just another week of dance...

She's too cute to not take her picture!

Sledding with a Snow Picnic

On Martin Luther King day we headed up to go sledding with the Konows, DeJongs, and Bales families. We went to one of our favorite spots off Rainbow Road. The kids go down a big steep hill on their bottoms and there is plenty of area to explore in. Luke stepped it up this year and was the first one down the mountain (he's been a little timid of the snow in years past). Andrew started off with some exploring with Mike and Allie quickly followed all the big kids around. Poor Sarah Bales took a good face dive off the sled and ended up with quite a few owies on her face. Poor girl just watched the rest of the day. We sledded, hiked around, enjoyed the beautiful sunshine (it was freezing cold and foggy back home), and spent time with good friends. The kids enjoyed filling the bathroom, which is boarded up with snow balls. Andrew said this was his favorite part! I love taking pictures on top of the hill because it has an awesome backdrop. Allie helped by taking all the family pictures, so if they are a little off center, it's because it's a 2 year olds photography skills. We all enjoyed a picnic in the snow and then everyone headed for home. We were enjoying the sun so much that we stopped in Auburn for ice cream. We sat outside in the warm sun and enjoyed our ice cream. After that it was back into the foggy cloud and chilly weather!!!

Meet GiGi and Molly

Allie LOVES playing with her dolls. These are two of her favorites...GiGi and Molly. She rescued GiGi from a garage sale and she got Molly for CHristmas from daddy and mommy. She has a little doll names Lucy that is also a favorite. GiGi and Molly are nearly part of our family. They come many places with us and are often mistaken for a real baby. The other day she had GiGi ride under the cart at the grocery store and I know I got some looks from people because at first glance she looks real. It's fun to see Allie nurture and love her babies so much, she is an amazing mommy!!!

My mornings with these 2...

I love my mornings home with Luke and Allie. They really make it quite easy. They love playing together and Luke pretty much thinks he is her dad, so he treats her like a princess. With all our cold weather, I'm not too motivated to get out of the house early because it's so COLD this winter. We have had many cozy days inside and these two love it. This morning they began pulling out all the blankets and stuffed animals, as usual. Luke loves to do this! Luke set up a mini gymnastics area for Allie. He then told me what she should do at each station. He had her doing somersaults and then jumping into the "pit" he made with blankets and stuffed animals. I could just watch and listen to these two all day. They have a great relationship and just love being together at home with one another.

Our little Ballerina & Gymnast

Allie just started a little dance/gymnastic class at "Flip To It" She was very excited about "her dance class." She talked about it days before and asked if just about everyone she knows was coming to watch her. When Monday evening came, she was very excited and kept saying, "c'mon boys, go to my my dance class." The boys watched with daddy and grandma. Luke loved taking pictures of her during her class with his new camera. Allie loved it and did great. She was a very good listener and was way too cute. They dance to Disney Princess songs and then head out to the gymnastic floor. Allie loves swinging on the bar and she even got to do a flip over the bar because she could hang so well. She has been practicing her dance moves at home and can't wait to go back!! We can't wait to watch her!!

More like his daddy everyday...

Luke loves to play basketball. Grandpa and Grandma gave the kids a hoop for Christmas and we have all spent quite a bit of time outside shooting on it, but Luke has a special interest. His friend Jacob also got him a Michigan basketball for his birthday and Luke is very proud of it. He even brought the ball in the house today to give it a bath. He has a great shot and I just love seeing the excitement in his face when he makes his shots. He is very proud of himself!! It's the perfect outdoor activity for Luke and we look forward to many more hours together with the hoop!!

Closing out the year we called 2010...

New Years Eve was spent at home with friends. The DeJongs and our neighbors Dan and Angela came over. We all brought some type of food and called it a "surprise dinner party." The DeJongs spoiled us though with steak and yummy brushetta. The kids played board games, Andrew and Lauren worked on their never ending book, the dads played Wii, Angela was attacked by small children to play games on the floor, the kids ran back and forth through our back fences to one anothor's houses, Allie choked on what seemed like a hairball at 8:55 and threw up, and at 9:00 we rung in the new year with poppers and champagne. Right after the ball dropped I put my messy daughter in the bath and changed myself (I was the lucky one holding her when she lost it). The kids all settled down and got tucked in. Andy went to bed as well and I ended up doing computer work until midnight (I know...highly exciting 111) It was a nice way to end this crazy year called 2010!! As I sat in a folding chair holding Allie, covered in pink throw up from her (she had a smoothie with dinner) as the ball dropped my wonderful husband gave me a New Year's kiss...I didn't expect anything else from this year...so glad it's 2011!!!