Tom & Jerry....

Meet our two new family members... Tom and Jerry, the ladybugs. (Jerry is little, Tom is big.)

Watching the exciting lives of ladybugs in captivity...

Abigail playing Jerry a little song...

Micah holding up the cup (Tom & Jerry's home) so that they can see a picture of a magnified mite on the computer... We were trying to find out what ladybugs eat... Mites and aphids... Yum.

Livy & Micah...

Visiting...

I love my mom.... :) Uncle Steve and Anna had some great bonding time on the couch... He's a natural. :)

Yoga with Auntie Mia :)

Signs of Spring...

Bubbles, naps in the sunny spot, and hunting robins...

Isaiah and Micah had some good brother bonding time today as they ran around our yard (and our 4 surrounding neighbors' yards) chasing robins. Micah was packing his nerf dart gun, announcing to me with each pass that he was going to "shoot that bird" and Isaiah kept arguing with him that they weren't going to kill it, they were going to catch it and keep it as a pet. I was carrying on a conversation with my neighbor and the boys kept zooming by, hot on the trail of another one... They would disappear behind a house and then reappear on the other side - still at top speed. Then, later, I watched out the window as they were hard at work designing a trap... They came to me looking for bird seed and permission to dig up some worms to lure the poor unsuspecting birds... But I had no seed to offer and was not thrilled with the idea of "worm hunting holes" all over my already quite muddy yard, so they had to come up with another idea... A nest it was... They collected all kinds of nest making materials and constructed a fine nest under a piece of our neighbor's roof that blew off in the last storm... the rope was attached to that and the trap was ready to try.. I hear Isaiah direct his brother, "Micah, we need to hide... You get behind that chair and I'll get behind this one.." as he crouches behind the wicker chair on the front porch, rope in hand. Micah finds his way behind the other chair and as soon as he's settled says, "Isaiah - do you see any birds??" "SHHHHHH Micah!!" hushes Isaiah... It was hilarious. They sat there for quite a while! Unfortunately, no robins showed... A few minutes later I see them setting the trap again and "hiding" in the (dead) grass and mud a few feet away. (See picture) They were laying absolutely still and silent, convinced they were invisible to the birds!! Totally funny.

Creepy Fairies, Tooth-Retrieving Animals & the Economy...

So... as I've established in a previous post, (April of last year) we're not big into the Tooth Fairy around here... but alas, our boys keep losing teeth and the influence of the world (aka friends and family asking them about the tooth fairy) has caused us to succumb to the business of lying to our children and causing them to believe that it's not only ok, but that it's totally normal for strange people (or fairies) to be entering our house and bedrooms at night, taking teeth and leaving payoffs for us so that instead of reporting a breaking and entering, we rejoice at the sight of two shiny quarters... Somehow, we've transitioned to animal Tooth Fairies.. Caleb has the Tooth Monkey, Isaiah is visited by the Tooth Doggy... (Somehow a doggy leaving quarters is much less creepy...) ANYWAY... Both boys recently lost teeth. Caleb lost his on a Sunday and excitedly put his tooth under his pillow that night as they all discussed his "Tooth Monkey" visiting. The night came and went and here comes Caleb into our bedroom in the morning, smiling... "The Tooth Monkey didn't come." Oh crud.... "Uhhh... Maybe he doesn't work on Sundays!?" Of course! So, it was... Tooth Monkeys observe the Sabbath.... And Tuesday morning brought tidings of great joy.. Two quarters and a matchbox car. A week later, Isaiah lost one more of his teeth. And he too was very excited to place his tooth under his pillow that (not Sunday) night. Sure enough, the night came and went and guess what? No Tooth Doggy.... (And yes, we ARE major slackers for forgetting AGAIN.) First, the shock and horrifies reaction, "WHAT?! He didn't come? No way!" As we discussed what could have prevented him from coming, Daddy was quick with a valid and relevant explanation.. "Maybe the Tooth Doggy's out of a job, Isaiah... You know, with the economy the way it is.... I think he got laid off." Isaiah seemed like he might be going with that.... But, sure enough, the next morning there laid the standard payoff - two quarters and a car. Apparently creepy fairies and tooth-retrieving animals haven't felt the effects of the economy like we have. :)

3 months...

Taking After Daddy...

Yep.. Caleb fell victim to Scott's eyesight genes. :) The boys are actually liking the fact that they both have glasses now... And Micah keeps saying, "When I get bigger, I get glasses too - like the big boys.." heh heh.

Grins and Giggles...

I had forgotten what a wonderful stage this is... Anna is becoming so much more aware of her surroundings and interacting with us with sweet smiles and little laughs. They are so precious. We're hoping for even more after the stent comes out in March!! :)

Grandma turns 29.... Again. :)

Scott has been trying to convince her to be 39 now that he's older than 29... She won't have any of that.... 29 it is. The kids and I had a great time making her a cake, beautiful birthday cards and pictures and decorating her house with streamers and balloons... (Courtesy of Grandma's stash.) :) Isaiah said that she couldn't make us dinner since it was her birthday and she "shouldn't be working." So, she said we could do dinner... Monical's pizza to go... :) I even brought home the Monical's lollipops for birthday treats!! It was a good day for all, I think!

A Breath of Fresh Air....

a happy baby is a beautiful thing...

Today was the warmest February 7th in Peoria since 1925.. Our thermometer read over 70 degrees in the sun, but they say it was a high of 63 degrees... We were all in major need of some warmer weather, fresh air, and out of the house time... We washed the car, went on a scooter ride/walk, talked to neighbors we haven't seen all winter, and played all afternoon outside. It was so good for all of us. Even baby Anna was smiling and cooing... THAT was wonderful!

Everyone's cruising on Christmas scooters from Grandma. I was so impressed with their coordination! Micah is like super Scooter rider!! He was on a mission to keep up with the big kids..

Of course, there were plenty of wonderful muddy puddles to ride through. And washing the scooters was just as big a thrill. :)

Turning 6...

The traditional trip to IGA with Daddy for birthday donuts, Arbys for lunch, and "Daddy's chilli and cornbread" for dinner.... Cake, ice cream, a "George Curious" movie and a big, cool, lego ship to put together... What a day. I will admit that Micah and Caleb have both kind of gotten the shaft on birthdays this year. Micah's we spent in the hospital and on Caleb's we were back at the hospital getting more tests done.. Plus, I'm just a little tired and short on party-planning motivation and time... I feel badly about it, but honestly, neither of them seemed to notice. I'm thankful that they are still so easily pleased.

Fun with Picasa

(You can click on the collage to see the pics closer up.)

Cousins... Buddies...

Anna Caroline and Hannah Rose spending some quality time together. :) And no, the coordinating outfits and matching pacifiers were not even planned!! Pretty funny, eh? Great mommy-minds think alike, I guess. :)

Hannah Rose

Scott's sister and brother in law welcomed sweet little Hannah on December 30th. (3 weeks after Anna.) We got to meet her this weekend and she is just precious. My mom bought the two babies the same jammies and Chenoa made them matching bows! Anna is going to have a lot of buddies.. In addition to Hannah, Scott's cousin and 2 of our friends have all had babies in the past month! 5 babies in one month!! And my sister had her baby at the end of September! What crazy, fun times...