Finally--a Minnesota "Heat Wave"

Hurry up boys and get your snow pants on--it's above 0 degrees and we are going outside to play! Peyton has been the least enthused about playing outside partially because he's barely had a chance this winter with such cold temps and partially because our neighbors energetic new puppy is perfectly eye level with him and loves to lay the kisses on Peyton! Peyton--not a big fan of puppy kisses it turns out! He was safe up on the swingset where he stayed most of the time!
Caleb and Logan worked on digging a fort outside this time.

Colton got his share of a few puppy kisses himself but didn't mind. He seemed to enjoy being pulled around in the sled as the big fat snowflakes fell on his rosy cheeks and eyelashes.

Swingin' in the snow!

I see you in there, Logan!

Colton especially liked swinging! Another push!

There was also the many flying jumps into the snow piles! Look out below!

Nice air!

Even I bundled up and braved the elements.

(For my stupid friends out there who were with me Saturday night--you know what a feat in itself that was. My jello legs could barely make it through the snow after basketball, 4 hours of dancing and not nearly enough sleep--not to mention all else! Love you guys!)

Peyton's favorite--riding on the four-wheeler!

Too Cold to Go Out!! (Almost)

School was cancelled due to the freezing cold temps and wind today so we decided to build a fort in the living room! Peyton just loves when the boys stay home to play with him! Nice glasses Peytie-pie!
We did attempt to having some "quiet" reading time when the little brothers were napping.

Peyton's private little cubby of his own--just him and his Power Rangers.

Although school was cancelled, hockey for Caleb wasn't. Off we went into town. Logan stayed home and practiced his goalie skills.

Just try and get one past this guy!

Hockey, Happy Birthday, and a Haircut!

Poor Colton! I think he enjoyed the singing and cake, but by the end of the evening, he was just holding it together. His temp ended up being 102.3. He got a quick birthday bath and some medicine and called it an early night! Happy Birthday Colton!

Happy Birthday to Me!! Now let's eat some cake!

I wish I could stay 1 forever!

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Colton's first "haircut" from Auntie Brittany.

Colton did a great job sitting for her and even though she only trimmed up the side wispies, he already looks older!

It was the weekend of the Pops/Mite Jamboree! Poor Colton spent the first half of his birthday watching his big bros play hockey! Although Mom and Dad enjoyed it, I think Colton wished he were napping. Caleb did a great job and is really learning to play the different positions (his favorite is center--he races out to face off)! There are some big kids out there at this level, but he doesn't back down!

Logan and cousin Kylie (4 1/2 yrs.) play on the same team. Logan also did a great job today (and in his two games on Saturday)! He scored 4 goals and played great defense! What fun it is to watch such a hard worker! Kylie does a great job waving to her fans!

Logan and his teammates! Where's your coach?

I got a little nervous with this picture since Caleb was coming at me pretty fast, but it turned out neat. This is a picture of the back rink where Caleb played his game on Sunday. Brrr! It's cold back there!

Although Logan still looks at hockey as hard work, I think he is pretty proud of himself! 3 games in two days! Whew!

Christmas "Vacation" Ha!

O.K., I know I've been slacking with these updates, but Christmas "vacation" was long enough to screw everyone's internal clock up, but not long enough to do much else! It's amazing how those days whipped by! This week back at school has been tough on all of us! I'm pretty sure the boys enjoyed having time to play with all of their new toys while they were home! We did have a couple of days in there where we had nowhere to be and no time frame to do anything. We stayed in our pj's all day on those days. They did wear these Nike outfits 3 days in a row though. I guess they liked them! Unfortunately, you cannot see the lovely "Nike man" t-shirts Caleb and Logan made themselves to go with them.
Mr. Colton's new favorite thing to do is make a beeline for those stairs I recently said he pays no attention to and climbs up with a mischevious little smile on his face all the while. And if you go after him, he just moves faster! He is taking steps too, but as a speed crawler--that is the preferred method of locomotion!

