Trip to the Library, A Mobile, and a Baby Sister who takes after her older sister

Cole asked me (DAD) to take him to Story Night at the Library. It was a lot of fun....once we got over the slip on the ice fall that Cole experienced which aggravated his shots that he got on his legs....which he has been really saying has been hurting...however he still can run with the best of them when he feels like it. Getting back to the library.....Cole had a great time as well did I, as we read books and magazines then he went in for the story time about a Beaver after which he did a craft....now this is the best part, he usually is the anti-craft maker but right before he runs into story time, he turns around and asked me if he could do the craft.....of course I said YES......I think it floored me.....he is a great kid and I had a lot of fun taking him....

Then we came home and Anna was in her bedroom making a mobile for her sister our of a hanger and out of yarn...(picture is that in the works and NOT FINISHED AS SHE JUST TOLD ME) but that is not the point....she loves to make things for EVERYONE...which usually has her outlasting her parents at night.....which brings me to TESSA who I am afraid is taking after her older sister and she too, usually tries to outlast us at night......what I think is amazing about Tessa is how she smiles and laughs.....such a happy baby....(she has a great MOM to thank for that.......and I thank Lori for that!!!)

Grandma Jane

Grandma Jane spent a week with us over winter break. She took Anna and Cole to see The Princess and the Frog, the Chipmunks, to ice skating lessons and shopping. She babysat so Corbin and I could go on a date. She played lots of games and read lots of books. There were some big tears when she left this morning. It was so fun to have her visit.

Tessa in Four Months Old

Tessa is growing so quickly. She went for her 4 month check up and she weights 14 pounds 7 ounces and is 24 3/4 inches long. She hates to lay flat on the ground. She always wants to be up looking at what is going on around her. She has a lot of smiles and giggles for her family. She likes to stand up and is trying to roll over. Anna and Cole love to help take care of her and keep her entertained.

Roller Skating Lessons

Well the kids over the winter break were able to take Ice Skating Lessons at the ice skating ring. They loved it and enjoyed their lessons and free skating after the lessons. The best part was on the way home after the last lesson and a long skate, I asked Anna if she wanted me to take her and Cole skating again. She was very excited. When I told her that DAD was excited about skating with her, she was like, "um Dad, can you just watch from the stands?"

I guess it is now starting....independence.

The Model Car

Well we decided to venture in on a model car.....they have ones that are already painted, well what is the fun in that we decided.....so we went to the hobby store and bought a model car, glue, and enamel paint (paint was a mistake). We started with the seats and the engine parts....will for sure be a very long project......only DAD got paint on his sweat pants.....as the hood flipped off and landed in his lap. Fun but this will be quite the challenge.....we learned that hard core hobby guys or gals use an airbrush! We are not hard core.

Christmas 2009

Anna's favorite gift
Cole's favorite gift

Merry Christmas to our family and friends

Christmas Window Light Pictures

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed going to a Christmas Eve service at our church. They had a live nativity and we heard some beautiful music. After the service we enjoyed a quiet evening as a family reading the Christmas story and getting ready for Santa and his reindeer to come. New record---Anna and Cole were in bed at 8:00. Anna woke-up at 11:00 to check to see if Santa had come. She thought morning would never come.

First Snow of Winter

We didn't get a lot of snow but just enough to build a snowman and do a little sledding.

Cole's Christmas Cards

Cole wrote Christmas Cards to all his teachers.....in them he wrote...."I am a FAT CAT, Cole"

I have no idea what this is!

Anna's Class Christmas Party

Anna's friends had fun posing for the camera. It is fun to be in her classroom and see how everyone interacts. They are a cute class.

Cole's Class Christmas Party

Cole had fun decorating a gingerbread house and gingerbread cookies at his class party. We have had fun practicing the songs for his Christmas program. He did a great job.

What a letter

Well today I got a box of seeds in a cup from George Walther (www.georgewalther.com) who came to speak when we had the Keypoint Study Club meeting at Lucas Oil Stadium (Where the COLTS play). He was an awesome speaker and the kind of person who could really encourage one to do more with their life. On my evaluation form I could not find ANYTHING negative to say, but the night before I found out that he HATES squash. So I put on the form that he needed to grow closer to squash.

Happy Birthday Cole

Favorites:

color-silver
tv show-Pheneas and Ferb
vacation- deer hunting with Dad and Grandpa Partridge
toy- new bike
food- macaroni and cheese
sport- football
thing at school- challenging work
favorite band- guns n roses

Tessa is Three Months Old

Tessa is growing so quickly. She smiles and laughs. She likes to blow raspberries especially for Anna and Cole. She likes to sit and watch what everyone is doing. She likes to coo and talk.

She is a joy to our family.

Trip to Park City

Well we made our annual trip to Park City this year and again and we really enjoyed our time out there......what a fabulous place to spend a day. I have to admit, we all had headaches from the elevation, I think we were all a little O2 deprived.....the pics are from the iPhone, not the best, but does not depreciate the good time we had!!!!

Game Night with DAD

Well Dad came out for the big came here in Indianapolis when the Colts played the Patriots. He left me a voice mail and said he had one of the best times that he has ever had. I have always had a very strong bond with DAD and hope to have the same bond with my kids. It was GREAT!!!!!

Happy Birthday Anna

Favorites:

color-purple

TV show-Doesn't like to watch TV

vacation-Great Wolf Lodge

toy-Legos and Erasers

food-macaroni and cheese

sport-jump rope

thing to do at school-stations

favorite band-Frosty the Snowman

Birthday Parties

We celebrated Anna and Cole's birthdays' in Utah. Their cousins from St. George drove up for the day and our friends the Schwitzers were also able to come. It was a fun day for us to spend with our friends and family. Thank you to Erika, Mike, Grandma Esplin and Aunt Ann for coming and a big thank you to Grandma Jane for planning a fun party.

Thanksgiving Day

I am a little turkey short and fat

Here on the farm I sat

At Thanksgiving you can hear me shout

Open the gate and let me out!

(song Cole learned at school)