Beating those Winter Blahs!

Thanks to a great Feb. $5 promotion -- we took a chance to enjoy some water at a indoor water park in Kansas City yesterday. We didn't tell the kids where we were going until we got there. Kayla was convinced we were going to Family Camp (even though I pointed out several times it probably wouldn't be possible to swim at Family Camp with it this cold . . .!)

Hi Mom!

Joshua would try to release the water fountain so it would nail the lifeguards walking by . . . I'm sure they appreciate 5-year old boys like that!

Nothing like having dinner in your swim diaper and bib!!!!

Ready to go!

Lots of smiles!

Wow . . . so behind!

Well, since I'm a little . . um . . . behind, I guess I'll just dive in! Our little Tyler turns 10 months tomorrow! After getting a little amoxicillin for his ear infection several days ago, he is a happy camper again! He is doing great with table foods!

Earlier this week, she made this wand-looking thing and then asked me to put her princess dress on. I was confused, and then she explained she was Princess Presto from Super Why . . . ! (It's on PBS, for you cable people!)

Last weekend, Joshua got to take home "Thomas" from his pre-school and he was just elated!

He did a lot of this!

I believe strongly in multi-tasking in this household. This is my "Keep the kids entertained" AND "Clean my kitchen floors" gizmo!

Once again, Kayla keeping things lively!

Loves his bath!

One night, Bryan was messing with the camera functions and did these pics. (I, on the other hand, do well just to remember how to download the pics!)

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas always starts out with . . . the reading of the Christmas story . . . in which the adults are always substantially more attentive than the children . . .

Getting ready to open . . .

. . . his scooter. Since then, we've had a lot of this . . .

. . . and this.

Kayla playing with her tea set. (The tulle skirt she has one was actually "her" gift to "me." We take the kids to the dollar store and let them pick out one gift for each parent . . it's always interesting what gifts they select for their "parents!")

Tyler decided to get a jump on waking up Christmas morning . . .so he was ready for his first nap when we were ready to open gifts. So . . . he "opened" his gifts a little later. And was so thrilled to . . .can't you tell????

Our birthday cupcakes for Jesus . . .

Grandma thought the Christmas story needed more visual interest, so she made an angel costume for Kayla, and a shepherd costume for Joshua. Kayla played the part with dramatic style. You will notice no pictures of Joshua because . . . he wanted nothing to do with dressing up. Oh well . . . maybe next year???


This Christmas will be remembered as the Christmas with all of the snow. Wow.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

December, Etc.

Happy 8 months, bud!

I know, it's pathetic . . . but we had our "family" party for Joshua at Wendy's . . . when your b-day falls the week of light show craziness, finding even a 90 minute "open" time is impossible. But . . . he didn't seem to mind.

We got him his first "real" Bible . . .so very precious!

Five candles on that cupcake . . .

He insisted on taking his Bible to bed with him.

Joshua's preschool Christmas party today.

Emmy came and led the sing-along . . . she's a real hoot!

Happy campers!

Thanksgiving 2009

We took a few days to go to WI for Thanksgiving . . . and as you can tell, at times the trip was a little long . . .!


But it was worth it, right? Tyler was fighting a cold, so he was a bit "off" for a couple of days :(

Joshua had his birthday celebrated AGAIN -- with homemade ice cream!

It just wouldn't be a trip to WI without ice cream!

We got together with the cousins on Thanksgiving -- Joshua especially enjoys playing with his cousin Ben!


On the way home, we met up with my brother and sister in law outside of Chicago. The cousins enjoyed playing with each other for an hour or so!

I'll let you decide . . . one a scale of one to ten, how much is Kayla enjoying this picture????


We had a "Varner" Thanksgiving the day after we got back -- good to see family on that side, too!

Just happy to be along for the ride!


Once again, I realized I managed to not take a single picture of Thanksgiving "DINNER" -- oh well, maybe next . . .

Happy 5th B-day Joshua!

Joshua celebrated his 5th b-day this week at preschool so I thought I'd post a few pics! This week was also Joshua's "helper" day -- which explains why he is sitting at the head of the table. It is so funny how the kids know EXACTLY what they get to do when it is their "helper" day!

Helper day also involves getting to bring show and tell -- a very, very big deal to an almost-5 year old!

And the b-day box . . . he was SOOO excited about getting to see what's in the box!

Blowing out the candles on the "cake!" (a wax edition)

And, today we had our very first every "friend" b-day party. Yeah -- it's several weeks early, but with Bryan's light show schedule, the free time on the weekends are non-existent until January. We went with an Outer Space theme -- and in the above pic they were testing what the "moon rocks" had inside them! (I had made a baking soda paste and molded it around several plastic toys, then when you put it in vinegar . . . it bubbles and viola . . . you see the toy inside!

We had to wear goggles because it was a very dangerous experiment!

Tossing the balls into the planets

Joshua giving it a try.

Bryan working his magic with the kids. From what I hear, he is exceptional at this on Wed.. night with the 3 and 4-year old Cubbies, too!

Joshua was very adamant on having blue icing on the cupcakes . . .

Opening gifts . . .

Look above the steps . . . yes, we had our very own "meteor shower" indoors!

The kids had fun unwrapping all of the "meteors!"

Even thought we're a bit "pooped" it was so much fun -- just very, very hard to believe our oldest is five. Holy Cow. We're planning on a "family" birthday after Thanksgiving. Have a great Thanksgiving!