Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

How long has it been?  Way too long I think!  Absence makes the heart grow fonder right?  

Well, here is a little update on my crew:

My kids are growing up way too fast!  Peter is 10 years old, 5th grade, and he claims he is a "pre-teen".  Who ever came up with that word ought to be slapped!!  He just finished basketball and now taking a break from sports to do some sledding down some slopes this winter.  

Abigail is 4 years old, home schooled in pre-k, and loves to pretend she is a little Mommy!  She has started taking tumbling and loving every minute of it!  She sleeps pretty good those nights.

Maison is 20 months old already and DESTROYS everything!  Now, when I say destroys, I mean, completely wrecks everything.  I have never had to put baby gates up like I do with him to keep him out of things.  Although he has the cutest little smile that just warms my heart that I can't help but hug him - even if he just pulled everything out of the bathroom drawers!  

Maison

Peter - 10, Maison - 20 months, Abigail - 4

Peter, Abigail, and Maison

Happy New Year!!

Family outing to the Zoo

It seems like nowadays it gets harder and harder to do something as a family, but a couple of weeks ago I decided to take advantage of the last few days of the 70 degree weather we were having and go to the zoo.  It was a beautiful day.  Unfortunately, my oldest, Peter, was unable to join us.  Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, we have a zoo membership, so it makes it really affordable to go to the zoo as a family.  Awesome Christmas present too!  So, if my sister, Elin, is reading this, hint hint!  Just in case you didn't have any ideas yet! Hee, hee!  

 Abigail LOVES the zoo, as most kids do!  She runs all around not sure of what to check out first!  

 Just realized that this was NOT such a good photo of her, but decided to use it anyway!

 This is one of the rare photos I am in!  I normally don't become photogenic again until about a year AFTER I have a baby!  This is only about 5 and half months post baby!  YUCK!!  Anyway, I wanted to take advantage of the nice Fall background we had, so I jumped in there too!  Note:  my husband smiles the SAME way in every photo.  I don't know how he does it, but it's funny!

 I had to capture a picture of this bird.  See how the wing is all out of whack?  Since I tend to have the frazzled look down pat pretty much ALL the time, if I were a duck, this is definitely how I would look.

 Abigail had to climb on just about all of these, I couldn't get a picture of all of them!  

 You guys all get to see Abigail feeding a goat for the FIRST time!  She was so afraid at first, but my husband is always so good about making her try new things.  I would have just given up, but I am glad Reza kept pushing!  She loved it!

Maison was so happy to be out of the stroller and looking around.  He didn't really care too much for the zoo this year, but I can't wait to see his reaction next year.  That is, if my sister decides to get us that zoo membership again!  I hope she will get the hint, but just in case she didn't the 1st two times! 

Boy, a zoo membership would really be nice for Christmas!  

Ok, I think that should do it!
My sister is the best!  A little sucking up never hurts!!