelse to teach him. You know how it is--he wants to play with mom not work. This is blackmail for later on. Now if they just had put underwear on their head too. That would have been perfect.

A Snowy Day

This is in our backyard extending out onto the ice which has been frozen solid for two weeks now. brrrr! Of course, our neighbor was making the ultimate sledding hill with his snow blower to the left. The kids had a great time, but I think the guys were having more fun slicking it down, building up the ramps, and snowblowing the ice to make it slicker! Taylor and Devin with the tube.

You can see the patch of grass where we took the snow to build up the side ramps. Taylor is being a good sport and carrying the tube up. The worse part of sledding. Luckily, our hill is less than a bunny hill--more like a hamster hill.

Sweeping down the ramp.

Afterwards, to entertain the kids, they played with toothpicks and marshmellows. It's a hit; I'd highly recommend it anytime you're trying to make dinner and don't know how to keep the kids busy. Ashton decided to take one marshmellow and stick tons of toothpicks in it like a sea anemone. How different:)

Family Photo Shoot

Lucas smiling at his brothers. Finally, he gets pictures done at five months old.

Little Poser! He's saying "doggy" and that was the only word that would make him smile.

The tongue picture. They're all riding the tricycle.

Amazing--we're all looking at the same time.