Cool dude!

January baby

Dante turned 9 years old on New Years Day! And I really think he is milking this "old man" thing. He's pretty persistent when he wants a treat. How can you ignore this face?
Still quietly begging with his puppy eyes.

Check this out! Ever since his birthday, he has just taken over this chair blatantly ignoring his dog blanket draped over the corner and snuggling right into the cushion. If he didn't look so comfy....

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve! We had a great Christmas Eve opening family gifts including the well received brother gifts to each other! Caleb and Logan were able to "go shopping" at school and did a good job (without coaching--mom wasn't even there) picking out gifts for their brothers. The boys also got new pj's from mom and dad as seen in pictures! After dinner and gifts, we even had time to take a sauna and get to bed at a reasonable time. Well, the kids did anyway. We happen to know that Santa spent a little time setting up his gift to the whole family (a Wii) downstairs and then of course, had to try it out to make sure it was working!
The only gifts that Mom and Dad need are right there under our tree!

Here is Peyton holding one of his prized "brother gifts" from Caleb. Popsicle soap!! He couldn't wait to open them!

We had a visit from Santa on Christmas night! Very exciting! However, Peyton would not go near him and Colton was already sleeping!

Caleb kept asking Santa questions about the gifts that he had already left for us that morning. Good thing there was so much chaos, Santa really didn't have the opportunity to answer. Hmmm...what's going through that mind of his?

Sunday Night Sauna Time

Colton--great hair! Too bad it's only curly in the sauna!

Peyton was hogging the baby tub. Poor Colton.

This little monkey will not sit still to take his 11 month picture in the blue chair! I think I missed the 10 month pic because he just wouldn't cooperate! Colton is a squirrely one and although he hasn't taken that first step, I'm a little nervous for when he does! Amazingly, he hasn't really given the stairs a second thought where with the other boys, we've had to block them from about the time they were 6 months until they could safely maneuver down the stairs on their bellies. I know that by even writing this, he'll be headed straight there tomorrow, but the day will come eventually.

Holiday "baking"

Logan did make a great Santa bear!

We had some scary looking cookies! I mean, "cool."

Peyton was napping during the baking but got to decorate his own bear. It barely lasted long enough to take the picture! But, what fun is baking if you can't eat them immediately?

Goofball #2

Goofball #1

My goofball boys "helping" bake some gingerbread cookies. However, they didn't call them men, they were gingerbread aliens.

He shoots, he SCORES!

Caleb had his first game as a Mite today and scored his first goal of the season!

Advent is here!

We received a package in the mail over the weekend from Germany! Always fun! Inside the boys found their Advent calendars (just in time) from Uncle Aaron, Daniella, Calvin and Lily! Thank you so much! They are filled with yummy German chocolates! Logan didn't think he could wait until Monday to open door #1 and eat some chocolate but he did! Peyton would eat his all in one sitting if possible!

Let's Bowl! Let's Bowl! Let's...Rock 'n Roll!

We decided after the Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Susie's and Bumpa's to go bowling. It was a blast! Peyton's first time was interesting. No balls were dropped on any toes thankfully. Caleb's got the zig-zag throw down meaning that each ball banks off of the bumpers 3-4 times before hitting the pins.
Logan got the highest score in the kid's lane beating Caleb by 4-5 pins. Charlie was a big boy and chose not to use the slide most of the time bowling, but every ball made it down to the pins. A few came close to needing rescuing. Needless to say, we were able to bowl two games to their one.

Ty, didn't you get the memo about wearing your stripes tonight? The competion was not the fiercest, but Kim and Ty were doing their best to keep their "teams" in front. My excuse: Too full to move, let alone bowl AND I had to make sure everyone in the kid's lane finished with all 10 fingers and 10 toes working properly not to mention keep them on the task of bowling in between "playing" video games with no money! Exhausting!

Bumpa took a break after cooking all day and didn't bowl, but I think the real reason was that he didn't want Grandma Susie to beat him!