Surprise!

I have to look at these pictures to remember how much I do love these 3 characters...especially since the four legged one decided to leave me a gift (poop) to clean up while I was picking up Sadie and friends from preschool today. This is a RARE occurance. I can count on one hand how many times he has ever done it in almost 9 years . Fortunately Ryan has always cleaned up the messes...although I thought about leaving it for him to deal with, I decided that wouldn't be nice...so lucky me! Good thing we all do really love him-especially Eliza and Connor.

Winter Dance Recital

Grandma and Grandpa came to see Connor play basketball and to see the first dance recital of the year. It was adorable as usual. I love that Sadie shows no signs of stage fright. I hope that she continues to love dancing as much as she does now because there is nothing cuter than watching her!

Evie, Lauren, Sadie

On stage...

Daddy Daughter Dance 2012

Ryan and Sadie went to their second daddy daughter dance at Capital high school at the end of January. Sadie had a busy day with Connor's basketball game and a birthday party. I tried sooo hard to get her to take a nap, but she was too excited. The cute couple left to go to Panera for a pre-dance dinner date, then headed to the dance. They had a great time making bracelets, eating ice cream, watching performances, and of course dancing. However, after about an hour and a half, she was ready to leave and could not be talked into staying. She asked permission to go to sleep on the way home and was asleep with in seconds. I'm glad they got to go, despite how tired she was. I feel like these are special memories for them both (and a genius fundraising idea for the local high schools)!

Classic!

Sadie and Olivia

Marty and Lauren

Dancing!

Such good friends!

Lights Out!

Our enjoyable, relaxing snow week, was over when the snow turned to ice and the power went out. The kids didn't want to go out and play in the "crunchy" snow, the roads were not driveable in our cars, many stores and restaurants were closed because of the power outage, and it was COLD! We managed okay the first night. Our friends picked us up in their more snow friendly cars, and we went out for pizza. It did feel nice to get out even if if was just for a little bit. The kids slept by our gas fireplace and had fun with flashlights and glow sticks. The next day the roads were better so we went to a friends house (who has a generator) and hung out all day. It was sad when we were out to see all the damage and trees down from the storm. When we got home and the power was still not on, we packed everyone up and headed to Portland to stay at Grandpa and Grandma's warm house. Of course, RIGHT as we were leaving the lights flickered on...we debated on what to do, but the power was still flickering and the kids were excited to go so we just went! We had a wonderful weekend and came home to a warm house. We were very lucky. Some People were out of power for over a week! I was actually sad when life did have to get back to normal. It was nice to take a break from the "norm" and slow down a little.

Thank goodness for the ipad and its long battery life!

Eliza was excited about her glow stick!

Sadie in her "happy place"with her pink blankets and a show on the ipad!

Eating in her highchair with a little lantern!

Snow Week 2012!!!

We had quite the snow storm in January. We really enjoyed the sledding, Ryan's time off work, a WHOLE week of school, lots of time with neighbors, and hot chocolate. I hardly saw Connor because he was out playing all day everyday, Sadie liked it for a while and then wanted hot chocolate with "marshamellows", and Eliza was a serious fan of it all. She didn't love the getting dressed part at first, but quickly realized that is what she had to do to go out in the snow.

She loved just being "planted" in the snow and watching the kids sled and play!

We measured 17 inches on our backyard table.

LOVE that face! (this was when she could actually walk in the snow-only 3 or 4 inches!)

Sadie lost a tooth!!!

The day after New Year's, Anette and Lance came to visit one more day. We had all been well for a week, so we thought it would be safe. We went to lunch, had some fun with Just Dance (again), the boys played some basketball, and Sadie lost her first tooth!!! I went and got supplies to make a little tooth pillow and Anette made it. Sadie was one happy girl. It sure was a great day, however Lance, Anette, Connor, and Ryan all got sick the following day. It was almost a relief for us ALL to have gotten it, so we could stop worrying about it. It was a bummer that it had to be spread out over a 3 week time period and Christmas break. Oh well!

Happy New Year!

Our New Year's Eve was spent with friends, bowling, dessert, Just Dance, and of course lots of fun! We had so much fun that the kids just couldn't make it until midnight so we poured some sparkling cider, made a toast, let them watch the "ball" drop in New York online, and then put them to bed. I know...Total Party Animals!!!

Check out these tired kids!

Sadie wants NO help. That makes for some painfully slow ball rolling, but a happy girl. While most kids were ready to leave, Sadie wanted to bowl another game.

Henry and Connor( a.k.a. goof balls!)

Pretty Laine and Sadie

As Ryan and I reflected on the past year we couldn't help but be so thankful. We made so many fun memories and we had a few minor trials (Ryan's layoff/rehire to name one), but feel like we have been so blessed. Its amazing how God's timeline is not always the same as ours. I feel the Lord's hand in my life daily, and hope to live in 2012 so that feel HIS influence more to be a better wife, mom, friend, and daughter.

Post-Christmas in Portland 2011

We headed down to see everyone in Portland the day after Christmas. We had a great time as always spending time with one another. We also took Sadie and Connor to the Portland children's museum and had an outing to see "Jimmer" play the Portland Trailblazers. The morning we were leaving Eliza came down with the yucky stomach bug...I cleaned it up on the car ride home...and got it the following night! Good thing we left when we did before we spread it to everyone in the house!

Basketball Game

The latest Diary of a Wimpy kid for Connor!

Matching tutus for the girls from Sean and Brooke!

Eliza LOVES her Grandpa!

Love them...

Mario Baseball from Chad!

Sadie got "Prince Eric" from Uncle Lance