Photo Friday...Week 24

This week, I'm going back a few years!  There were never any rules that said these photos have to be current, right?!?

Your feet, side by side

This was when Ethan was 1 month old.  I was still on maternity leave from work, my brother and his family still lived in Florida and my parents and Abby were heading down for a visit.  Ethan and I decided it would be great to tag along!  And it was.  This was also his first plane ride and first trip to the beach :).  Such a good little traveler he was and is!

Just soaking up the sun!

PlayTime

A few days ago, I made a 'fortress' for the kids to play in.  (Side note: Fortress is Ethan's word of choice for a tent/fort.)  They thought it was awesome.  It stayed up for 2 days, I think, but I eventually needed the blankets.

Giving his fortress a thumbs up!

They crammed a lot into that little space.

Today, we had a little play day with some friends.  Actually, I was watching a friend's 2 kids for the morning, and we all had a great time!  Ethan and Jackson are in preschool and church together.  Nora and Emree are 6 months apart and had fun playing too.

The girls, cutting up some cookies

A couple of cute superheros!

Lego time

The girls wanted in on the superhero action!  See Emree in the background as Supergirl :)

As I have blogged about before, Ethan loves to play in the snow.  We got about 4 inches yesterday and last night.  He and Jared went out yesterday to shovel and sled a bit (it was dark before they came in).  It warmed up a little today, so I decided to take both kids out for a little while.  Nora was happy just walking circles on the driveway and didn't really care about the snow.  And I basically had to drag Ethan inside.  I'll leave the snow play to daddy :).

Taking them for a sled ride...Nora's not too sure.

Checking out the snow, briefly. 

Moving some snow

Instagram Info

I took a cue from my sister (or just copied her) and decided to add a link to my Instagram page.  For those of you who aren't aware, Instagram is a photo sharing site.  I follow people and people follow me and we see each other's photos on our feed.  I post a lot of pictures there that I don't post anywhere else.  So, if you're interested...click the little camera to the right :).  And, if you have Instagram, find me and request a follow!  I'd love to 'follow' you back!  Happy hump day!

Downstairs

Over a year living in our house, we are really loving the downstairs.  A few weeks ago, we went to IKEA in search of the perfect toy storage for our play area.  And last weekend, we decided (on a whim) to paint a few walls.  I was hoping for more of a change or 'accent' wall effect, but we used what we had since we have a ton of paint.  Ethan was very into helping during the painting, and he didn't do a bad job :).

He's a cute helper!

Look at that tongue out concentration!

 Here's the after!  I really like how it turned out.  I put an IKEA curtain rod above the storage with little clips to hang Ethan's artwork (and someday soon, Nora's).  He thinks it's pretty cool to see his stuff up there.

Too many toys! (But there are lots of empty spaces)

Quite some time ago, I bought a couple pieces of wrapping paper from a store in downtown Decatur for $4 each.  One was a world map, the other was the alphabet.  I had Jared cut some plywood that we had to size and I mod podged the paper to the wood.  It was my first mod podge experience, and I didn't do a very good job.  Too many wrinkles and bubbles, but don't look too closely!

I think they add nice color to the walls :)

Like I mentioned before, we are really enjoying the downstairs.  Nora, especially likes it down there.  It's mostly wide open and with her new walking abilities, she can go and go.  And there isn't too much that is off limits for her.

Camping in the tent, with plenty of food

Showing off her walking, bending and picking up skills.  Yes this is a bathroom stool she is toting around.

Ethan has branched out when playing with his blocks.  He used to dump them and kick them and that's it.  He builds quite the structures with them now.

And gets a little OCD with them...

Intense.

Photo Friday...Week 23

Ethan might be the best hugger, ever!  He uses his legs and wraps them all the way around me.  Most of the time, it's so tight I don't have to hold him up.  He's the sweetest!

Giving your child a hug

Check out those toes touching!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, today is Valentine's Day (as if you needed me to tell you).  I'm feeling quite loved today (and everyday)! We even met daddy for a lunch date at Culver's!
A couple weeks ago, I found{ this} and had to give it a try.  So...Ethan, Nora and I got busy painting and crafting to make a few special Valentine cards.  I think they turned out pretty cute and I think they were a hit with their recipients :).

Last night I was surprised by these...

Good Job, Husband :)

And this morning, Ethan was surprised by this:

Happy Valentine's Day to my 2nd Valentine!

Carefully removing his chocolates

Testing the roads!

Nora wasn't really surprised by anything, she got a sweet Minnie Mouse card that she refused to show me for a picture and I made her a special heart, hair bow.

Love my 3rd Valentine!

In other news...her pink, sparkley Toms (from her Birthday) fit!

We capped our morning off by meeting my #1 Valentine (13 years and counting) at Culver's for lunch.  He got coffee and cards from us. (And a pretty stellar dinner planned for tonight)

I have explained to Ethan, what Valentine's day is.  It's about love, and showing that love to others.  But most of all, it's about God's unconditional love for us!  "We love because He first loved us."  1 John 4:19

Photo Friday...Week 22

Standing Back to Back to Compare Height

Getting down on their level

Super Bowl...

...Collier style!
We had our own little family of 4 Super Bowl Party.  We even made some football game junk food!  Ethan was a little confused.  He kept asking what games we were going to play at the party.  He didn't like the answer we gave...at a Super Bowl Party, you just watch the football game.  So at halftime, he and Jared played their own football game!

Look at that determination (on both of them)!

Tackled!

Such joy!  Love this kid to pieces!

More joy! 

One more kid, I love to pieces! Who, by the way, is walking now! (I'll try to get a video up soon)

Snowy Visit

Saturday, we had a wonderful visit with Dustin and Amanda.  It also happened to snow a bit the night before.  Every time it snows (even just flurries) he wants to go out and build a snowman and sled down the hill.  We actually got enough to do both...even if the snowman was the tiniest little guy I've ever seen!  Dustin, Jared and Ethan spent at least an hour outside playing in the snow.  I stepped outside, briefly, to snap a few photos!

The boys collecting snowballs.

Ethan had so much fun!

Pulling the sled. (Max even joined the fun)

Good times!

After the boys made their way inside, we made some yummy popcorn!

And played some!

Nora and Amanda

Cutting up some veggies!

Photo Friday...Week 21

Nora doesn't have a lot of hair...but it's growing (finally)!  I love cuddling with this sweet girl after bath while she's enjoying an ice cold cup of milk :).

Doing your child's hair

Love her!