Sometimes, We are just Down in the Trenches

Where have we been since Valentine's Day?

Thankfully our usual haunts aren't getting old...

 Winter doesn't equal happiness in this house.  Even though we live South enough not to have to endure constant cold, snow, ice, or dangerous roads, the weather is still not conducive to being outside.  Chicago, the windy city, has nothing on our little corner of the world.  Yesterday a 50 mph+ winded dust storm raged ALL DAY.  Everyone's noses and throats are bothering them.  Kids are uncomfortable and edgy, parents are uncomfortable and edgy.   And bored.  Bad weather means no going outside.  Bad weather means cabin fever.  Bad weather means watching Toy Story Every. Single. Evening as a way to burn up the seemingly extra long expanse of time between dinner and bedtime.

The dog has learned a new trick...dunking himself in the water dish and running through the dirt when we let him out.  We can no longer just "let the dog in."  We have to wrestle him to the sink, rinse off  his paws, then dry them.  Every. Single. Time we let him in.

We are in the process of making a bedroom switch.  Cooper is moving to the guestroom, Penny is moving to  Cooper's old room, and Penny's itty bitty room is going to be my sewing and craft room.  (Yay!)  And yes, we are still working steadily at the lake house.  I can only hope that this last big push to paint things is a room-painting career closer.

So, yes, sometimes we are down in the trenches and waiting impatiently for Spring and the things that mean Spring. (Better weather, outdoor activities, no allergies, a disciplined dog, and an end to indoor home projects.)   In winter, we are down in the trenches.  But come Spring, we will be out in the open and back to ourselves.

Scenes From St. Valentine's Day

Cooper learned to write his name for this very occasion!

Penny and Cooper shared "Valentine snack mix" and Toy Story Valentines with their friends at school.

All our Valentine loot.

Playing the "heart game"

Best shot I got of these two together in their red shirts...

Happy Birthday Daddy!

This year Daddy opted to spend his birthday with his favorite people...So we had a quiet celebration at  home with all his favs...Cooper, Penny, and carrot cake!

Carrot cake with as much cream cheese frosting as I could possibly fit on one cake.

Cooper eats cake.

Penny eats the candles.
(Really just the icing off the candles...We don't condone wax consumption here.)

 Happy Birthday Daddy!

Hoping the Groundhog Was Right

It's the beginning of February and Cooper is already asking if we can go swimming.

Daddy and Mama spent Groundhog Day running  in the "Color Me Rad" 5K.  Afterwards we swam with the kids in Ma-Mas' and Pa-Pa's (heated) pool, which might be why Coop thinks we should be able to swim at home.  

Brewster accidentally went swimming too!

Come on Spring!!

Settling In

We thought a puppy just might enrich our lives.  We were right.  We couldn't be more thrilled with how taken both Cooper and Penny are with Brewster the Dog.  Both of them enjoy playing with him.  Cooper thinks Brewster fetching his toy, growling in play, barking, chasing his tail and being in crazy dog mode (running in circles for no obvious reason other than to just run) is the most hilarious thing he has ever seen.  While caring for and training a puppy takes time and patience (a lot like kids!), we are reaping the benefits enormously.  Cooper, once very afraid of dogs, has relaxed quite a bit around them.  Penny was very territorial towards Brewster at first, but now seems to accept him.  (For those that know Penny, this is HUGE!  She does not offer her regard to just anyone.)  David and I get to hear even more readily our favorite sound in the world...Cooper or Penny laughing when something is REALLY funny.  We have become a wild dog-and-monkey (kid) show at our house, but it seems to fit us well.  And I think Brewster likes it here too. 

 He fits right in:

Confidence is key...

Regular nap time?  No problem!

Except he could use his own chair...

Other dogs?  Bonus!

Kids to chase, er, play with?  Double Bonus!

All in a Day with Penny

Penny, at age two and four months, likes to:

Play Hide-and-Seek, utilizing her princess flashlight.

Serve donuts. (courtesy of Melissa & Doug)

Watch and sing along with the ABC app on the iPad.

Her favorite thing to do in the world: hang with Cooper!

All in a Day With Cooper

A few things Coop likes to do on a day off from school...

Monkeying around at the playground.

Playing with the dogs.

South Texas sledding.

How We Spent Our Winter Vacation

For two weeks, our family had lots of time together.  We all enjoyed the busy time, first as the holidays approached, and then the quieter time, after the new year.  Now that we are back in the swing of things, in between trips outside with Brewster, I can reflect on just how we spent that time.  During our vacation we...

spent cold nights snuggled up on the couch.

enjoyed our Christmas presents while expanding our minds.

 visited the aquarium.  Penny saw this coral and said, "Look Mama!  Cheetos!"

visited the museum.  Both kids love to play in the children's area.  So much so that we got a family membership for the year.  We will be back.

ran errands, and met up with Daddy!  We were saved from a meltdown in the middle of a store when the prospect to meet Daddy for lunch was introduced.

Went to the lake...twice.  Mama and Daddy had work  to do but the kids enjoyed the break in routine (and the tearing through the house).
Cooper found a set of dominoes in the house, which he used to build a tall tower.  At one point we heard from the other room, "PENNY!  You knocked over my San Antonio!"

Penny found out just how fun it is to throw rocks in the lake.  

I hope we can always remember to take advantage of the time we have together, in the here and now.

Meet Brewster...the Newest Member of Our Family!

Yesterday we added to our family...with a new puppy. As David and I both grew up with dogs, we felt it was important that Cooper and Penny would have a dog to grow up with too.  We are so excited to start making memories with our new addition.  Hello, Brewster!

This sweet boy slept comfortably on the floorboard of the truck almost the whole way home.

Cooper already loves Brewster!  We were just hoping he wouldn't be afraid of him.  He described him as "so cute" and "cool like Ralph".  He also asked last night if Brewster could sleep with him.  Penny is a little territorial ..she has told Brewster a few times, "That's my Mama!"

Ringing in the New Year at the Ranch

We continued a new tradition this year by spending New Year's Eve at the Ranch.  Becky, Ryan, Jenny, Leighton, Raeleigh, and MJ joined us for some real ranching fun.  Cooper and Penny had their jeep and Raeleigh and MJ had their raptor to romp around in.  It was hilarious to watch the four kids in two vehicles driving around.  One time we swore they were playing "chicken."  While the kids drove around, ran around, dug in the big dirt pile, visited the fish, and played with toys, the adults sat around the fire, drove the mule, played cards, shot clay pigeons and just watched the kids have fun.  Despite the cold, drizzly rain that began on New Year's Eve afternoon, everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend.  

The dueling kids' vehicles really made the weekend.

Penny gets to work.

Penny and MJ pick "pumpkins" to feed to the fish.

Coop and Raeleigh wait patiently for their mule ride.

Breakfast on the porch.

Happy New Year!  2013 is going to be great!