Winter Fun By: Stella

Well, I don't know about you, but we are in an absolute flurry of winter activities! :) We were very excited when we had the big storm, mostly because Dad got to take vacation time on our February break, but also because we could do our favorite winter activities! This on and off snow was driving us crazy, and we were really happy to get a REAL storm. ;)

We had an amazing February break! Starting with Monday, which was Mom and Dad's anniversary, we continued with Junior Ranger Camp, sledding, hiking, shoveling, sipping hot cocoa and sitting by crackling warm fires on lazy winter's evening.

Junior Ranger camp started on Wednesday. Tert was a little disappointed that he couldn't go, until Mom suggested that he pack a bag of stuff to do on the way there. He solemnly slipped on his Smokey hat, after his sister claimed it...
and then packed his backpack full of all of the necessary equipment for the car drive...
Then he declared, "I'm ready Mom. I'll go to Junior Ranger Camp when I'm fourteen." :-)

We had an amazing couple days of hiking up in the snow, skating, (with our boots on :P) sledding, ice-fishing for the first time. Oh, yes, and making cocoa out of the snow by boiling it over a roaring fire with little cocoa packets, cups, and pine sticks for spoons and a little piney flavor. :)

We finished off our week with sledding with our cousins. It was an amazing vacation!

Today is our first day back to school. We are getting back into the routine pretty well! Today we had a lunchbreak outside, (a little nippy, but I'm looking forward to what they say is going to be 64 degree days: sounds good to me!) I took several pictures of the kids enjoying their last days of Winter Fun before the snow all melts and SPRING ARRIVES!
Little Filia is adorable outside. She took a long, long walk the other day and enjoyed it so much, toddling along, holding our hands. She is going to live outside when the warm weather comes. We can't wait to put her in little sundresses and take her to the beach. :)

Anyway: enjoy the winter while it lasts and without further ado (and springy, summery wishes) my photos...
Hooray, what'll we do today Mom?
Um, these are a little large. The next size down maybe?

There, perfect. ;)

Let's go for a walk Sissy.
Now for some brothertime and basketball...


And some scootering of course! :)


And some shoveling:
And let's go see Cora... Or in Filia's words:Ora! It's a buppy! (It's a BUPPY means It's a PUPPY!)
By: StellaHAPPY WINTER!!! <3

(Or as I like to say: Happy Pre-spring! :) )

Happy 13th Anniversary Mom and Dad :)

Mom and Dad have recently celebrated their thirteenth anniversary. Every year Dad gets Mom a rose for each year they have been married. Here is the gorgeous bouquet of 13.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!


Note:
If you would like to check it out: there is a slideshow on the top left of the blog of all of their anniversary pictures through the years. <3

Potty Time By: Stella

Little Filia is so cute! She has recently gone around the house saying, "Poo! Poo!" And she continues to bang on the bathroom door. I let her in (with her pants on!) and she actually went in her diaper. Maybe she'll be potty trained right away... ;)


Now for the hand sanitizer...

:)

Filia Pictures By: Stella

Stylin' :) (In 'Tissy's' hat) ;)

Ready to walk the Runway (aka the Couch)

President's Day

Hello Everyone! Stella here. :)
Presidents Day was a couple of days ago and I did a President's Day school theme with the little boys . It was really fun, and we had some poems and coloring activities. Here are some poems that I found on:
http://www.apples4theteacher.com
Enjoy!

Washington's Birthday

by Margaret E. Sangster

'Tis splendid to have a record
So white and free from stain
That, held to the light, it shows no blot,
Though tested and tried amain;
That age to age forever
Repeats its story of love,
And your birthday lives in a nation's heart,
All other days above.

And this is Washington's glory,
A steadfast soul and true,
Who stood for his country's honor
When his country's days were few.
And now when its days are many,
And its flag of stars is flung
To the breeze in radiant glory,
His name is on every tongue.

Yes, it's splendid to live so bravely,
To be so great and strong,
That your memory is ever a tocsin
To rally the foes of wrong;
To live so proudly and purely,
That your people pause in their way,
And year by year, with banner and drum,
Keep the thought of your natal day.

This one is the boy's favorite:

Like Washington

by Helen M. Richardson

"I wish that I could be as great
As Washington," said Joe.
"You can, my dear," his mother said,
"If you but will it so."

"But how?" urged Joe. "I cannot do
The things he did - to be
As great as he was would just mean
A General, you see."

"A General, my little lad,
You can be if you will.
A climbing boy can always reach
The summit of the hill.

"But to be great, we first must be
Brave, kind and good and true;
And Washington was all of these,
Though but a boy like you."

"Perhaps," said Joe. "I'd better try
To be just good, and when
I am as old as Washington
I may be like him then.

One Word: Tert

Some Laughs By: Stella

I took this series of pictures on a long car ride. Notice all of his different faces as he gets more and more bored and then arrives at his destination: too FUNNY! :P


Our Little Tert..... ;)