Visitors!!!

While traveling through Nebraska, our good friends stopped by for a visit. It's hard to say who had more fun: the kids or the adults. During their visit, we enjoyed a trip to the zoo. We especially had fun seeing the frozen waterfalls.

In addition to playing our traditional game of Pinochle, Paul and Jason had a great time playing one of their favorite games: Monopoly.

Snow Day!

Adam loves to help shovel the snow. Since our large shovel is a bit difficult for him to control, he prefers to use a garden hand shovel or rake. After seeing Adam shoveling with a rake, one of our neighbors gave Adam his own shovel. It is the perfect size! Adam loves using his shovel to clear a path on the driveway just like Mommy and Daddy. Today was the first "wet" snowfall we've had. It's nice to finally have snow that can be packed into snowballs. We of course had to take the opportunity to make a snowman. Adam instantly referred to it as Frosty and insisted that we find a black hat for him.

Jack Be Nimble

For Christmas, Adam received a video of Mother Goose rhymes. It is now at the top of his list of favorite movies. After watching it several times, Adam memorized many of the songs and rhymes. He has even started reenacting scenes from the video. This is one of his favorites. Adam uses anything and everything as candlesticks: toys, boxes, blocks, pillows, people, etc.

Garbage Day

Wednesdays are very important in our home. It's garbage day! Adam listens for the truck all morning. When he hears it coming, he dashes up the stairs, grabs his toy garbage truck, and asks to be lifted up on his changing table for a better view of the event. He always insists on staying at the window until the garbage truck drives completely out of sight.

Bleigiessen

It's a tradition in our home to begin a new year with Bleigiessen. You begin by melting lead in a spoon. Once it is all melted, you dump the liquid lead into a bowl of water. The lead quickly solidifies into an abstract shape that is used to predict your future for the upcoming year.

The result (we welcome any alternate interpretations):

Paul's Fortune

A tree with a bicep

Interpretation: Much to Kim's surprise, the tree that Paul pruned on our porch will grow back stronger and better than it was before.

Kim's Fortune

A toilet seat, jet ski, and woman sitting at a desk

Interpretation: Kim will have success in toilet training Adam (either that or it will be a year long process). Kim will take on new adventures, while still finding some time for solitude.

Adam's Fortune

A putter with a golf ball, a plant, a mermaid and ?

Interpretation: Adam will learn the art of golf at a young age. Adam will continue to grow at incredible speed throughout the year. As for the mermaid, who knows.

Big Boy Bed!

Today was a BIG day in our home. It all started when the "huge semi-truck" pulled up in front of our house. Adam has been waiting several weeks for this day to arrive.

Daddy and Adam worked together to put the finishing touches on the special delivery.

Finally, Adam tested it out.

He gave it two thumbs up. He loves his new "Big Boy Bed!"

Mr. Fix-it

After receiving his very own set of tools for Christmas, Adam has conquered many projects in our home. He has fixed the dishwasher, the refrigerator, our kithcen cupboards, several of his toys, and most of our furntiture. Today he repaired our oven. What a great helper!