New Mexico Weather is the Best!!

There are not many places where you can go for a walk on a February evening in just a fleece. Brian has been taking the three "big" kids on this walk a lot lately. The babies and I were first timers on the walk to the climbing tree! I think we will be taking a lot more of these walks this spring....it just feels so good to get outdoors and everyone has such a good time. Lauren took some shelf fungus off of a tree and Thomas tried to light a fire (we had to remind him that we almost lost our house in 2003 when he was a baby due to the big bosque fires). Connor was a little too fearless on the climbing tree and eventually climbed higher than I could reach...had to call Brian over to be the spotter. Like mother like son, Thomas started to freak at the top and had to be lifted off. Lauren...up and over, no problem. :) It amazes me how different the kids are from one another. Sure makes things lively and often unpredictable!

Hearts and candy galore!

Lauren and her cousin Grace in a pre-valentine picture. I think Lauren likes that Grace is still small enough to hold a little longer than Claire and Ronan. She is starting to squirm around, but won't jump out of Lauren's arms like the twins do...yet! Cutting and gluing, cutting and gluing, cutting and gluing. The kids actually MADE their valentines this year! Thomas had to make 25 for his class and teachers and Lauren had to do 10. We cut out a ton of different sized hearts on all different kinds of paper and they just went to town putting them together in different ways and using stickers for decoration. I thought for sure Thomas would get bored after the first two, but he was totally in to it this year! Hooray! I'll take it!

Nice view of your cupcake T.

Out of order picture...Lauren is decked out for her Valentine party at school. What outfit would be complete with out her signature item...the cowgirl boots?

We had a nice valentine dinner on Saturday with Grammy and Gramps. Good cousin time too!

Connor sweetly tried to help Claire and Ronan look at their valentines. He used his super high baby voice and kept saying "here babies, here you go babies". What a good brother.

Brian brought home flowers on Friday! Roses for me and then a carnation for each of the kiddos. White for the boys and red for the girlies. So sweet... I really liked that he got flowers for the kids too.

Thank goodness the candy is finally out of the house. Thomas and Lauren each came home with a bag of it after their Valentine's Day parties on Friday. They both shared generously with Connor which was very nice, but I am glad that today we didn't hear "can I have a piece of candy for my breakfast dessert?" It always cracks me up when the kids say stuff like that because it makes it seem like we have actually given them "breakfast dessert" sometime in the past and we most certainly have not! :)

Super Bowl Sunday 2010

100 quarters=$25=getting the kids excited to watch the football game!

Looks like some of us were having more fun than others!

A family divided! Girls for "the horse team" aka the Colts and boys for "God's team" aka the Saints. And yes, we are teaching our children how to gamble. Hey,before you knock it you should know that they took turns paying up and picking their squares, no one fought, and Thomas was a good sport about not winning in the end. A miracle if you ask me and better than any family game night we've ever had. Claire was our lucky jackpot winner! She decided to split the winnings due to the fact that she had no idea what was going on and because the other kids were such good sports. This was definitely one of my most memorable Super Bowls. I THINK (but no promises) that I will be able to tell you during next year's super bowl who played this year.

A Visit From Uncle Mike

Mike came in from San Diego for the Lobo basketball game. What a great present from his wife Helen! We missed Aunt Helen and little cousin Ian this trip, but hopefully we will see them sometime soon. Thanks for being a good sport for this picture Mike!

Sunday Sugar High!

Everyone recognizes this delicious goodness right? After receiving an excellent report from their babysitter, the kids reaped the rewards...an INSIDE trip to Krispy Kream! We occasionally hit the drive-thru, but today we treated the kids to a dozen donuts and a glass of milk sitting right next to the giant conveyor belt. Watching the donut making process added some extra fun. Thomas and Lauren even tried their hand at "quality control" by making sure they notified the workers every time they saw a donut that didn't flip and get cooked on both sides! Ronan and Claire had their first turns in restaurant high chairs. They did well and even sampled some small bites of glazed donuts....anything made of that much sugar just dissolves in the mouth anyway...no need for teeth or chewing. I think they liked it!

I neglected to bring my camera so these shots are from Brian's cell. I am pretty sure the KK people and the other customers are thinking "Wow, that family must not get out much. Look how excited they are to put on hats and eat donuts"!

And so begins the Sunday Sugar High!

Ronan!

Only fair that Ronan gets a special blog after his sister's. At almost 8months old, Ro is really getting some personality. He is a social butterfly just like the others...he smiles at everyone and anyone can pick him up. Thomas (his older brother look a like) has been wanting to play with him more lately and Grandpa Denis was kind enough to let Ronan slobber all over his glasses and accept a nose tweak! You only have to look at Ro to be treated to a great big smile! The only time he seems to get really upset is if I am not shoveling the food into his mouth fast enough.

Claire's Chompers

Yesterday I brought out the camera in hopes of getting a picture of Claire's pearly whites. She was happy to bat her pretty big brown eyes at me, but would she deliver a smile showing all four teeth???

OH YEAH! Well maybe it isn't a smile but it is definitely showing all four teeth. I don't really know how to type out the vampire hiss sound effect that should accompany this picture. Does anyone know if they are casting for the fourth Twilight movie yet? I think I have a candidate to play Edward and Bella's baby!