Playing in the Snow

Emmalyn ate the snow.

Brandon shoveled the snow.

Mama, Brandon and Emmalyn built snowmen.

And Brandon shoveled some more.

Christmas Morning

Here's the gifts and a few decorations.

The kids were up early to see what Santa brought.

They love their Kindles!

Finally, they opened the rest of their gifts.

Snow Shoveling Time

All ready to go outside and play/shovel.

 What a mess!

Sick Brandon

Quickest fever/flu/cold or whatever. The poor kid was burning up and starving, so I gave him a popsicle.

 Whatever he had passed quick.  He made a speedy recovery and was back to his normal self by the end of the day.

Grand Prize Picture!

This is the picture depicting potty training success that was randomly drawn to win us a trip to Disney World from Pull-Ups!

BTW - Emmalyn is potty-trained.  On her 3rd birthday, I told her that she was a big girl and that she couldn't use diapers anymore.  We took a big black garbage bag and "threw away" all of her diapers.  She then put on underwear that St. Nick left for her a few weeks earlier.  There were many not so accidental accidents, but she hasn't worn a diaper since!  (The big black garbage bag full of diapers was passed on to Riley, not thrown away!)

Birthday Party

Birthday Celebration for Emmalyn's 3rd Birthday...

 and Brandon's 5th Birthday!

Ball Flowers

Brandon got creative with the balls and made some beautiful flowers.

Happy Kids at the Park...in December!

It's a rare occasion to be able to go to the park in December...in Wisconsin...in only light jackets.  Brandon and Emmalyn had a blast!

Neither one of them was able to climb very high on the rope.

I love how their arms and legs are identical in these pictures.

So many big smiles!

They took up a collection of pine cones and arranged them on the holes in the stairs.