Snowfall

According to Rick, it was "snowing snowballs" this last weekend. Here are some pictures to prove it. It was quite beautiful.

Happy Birthday Rick

Yes, it is Rick's birthday today. 29 years old. He of course reminded me that he will never be as old as me--thanks Rick, so sweet of you to say. Older and wiser, older and wiser...that's all I have to say about that. Unfortunately we are celebrating this wonderful day in sickness. Bryce has strep, and the rest of us are just trying to compete in our sicknesses to get the most sympathy. Somehow I (Jenn) never win in this category. I suppose Rick can win the sympathy votes today, after all it is his birthday. Happy birthday to you (cough, cough), Happy birthday to you (sneeze, blowing noses), Happy Birthday dear Rick (cough, sigh), Happy birthday to you! (FEVER) :0)

Pretty in Pink

"Mommy, I love pink!! Pink is my favorite color!!" says Abbi. You think? Here she is all bundled up and ready to go play outside in what else, but pink, pink, pink.

Mommy's little helper

At the age of 13 months, Cambria has truly become a member of the household. This is done by having a household chore. This special chore is called "help mommy unload the dishwasher". The chore consists of Cambria grabbing whatever is nearest to her (usually it starts with the silverware) and starts handing it to mommy. Mommy then proceeds with a "thank you," followed by the next dish, and so on and so on. She's actually quite fast with this chore and mommy needs to move quick to keep up. It could be a spoon one second and a bowl the next--a fork, then a plate. You just never know what she will pick next. Mommy has to be ready to either move to the drawer or the cupboard. The only part she hasn't mastered (well, I guess there's actually two) is unloading the top rack (she can't reach that yet) and learning whether the dishes are clean or dirty. Sometimes mommy is loading the dishwaher and Cambria starts to "help" put the dishes away. Oh well. It's all gotta start somewhere.

All I Want For Christmas...

Here is the sequence of events tonight involving Bryce and his tooth. First is Bryce being hysterical while Rick is trying to pull out his tooth. Second, the tooth comes out! Bryce is relieved, and the proof is in daddy's hands. Finally, Bryce can show his pearly whites (minus one). What a proud moment--when your child looses that first tooth. You should have seen the week leading up to this event. Oh the tears and screaming, oh the toothache (Bryce) and headache (mommy), oh the fears and finally joys! I still have bad memories of my dad pulling my teeth. Hopefully Bryce won't have those same tramatic memories.

Steps and Bugs

Well it looks like Cambria has mastered a new feat. I was upstairs and Rick and Cambria were downstairs when I heard a little noise on the steps. I look down the stairs and lo and behold there was little Cambria half way up the steps. As you can imagine my heart went into my stomach! She should be too little to be doing that yet.
And that bug just won't go away! First Bryce contracted the bug at school (as well as most of the rest of his class--one day they were missing 1/3 of the class to this bug). Then on to Cambria it went (and the runny nose has not stopped yet). Well, Abbi decided she didn't want to be left out, so she got it next. And as you can see, she loves it a lot!! Now it's my turn! Yeah! :0) Rick, so far, is the very fortunate one to be left alone. Bugs....'sigh', I guess it is truly winter.

Duluth--here we come...again!

We had a fun weekend get-a-way. Although it was way over in Duluth (which we were just at a couple of weeks ago), it was fun to get out of town. On Thursday, we took off--stopping in Thief River Falls on the way for Cambria's one year check up (hey, when you live far away from everything, you are somewhat forced to multitask on trips). Then two days of swimming in the pool with three kids. It actually was fun! Bryce is big enough to swim on his own, and Cambria is little enough to be completely satisfied sitting in her swim toy for two hours straight. Abbi was the only one who had to cling to mommy the whole time. She is our timid one (the nice way of saying she FREAKS out with anything new or things she's just not used to). Rick had a great time at his conference (EMS-- the reason we went away). He got to be a part of a cadaver lab. It was even hands-on, which although sounds a little morbid, was actually fun (according to Rick). And now that we are home all the kids are sick with colds. Yay!!