How we Spend our Winter Days

*we make snow angels or try to dig trenches in the back yard


*we nap


*we build tall towers.
I will never get rid of my VHS tapes, they are so versatile.


*we play garage sale


*we make little snow men and drag them into the porch. And then daddy yells at us.


*read in strange places


*do daring stunts off the swing set


*cry when our blanket is in the washing machine


*make cookies to help us forget our blanket is in the washing machine


*playing with cousins!
I watched Addie last night for a few hours. The funniest this about this is that she starts to get all goofy after 9:00- just like her mother. :)

Rachel turns 8

Rachel Grace is 8 today. It seems like yesterday she was toddling around rubbing everything with a cloth "cleaning". And now she is in 2nd grade, writing sentences with her spelling words that embarrass me. She basically chronicles everything that goes on in the house, I need to hang on to some of that stuff. It's funny and she doesn't even know it.

She really wanted to paint pottery for her birthday, so on Saturday I took her to Bay City and she did just that. She picked out a nice little bunny to do. Everything was going great until she got to painting on some whiskers. Well, the paint brushes were a little fat to do nice whiskers, and she ended up crying over her... imperfections. But all ended well, and she seemed satisfied with the finished product. Hopefully it will be done this week, she is getting anxious to see the finished product.

My Babies

Here is a picture from Monday night after walking in the door from work.
I love my job. I am so thankful I stuck out clinicals and now I can work a great job part time and be home most of the time with my babies (which I do love more than my "career").
Which brings me to my next bit of news. There will be one more baby to love in this house come August. I didn't think we had any more room in this house, but we will make it work. For some reason God decided we weren't done when all this time we had been hemming and hawing about what "we" thought we should do. As always, I'm not in control. "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" was an awesome book, but God is more awesome. He heeeee! I am excited. Anna will be 2 on Aug 7 and I am due on Aug 11.

Thursday night fun

"Me... and my shaaaaaaaaaaaa-dow...."
This is how I do dishes. With an extra appendage.


This pic is for Liz because she always laughs at my kids sleeping in places other than their beds.
I've given up fighting with Abby to take a nap, so sometimes I end up carrying her to bed because this happens around 7:30.


"We're making fake money. LOTS of it."

This and That

This is Adam. He fell and hurt his chin.
Haha ahhahahha hahahahah. Poor guy.


Barb came over and played on New Year's Eve. Anna kept sneaking into her purse.


Sometimes it's a little unnerving, the way they stare at me while I'm baking.

I have been patiently waiting for a musical Veihl child to come along... I think this one's it! (It only took 5 tries. See, persistence pays off.)


The kids got all sorts of Play Doh paraphernalia for Christmas. My personal favorite was the dental one, of course.


When you need a nap, you need a nap. Location is unimportant.


Here she is an hour later, pretty much unphased by all the activity.


I know exactly how you feel, Tommy.

Rachel and Adam had their "Holiday" program at school. I think the preschoolers mentioned Christmas in one of their songs, but none of the other classes did. Booooo hisssssssssss.
On a happy note, Adam was VERY excited when he saw me in the crowd. He said, "There's my Mommy!!!" It made me so happy I wanted to cry.


Anna loves to write. She makes delicate little marks on the paper.


Amanda stopped in with her precious bundle the other day. Tommy just couldn't get enough of her!


The other night Tommy crawled under here and fell asleep. Anna snuggled up next to him.


Casey came home last night with this remote control tarantula. Adam thought it was awesome. Anna kept backing away in total fear.

As usual, I got lots of help baking today.

10 Years

We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on Dec. 4. It was so great. The past 3 years we have started our fun day out the same way- lunch at the Golden Dragon in Bay City, then on to downtown where you'll find the antique mall and other fun stops... come along!


Ahhh, the Fabric Fair. Expensive beautiful fabulous fabric. I bought just one yard of this fabric with the trucks, I am making a little blanket for Tommy. I'll post a pic when it's done. I am famous for starting projects and not finishing them, but I do so solemnly swear to finish this if it kills me.


Just like a kid in a candy store! You knew I was going to say that, didn't you.


No he didn't buy it.


This was the cutest old pop-up book ever! One vendor had a ton of these, I could've sat there all day.


And then back to the old grind. Here is Adam plugging away at spelling. For some reason this week's words have been a breeze to practice, but last week included other, mother, brother, and wow were those tough for him. But he only got one wrong!


Monkey see, monkey do!