Catching Up and Thawing Out!

Hey! We've had a glimpse of warm weather up here and I feel like we may be emerging from our winter hibernation soon! We definitely have been getting outside the last couple days and it has been so fun to dig out the stroller and push Collin in his swing on the playset. Bring it on, Spring! (okay they are still bundled up pretty well...Kate refused to wear anything less, she is certainly used to us telling her she has to wear her warm stuff this winter! It was windy and I was just paranoid that they would end up cold. I can't wait until we can wear less!)

Out for a walk on the warm day

50 degrees!

Though I do feel like we have been hibernating, we have had some fun:) My best friends came up with their families (minus one husband who had other plans) and we had one fun and crazy night over the weekend. It is SO much fun to watch our children play, I'll never get over it or how much I love those kids. The best part, we got them to bed eventually and all sat out in the sunroom (hmmm..need to get some seating out there) and had some drinks and talked until midnight! Yes, you read that right. We were super crazy and stayed up until midnight, we were all pretty proud of ourselves:) We are trying to find time to have a "mommy" getaway and just go to Decorah for day and shop or go to a spa. It is so hard to find time, but it needs to happen! Major fail of the weekend = not getting a picture of Cass, Jenny and me. Obviously, we are pretty focused on the kids, but we need to occasionally purposefully get the adults included as well! Goal for next time. 

Excited for her friends to show up!

They are here!

Boys

and girls!

Collin is growing (just can't make him stop:) some favs of mine right now....he tries to grab the running water in the tub. This is another milestone that should be in the baby books. So cute and they are so persistent! Darn it, why can't they grab that water?! He loves pushing any button that plays a song or music and then bouncing/dancing. He just lights up and sways back and forth. So cute, we probably have another love of music on our hands:) Yay!

Still mischievous, he will shake his head "no" at us before he does something he knows he shouldn't:) We have our lovely gates on the steps, but there is one step down into the sunroom, he is very quick and can climb up that step very quickly. He still plays very, very well on his own if he is feeling well and he is quite focused on his toys. He is adorable when he concentrates so hard and of course, we believe him to be a genius with his duplo skills so far:) He loves books and anything that makes noise. We haven't been out in the stroller in SO long but in the last few days, he really zones out and almost falls asleep. No snacks or toys required, just likes watching the birds, trees and praying his sister doesn't push him into the ditch. 

Not happy Collin - feeling sick

Happier when he can chew on a hairbrush

Kate is still a great helper, is very picky with her food lately and is generally not eating much at meals. She is sleeping really well lately and since Dave is gone this week, I have been sleeping in her room and she has been coming down to our bed a bit:) It is a little dangerous, she is ALL over the place when she sleeps and often sleeps horizontally across the bed. Sometimes it is super sweet and I love it and sometimes we get clobbered. This morning, I got clobbered. Around 5 a.m. I was sound asleep when she kicked me hard with her heel, right in my nose. I was almost in tears it was so awful. Jury is out on what will happen tonight;) 

Bedtime

On Sunday, we arranged for a sitter (actually two) so Dave and I could have a date before he left town. We have been skiing a lot and I wanted to go together instead of one at a time. Kate has a wonderful dance teacher (Christine) with four kids, one of whom helps Kate with her class. They love Kate and offered to babysit. When Collin was little, I wasn't comfortable with just Rylee (15) watching both as Kate seemed to monopolize her, so Miss Chris came too. It is also nice as Rylee can't drive yet and Chris can drive her. Anyway, we get away and I feel totally comfortable about the kids - it is wonderful. Dave and I went up to Buckhorn State Park and skied. It was cloudy and not too cold, though it was quite windy out of the trees. We maintained a great pace and were pretty worn out! We did a 5K route and were ready for lunch at noon:) We went to "the Buckhorn" to eat, a great little tavern near us (and the park) and had a bloody Mary and some lunch. It was a lot of fun and I am so happy we are getting out (or at least trying to) much more than we have in ages. I am the most comfortable with the grandparents watching the kids, but we can't wait for those opportunities and often, we want to spend time all together! 

The kids and I are having a nice week at home, I would like to get out and do something fun, but more than that, I want them to get to bed consistently on time and maybe get some sleep, so that is winning out at this point:) Dave returns this weekend and we don't have plans. We may do a trip to Madison or I may take Dave up on his offer to go get a massage in the Dells:)