Old snapshot

Just found this photo on one of my work memory cards. I'm sure Natalie will notice right away that it's 'pre-haircut.'

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's a couple days before Valentine's Day and Jman and Avery had a fun night of making valentine's for their daycare friends while mommy made some yummy caramel puff corn to take to Issa's for their party. Jman is pretty pumped to get Valentine's from his friends!

Avery is 6 Months!

Avery turned 6 months on February 5. She is eating baby food, sitting up on her own (for a few seconds), smiling/giggling, pushing herself up on her forearms when she's on her belly, and starting to really interact with us and is quite attached to mommy and daddy. She is a little fearful of people she hasn't seen in a while and tears up, but then warms up to them just as quick, she got her first tooth on Feb. 9. She likes to play in her exercauser and sit in her boppy while playing with her "rolly" balls that make music and light up. She is sleeping through the entire night, with a few exceptions, and we bought her a little "net" like we did Jman that we put bananas, blueberries, and other fruits in for her to eat those safely. She loves to be held - usually giving out a wimper when she sees one of us not holding her and walking around her - but soon gives in to her toys and she's ok again. She loves her bubbie (or whatever she ends up calling it) and cannot sleep without cuddling up to it. Here are just a few fun pictures of our little girl, including one wearing Jasper's super hero mask! Hope she's ready to play lots of superhero with her brother.

Her eyes are so bright blue and her smile just warms your heart! We love our sweet little Avery and can't wait for all the fun milestones ahead!

Leaning Frosty

Well, Frosty has taken a turn and is now "leaning Frosty." It hasn't been quite warm enough to melt him entirely and as of today, more than 1 week after he came to our home, he is still leaning and hanging on. Jasper tried to push him back up in one of these photos and it didn't work. Frosty, you're a trooper!

Unhappy girl

Avery's first tooth just broke through her lower gums, so she's not been the happiest of campers. This is what she was doing most of tonight.

Deck sledding

Just a couple of quick videos of Jasper sledding off our deck today.

No business like snow business

Jasper and I took full advantage of the snow today. After getting bundled up, which takes a significant amount of time for a 3-year-old, we built a 'sledding hill' down the steps of our deck.

I went down the first few times to pack the snow and show J that it would work. (He was skeptical.)

It didn't take him long, though, to start pushing things. He laid on his belly, going face first; he laid on his belly, feet first; on his knees; on his back; and he tried everything with his eyes closed so he could go down the hill 'blind'.

The snow was perfect for snowball fights and building snowmen, so that was next. After some wrestling and a snowball fight (me vs. Jasper vs. Cozmo) we started working on 'Frosty,' as J originally named our snowman.

The Coz put a stop to it at first, pouncing on all of the snowballs before we could roll them to be large enough to use. Once we got him inside, the work really began. I have no clue what those things weighed, but getting the bottom ball in place and the second one lifted on top really took its toll on us. (We both need a nap now.)

Jasper placed the arms (sticks), eyes (black golf balls), nose (a red mini-football) and mouth (rope caulk) and added the corn cob pipe for fun, using the ladder because it was too dang tall otherwise. (Coz was a little nervous having J up there, as was Nat.)