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!

Thursday Night Golf

Tonight was Ethan's last golf class.  He almost cried when I told him.  He has really enjoyed this class and got so excited every Thursday morning when we told him it was golf night.  Tonight and last week they got to hit 'real' clubs and 'real' golf balls in the simulator.  He, naturally, thought this was awesome!

Check out this form...

Ethan and his new friend Zander (also happens to live 3 houses down)

This sweet girl is already into to golf!

IKEA

My parents graciously offered to keep the kids for a weekend, so we could plan a trip north to IKEA with Abby and Alex.  After Abby and Alex bought their house, they were ready to go, so we planned it for last weekend.  We left Friday afternoon and had a great weekend, with great shopping, great eating and great company.  It was so much fun!  Saturday was a long day browsing through IKEA.  The boys were done about 3 hours before we actually left the store!  But we rejuvenated them with a trip to Golf Galaxy and some Chicago style deep dish pizza :)!

After a delicious dinner at Giordanos...so good!

Abby and I with the big yellow letters :)!

Jared and Alex were probably regretting agreeing to this trip, right about now...they spent a long time in the cold trying to figure out how to fit everything in the truck.  You did great and we love you both!

Alex showing off Abby's collection of Swedish chocolate (And happy because we are finally leaving that place)

Thank you mom and dad for keeping the kids.  They had a great time and so did we!!

Photo Friday...Week 20

In the last few days, I've been giving the kids 'rides' around the living room (carpet only!).  Horsey or piggy back, they don't care!

Giving your child a piggyback

Ethan wanted to try taking a picture...this is the best one of about 6 :)

Best Friends

I absolutely love watching Ethan and Nora interact and play together.  (Not too long ago, I posted this and this)  As I was scrolling though the pictures on my camera, I realized I had several to share of the kids playing.  Some of the photos, aren't the greatest.  But they do show how much fun they were having!

They love laundry baskets...

  And being chased/chasing each other!

Ethan, also likes to 'help' his sister around...

Walking Girl!

Nora is rapidly approaching 15 months old.  She is a very speedy crawler and doesn't really show too much interest in walking to get where she wants to go.  She can walk and has walked half way across our living room several times.  But if she spots something she wants, down she goes.  I'm sure she will get there.  And I'm sure it will be sooner rather than later.  In the meantime, here are some pictures of her walking protocol (for now)...

First, she climbs onto the fireplace and sits down...

Next, she scoots to the front and puts her feet on the floor.

Then, stands and makes sure she is stable.

And, finally, she's off!

She made it to her target!

Ethan wanted her to walk to him the other night.

She was headed there, but then made a turn for the chair.  He was ready though!

I also have a couple other (non-walking) pictures of Nora to share.  She is very able when it comes to climbing and getting where she wants to go.

Just playing in the toy basket