Snow Caves and Olympics

In February we built snow caves--yes, plural, caves--because, well, there was a lot of snow in our front yard and what little (or big) boy doesn't want to climb in a snow cave?

Unfortunately, the snow cave caved in when Jonah climbed up on it (after we explained what would happen if he climbed on it).
This was cause for much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth until...
Dad turned the once-snow-cave into a snow tunnel which then became an Olympic race course because the boys had been staying up later than usual every night watching the Olympics.

Now we had our very own luge and there was much rejoicing...
and laughter...
and silliness.
Thank heavens for dads! (because Mom would never think to put a 9-month-old on top of a 5 and 3-year old and send them down a snow-tunnel luge, but look how happy everyone is!)

January in Iowa

It snowed A LOT this past winter. The snow first fell in November and we never saw the ground again until late March.

Even with all the snow, Max biked to the hospital every day--only fell a couple times, and only once slid out into traffic, but luckily we still have him with us.

Moments Before Church

I think this was back in January sometime, but just minutes before church,Wyatt did a face-plant onto the edge of the rocking chair and ended up with this nice gash over his left eye. Luckily, we have an eye surgeon in the ward so we just went to church and hoped to catch him. He said Wyatt managed to cut it right where a surgeon would cut it for surgery and it wasn't that deep so no stitches necessary.

If you'll notice he already has a little scar just an inch or so above his eyebrow from face-planting into my mom's bannister when he was only around one or so. Poor guy. Hopefully facial scars don't become a regular thing, but as Max says, "Chicks dig scars."

How It Feels...

...to be the mother of three boys most days.

Christmas Morning 2009

Christmas Morning (Before)

Opening presents made Jonah and Wyatt really hot, so they had to take off their fleece pajama shirts.

The Aftermath

Jonah and Wyatt each got a Buzz Lightyear. Max was excited to get "Zurg Spray" to attack both of them and their Buzzes

The boys started out eating these giant suckers in the living room, but I soon realized that these were going to be tub treats.

New Family Photo

We had to take about 100 photos over two days to get this one--which to be honest was somewhat exhausting since I had to keep pushing the timer button and running back to get in the photo--but amazingly everyone is looking and, besides Emmett, has fairly natural smiles. Success!!

For a good laugh about family photos, check this out: Awkward Family Photos

Some Stuff

My mom has told me she's tired of looking at the photos of our annual Christmas tree hunt. :) So here is something new...don't get me wrong, this isn't something really recent. I'm still trying to catch up.

First, near the end of November we purchased a minivan. I love it. I love that it allows me to carpool, which means I don't have to pick up or drop off every time. I love that the doors close on their own (although the passenger door is being a little temperamental lately). I love that it is quieter in the car because Jonah and Wyatt are a good 4-5 feet back rather than only 2-3. Yes, love it.

I took the boys ice-skating for the first time. Jonah had been asking to try it and so we finally went. Max claims God did not intend for him to ice-skate, roller-skate/blade or dance, so these activities are all up to me.
Wyatt didn't love it. He couldn't ever get himself on top of his skates, but I think he's willing to try again some day.
Jonah loved it. He needed my help at first, then he went around the side of the whole rink one and a half times by himself, and then suddenly he let go and went across the rink. It was nice and empty when we went so it was good for learning.

On the same day we went ice skating, we also went to visit Santa in the mall. It was almost Christmas and I started feeling like I hadn't made the holidays very magical for my kids. (I have pretty conflicted feelings about playing up Santa, but I remember going to visit Santa and I'm a pretty well-adjusted adult, right?, so we made the visit.) Jonah did the classic Christmas Story thing where he was all prepared with what he wanted to say but when he actually met Santa he froze up and didn't really say much at all. Wyatt told Santa he wanted a teddy bear (which was news to us) and Santa did pull through on Christmas morning.

And finally, here are the boys in their Christmas jammies which they receive every year from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. Too bad this picture couldn't be with all the cousins in the same jammies, but hopefully next year.