That's a Lot of Books

Cole's school has a Read-A-Thon every year where kids keep track of the minutes they've read, families pledge cents per minute and there are prizes given at the end of the year. This year Cole read over 3,000 minutes and got a little plaque and a certificate for a cookie. I am so impressed with my little boy. He's so dedicated and enjoys learning, and will spend countless hours on whatever subject interests him the most at that moment. He's so happy for his prizes, you can see him pointing to it afterwards while he's sitting down and we couldn't be more proud.

Six Years Old

Cole is 6! It's so hard to believe that he is six already. I asked him what he wanted and what he wanted to do for his birthday and he knew both immediately without hesitation. He requested we go to the Mellow Mushroom for dinner (granted!), to Goodberry's for ice cream afterwards, and he wanted money for his birthday to buy several lego sets he's had his eye on for a few weeks.

Mom and Dad came with us to celebrate. I don't think it's any secret that our family loves the Mellow Mushroom pizza, particularly putting all that parmesan cheese on it. When our table is done, is usually looks as though it snowed right on top of us. I have it all over me, somehow; the kids have it on their faces, in their lap, sometimes in their hair. We just love cheese. Cole is purposefully applying his cheese in the picture.

It was present time after ice cream, and that kid got more cash-money than I do on my birthday. He stayed true to his mission, though, and spent every dime of it on leggo's. He bought one large set in particular: a fire truck garage.

At six Cole is a voracious reader, a fact-teller, a very silly face-maker, he is purposeful and thoughtful and our lives are so rich because of him.

Note: he did receive one toy: a soft hockey stick/puck for he and Adison to play with. We've already had a high-stick, and 2 slashing incidents out in the garage. We're trying to cut down on the injuries.

Big Dolly

I have a doll that my Great Grandmother (Great-Mom) made for me when I was little. I don't remember very much about her, but I do remember her having beautiful painted nails, and that her hair was always fixed, she was a very pretty lady. Adison spotted this doll one day and is fascinated with it. I don't let her play with it all too much, because I want it to last, but when she gets a chance to hold it, she loves it, and has decided to call her Big Dolly.

Easter 2010

This year we decided to go up to the mountains for Easter. That was an odd decision at first, I enjoy going to the Easter service at church. But we sensed our family needed to get away and spend time together, and that we could enjoy sharing the Easter story with the kids sunday morning. We also had the exciting task of planting Christmas tree's on this visit! Fletcher and Nancy have a beautiful piece of land not far from their mountain house and when Kevin suggested the idea of growing some trees, caring for them as a family, Fletcher was on it faster than you could say Tree Lot. It was hard work, and I didn't even do the hardest work (Kevin did: I'm not sure he'll dig another hole again...) and while Adison preferred playing in the car, she played happily and Cole was our right hand man. And it seems there is always time for one thing with Kevin: shooting off a rocket.

I feel like everything I want to say about the mountains I've said 50 times over by now, but we just love it every time. This visit we went on a waterfall hike for the first time, made delicious s'more's, and had an easter egg hunt. Just looking at these pictures makes me want to start a camp fire.

Fetch!

In the last picture of this series, Cole is telling me this:

"I'm throwing the toy out in the yard and Adison is bringing it back to me!!"

They were both thrilled for themselves for this fabulous idea and giggling happily together.

Hockey Boy

Cole has been taking a Learn-To-Skate class for the past 6 weeks. It was his Christmas present from his Great Grandparents-Mattix. It was a rough start for him, and a LOT of tears. We wanted to teach him, though, that sometimes things don't happen quickly and it takes lots of practice. We told him he didn't have to do any other skating classes if he didn't want to, but he had to finish the ones we've already signed up for.

Kevin took him to practice several times, and things really started to click. His last lesson was last saturday, and he got a little certificate and an iron-on badge (that I'm supposed to put where? On his Jeans?). After talking to him about it, he decided he wanted to sign up for the next level. So we did, and he's back at it on saturday's.

With the weather warming, we are outside quite a bit more now, and Cole's been playing hockey in the garage with his stick and net.

He came running into me today, and told me to come look. Turns out he had drawn an ENTIRE ice rink out of chalk on the garage floor. He didn't leave out a single detail or blue-line. As if that wasn't enough, he has been formulating a list of things he will need as a hockey player. He is expecting these things for his birthday next month. We'll see about all that, but I thought I would share his list and drawing.



It's a bit hard to read, but the list says:

*2 pairs of Goalie pads
*a helmet
*a catcher glove and a stick holder glove
*a stick
*tape
*1 pair of goalie pads has skates on them
*the other pair of pads has roller skates on them

(He checked out a hockey book at the library, and it talked about roller hockey as well. I think it's cute that he thinks the skates are attached to the pads)

Even Better than Yesterday

The snow has packed down, frozen, and we got just a tiny little dusting on top of that. So this morning we woke up to a gorgeous sunny day, blue skies, perfect sledding snow. Halfway through our adventures our neighbor brought us out his big-time-official sled and we extended our runway (top of the hill, through said neighbors' front yard and into his back yard hill). We stayed outside much longer than yesterday and had a great time.

It's Official: Snow!

I have become increasingly skeptical of any prediction of snow these last few years. It's mostly a defense mechanism, I'm tired of being disappointed. But this week, the people of the Weather World were all hyper about this winter storm moving through.

So I bought a sled. (Two. Actually.)

Sure enough, they were right and we got snow! It started about 9:00 last night, and has been pretty consistent through the night and day. It's more sleet than snow now, but last night accumulated quickly so we got a nice little pad of snow. The kids were THRILLED to wake up to white outside, and were anxious to try out the new sleds we had.

I prefer to ease into the morning, but we hit the street where we have a nice hill leading to the bottom of our cul-de-sac. The sled's worked pretty well! I didn't invest in the best of the best, but they picked up some speed and the kids really enjoyed zooming down the hill. Sweet Bou, at 9 years old, has always loved the snow and sure enough: she romped out there for a good 10 minutes eating it and running around in it.

It's still coming down and now we'll enjoy the flip side of snowy weather: staying inside, watching tv, baking, and doing our best to stay in our PJ's.

Dress Up

Adison loves to dress up, and we have been handed down some pretty cool dress up stuff by several friends. She keeps it all in a big box in her room, and will come downstairs with the most interesting combinations of dress up clothes. I love it. Here's a sampling of her work over the past 8 months.