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We got to have Danford home last weekend after 2 months working out in Pennsylvania. It was a long two months and we only got him for about 3 days, but we take what we can get. We did not go to the beach despite this picture, but I love it because the kids are all following him up the beach like baby ducks and that is basically what it was like at our house all weekend. Wherever Dad went everyone else was sure to follow. Especially Hannah who followed him around like a magnet. I watched him in the kitchen making a sandwich one day and watched as Hannah followed him to the refrigerator to get a few things, to the counter to put them all down, to the pantry to get more things and back to the counter to put them all down. She was right on his heels every time he turned around. It made me smile. It was a good weekend, and not because of anything that we did but just because we were all together. And now we just wait. Until next time. And hopefully we won't have to wait another 2 months.

Look What I Made!

Today is the annual Soc Hop at our elementary school. Truthfully I would just as soon avoid it, but for some reason it is a highly anticipated event for the girls and it would be cruel and unusual punishment not to take them. I think it is the dressing up.
This year I went a little crazy and made poodle skirts for both of them. I am not much of a seamstress, so unless it involves sewing in a straight line I usually avoid it. Following patterns is right out, so I am still surprised I actually attempted it. Although technically it is not a pattern, it is just a big circle of felt and some elastic. Nevertheless, I am still a little pleased with myself.
Look how cute they are!

The Picture of the Week

I have come up with a new project for myself. It is ambitious I know, but I have decided that even if I have nothing exciting to write about, I will at least find a photo that says something about my week. A picture is worth a thousand words right?
Here is my picture of the week this week - I love this shot of Cole in the dugout.

It marks the first official week of baseball. The first week of sitting outside freezing my tootsies off for 2 hours on a cold bench at 9:00 on a school night.

Spring Skiing

We have gone skiing over spring break for four years in a row now. Usually my first impulse is to want to go somewhere warm, but I have always had fun skiing with the kids. This year I struggled with trying to decide what to do over spring break and with Danford gone it had to be something easy for me to do alone with four kids. Skiing did not even cross my mind. Until I mentioned to Danford that it was too bad we could not go skiing this year and he said "well why don't you just take them."
Initially it sounded like too much work, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to do it. So, we headed over to Julie's house for a few days and dragged her whole family with us out to Mt. Bachelor for a beautiful day of skiing. It was such a beautiful day!
I took these four girls with me in the morning.

They are so funny in their little line formation zig zagging across the mountain.

Sometime in the afternoon, the big girls ditched us and it was just me and Hannah. She had had a little bit of a frustrating morning and by the end of the day she was cruising along so well I had to push to keep up with her. On the last run of the day we ran into the boys who were about to head down a run that was a bit steep at the top. They asked her to come with them and when I saw where they were going I thought she would never do it. Before I even finished the thought in my head, she was on her way and she kept up with those boys all the way down.

I did not see much of these boys all day.

Here is Tyler coming in at the end of the day. She took her time coming down because she wanted to be the last one on the slopes, which she very nearly was.

And here are Quinn and Jonas who I only saw at lunch but they must have had fun on the bunny hill with their Mom and Dad all day from the smiles on these faces.

I don't know why I thought taking them out by myself would be work. Once we are there most of them take off on their own anyway. Now I am just wondering why I didn't go out again on Wednesday.

My New Camera and the February Tease

Danford gave me a new camera for Valentine's Day. I can't decide whether to be mad at him for spending the money or happy because I really wanted it. My old camera is still pretty impressive, but it is old. A lot can change in digital cameras in seven years and I was still using a lens that was made for a film camera. I can already tell a difference, especially with indoor pictures. My new goal is to learn how to take great pictures with it. That photography class is still on my list of things to do!

I had a good opportunity for some practice last weekend while the weather was beautiful. Evey February we get at least a week of beautiful warm weather. It is a tease to get us ready for Spring, and then it goes right back to being winter and wet. This year we have had some beautiful weather on and off all month long. It was a particularly beautiful weekend last week and the girls dragged me over to the playground behind our house. Hannah has been anxious to show me her monkey bar skills. They were indeed impressive and she now has the blisters to prove it.

They had fun soaking in the sun and I got some good opportunities to play with my new toy.

Because I Know You Really Want to See This...

Warning: The following video contains some violence and portrays 14 year olds trying to throw eachother to the ground and hold eachother down there. Viewing of these scenes may cause stomach cramps and/or nausea (at least it does for me).

Also, Luke is wearing a singlet (sniggers).

How to Dispose of your Gingerbread House

Every year at Christmas time we make gingerbread houses. I don't know when it started but we have been doing it for years and now it is a tradition. I am surprised that the boys are even still interested in participating, but they are very good sports especially considering they have to share with a sister.

Luke helped Hannah with this house.

Tyler and Cole made this one.

As fun as all that is, it seems that getting rid of them after Christmas is even more fun.

Starting a few years ago when Luke and Cole got BB guns for Christmas, a new tradition was born.

Yes, I think you know where I am going with this.

About mid January when Christmas is over and done with and all the decorations are packed up and put away the only evidence left of the holidays are those gingerbread houses still sitting on my kitchen counter. We have only to wait for a dry day (this could take a while), set those gingerbread houses carefully out in the back yard... and shoot at them with BB guns.

And don't think it is only the boys who are in on the action.

Even Hannah is a pretty good shot.

They do make lovely targets.

This is also a good way to get rid of the post Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns.