A Lazy Sunday Morning

I went looking for Abby this morning, and this is what I saw!

Daphne drives Will and me crazy on a regular basis, but seeing this reminded me why we got this girl a dog!! Ahhhh, to be seven and have the love of a pet is a fine thing!

Take Me out to the Ball Game -- Final Cut

Please be warned -- my children are LOUD!!!

Take Me out to the Ball Game -- Abby's First Attempt

The Star Spangled Banner Daniel-Style

The Crabby Flag

Daniel LOVES to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Here is an interesting short version.

Will's First Time on Skis

Today Will went skiing for the first time ever!!!! Given that it was the first time he had skis on his feet, he did very well!!!

And Abby did great too on only her second time out.

Abby was kind enough to snap a photo of her skiing parents! (Not an easy task when the camera is an iPhone.)

A Post Swim Meet Sour Lemon

Abby participated in her third swim meet yesterday. She came in second in the backstroke, and fifth in the freestyle, butterfly, and breaststroke.

After the meet, we went out to eat and Daniel amused us all with his lemon antics. The boy does like to laugh!!

Cross Country Skiing

Abby went cross country skiing for the first time today. She did great and now thinks she is ready for downhill skiing!

Reading to Grandma

Abby needed to read a story from her reading textbook to an adult, and since Grandma was turning 70 in two days, she qualified!

Happy 70th Birthday Grandma!

Grandma Engelhardt turned 70 on January 18th. Aunt Lisa threw a fun party for the birthday girl!

Our Little Pirate

Daniel is doing a great job with potty training. I found a fun pirate potty training book for Daniel. He gets to wear this cool hat and each time he goes potty, he gets a gold coin sticker. In this picture (taken 1/4/11) Daniel has only the one sticker, but the hat is now covered in stickers.

We were out of diapers yesterday, so Daniel went without a diaper last night and was dry this morning!

Star Wars Monopoly

Daniel gave Abby Star Wars Monopoly for Christmas. Will, Abby and I played on New Year's Day while Daniel was napping. The force was with Abby because she quickly dominated the game and Will and I were eliminated.

Daniel's Starting 2011 on a Big Boy Note!!

I've initiated potty training boot camp. (Prior to last night, Daniel had been extremely resistant to potty training.) But beginning last night, the offer of candy if he went "potty in the big boy potty chair" registered with him. He did his business and was awarded an Andes mint.

Today, he and I have spent a lot of time in the bathroom (I'm reading a wonderful book -- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks -- so don't mind too much. He's already gone potty four times and the day is still young. Each time we all praised him profusely. He made sure to collect his candy reward and danced off with a grin!