Is it SUMMER?

It got up to almost 80 and super sunny the other day. We are getting glimpses into spring... Reese is totally into the backyard. I think he's wondering why we've been holding out on him for so long... He did NOT want to go inside.

Almost Spring!

We had a couple days of sunny warmer weather this weekend! We took a quick trip to the park to enjoy it before it left again. It was a little muddy, but we didn't care! Reese's new favorite thing: swinging. His big sis took over when I got tired of pushing...

Heels over head for gymnastics

Josh was in charge of taking both kids to Emma's last gymnastics class while I was away at a retreat. He'd never used the new camera so this was the best picture!

A little behind...

So, in January, Josh and I went on a kid-free trip to Florida. I borrowed my parents' camera and was waiting for the CD of the pictures... and am finally getting those on here. :)

The view from our beach lounge chairs... what a life!

We spent some time with Josh's aunt Pat in North Ft. Myers and made it to a really great antique town about an hour before all the shops closed. We were so bummed, but did some speed browsing and decided we've gotta go back during our next visit.

Then we were off on a journey to my Christmas present surprise- the Lion Safari! I am a bit of a zoo freak and we had done one of these in Ontario (coolest thing I've ever done) and so Josh got us tickets to do another one in Florida... SO cool. It's the closest you'll get to Jurassic Park with wild animals roaming free! You obviously have to keep your windows and doors shut. Yikes!

Gonna have to go back WITH the kids in March, though! I took a tons of pics, but here are a couple of the lion gate (in Ontario, there were NO gates at all- you drove RIGHT up to the lions) and a giraffe investigating a car ahead of us...

If you know Josh at all, you know his fear of alligators. So... we thought we'd face his fear head-on and go on an airboat tour in the EVERGLADES! Yes, we boarded a tiny airboat with about 6 others and cruised around a small lake that was home to hundreds and hundreds of gators ranging from baby size to 6-7 footers. We spotted some pretty close up... and Josh feels a little more manly now. :)

Zoo Pooh

Just another wintertime activity... Storytime at the Zoo! Emma and I trecked through the frigid temperatures and blustery winds to see him. Our little friend Sam was there and we had fun listening to the story with him. He may have been a little more interested in Emma!

Mommy, can I PLEASE join the circus?

Emma must have asked this question 15 times and the tears were starting to come when she realized that she couldn't join right then and there. Elephants, motorcycle tricks, twirling batons, trapeze artists, trained tigers... not to mention cotton candy, popcorn and a light-up toy- all thanks to Grampa. Reese was past his bedtime, but got his second wind after Grampa decided he needed his own light-up toy. :)

Celebrating Violet

We got together with some of Autumn's friends to celebrate baby Violet's birth...

Baking with Grammie

Grammie Debbie is well known for her baking so it's only natural that Emma carry on her tradition (since I'm not likely to start baking 3000 Christmas cookies any time soon)... They got decked out in their matching aprons and decided on chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips. They very well could have been the yummiest cookies ever. You have a bright future in baking, Emma!

More Cuz Time!

This week we had a special visit from some of my family- my cousin Teresa & her husband Shane (from my dad's side) and my cousin Kristen (from my mom's side). They live in the same area and had a mid-winter break (must be rough!). We took a very thorough 4 hour trip to the Children's Museum... all this time I thought the Science wing was for older kids, but we checked it out and Emma loved it- finally a new room to go into. :)

Teresa and I...

Kristen and I...

The Not-So Children's Museum

Reese the future paleontologist

Emma the Rock Mover

Future Indy Car Team?

Reese branching out to meet Mr. Bear

Cuz Time

Daddy was out of town so we were off to visit Asher, Winter and Violet! Their daddy was out of town too, so Autumn and I were slightly outnumbered, but did just fine and had lots of fun. :)

Snuggly movie time

We spent twice as much time (at least) getting the kids all bundled up as they spent actually playing in the snow! Only a few tears after being hit by snow blocks and two boots stuck in a tree. Don't ask how.

Baby Violet is getting so big, but is still a little too young for the snow. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

We started off the morning right with heart shaped pancakes- Reese's with blueberries and Emma's with chocolate chips.

Then I forced Reese to wear his $3 Wal-Mart V-Day shirt.

Then Josh and Emma braved the massive dumping of snow we got yesterday. Here's Emma on "Pillow Hill" as she called it. Josh spent about 2 hours unburying us from the avalanche.

THEY DID IT!!!

The first time ever- the Indianapolis Colts won the SUPER BOWL! We had a bunch of people over to watch the game... including our good buddy Kai Warner who just had his first cleft lip surgery. He likes showing off his precoius new slobbery lip. :)

Are those the Colts cheerleaders? Okay, it's Kelly and I showing our support.

Trip to the Luces!

Micah- almost 6, Emma- 4, Drew- almost 4, Hannah- 2 1/2, Reese- 15 mo, Haddie- 7 mo. Several time outs. Lots of creative indoor games. One daring trip to McDonalds for 5 snack wraps on a 10 degree day. One very noisy trip to the Kouts Library. Only a few tears and tantrums. One incident of a prowler in the sugar bowl during "naptime." Zero major accidents or broken bones. A trip to the Luces: Priceless.

Me and my BFF Jen- no, we did NOT have time for makeup... or showers.

Alpha & Omega

Violet Mercy Nottingham made her debut on January 31st at 5:15 p.m. We lost our precious Great Grandma "Gigi" and were in town for her funeral. But what a blessing to go meet our new little niece/cousin that very night! She is a beautiful, healthy alert little thing and we are so happy to have her in our family!

Aunt Autumn introducing Violet to Winter, Emma and Asher.

Could you just eat those little piggies?!

Tight squeeze

After finding Emma under her bed at 8 a.m. eating a bag of Swedish Fish, I should've known it was going to be one of those mischievous days. This is what I walked in on when I noticed that Emma had been quiet for quite some time.

Snow- finally!

Every day Emma would ask, "Mommy, what season is it?" I would assure her that it was winter, but she was just not convinced since she had not seen snow yet. Well, we finally got it! Emma couldn't wait to get her hands on that snow. We had fun making snow angels and a snowman, but have since been told that we made the snowman wrong. Oops. Neither of us knew about the snow rolling trick.

Mmmmm... brownies

Stir...pour...lick batter off your leg.