Happenings at our house- Jan.- Feb. 2013

Dawn, being the slave driver that she is, has been making me work in the basement to get it finished.  If the truth be told, I actually really enjoy working on projects and sneak away whenever I get some time so I can get things done.  I've now got most of the framing and electrical done in the basement and even have a couple of the rooms sheetrocked.  It helps me to keep in touch with my inner manliness.

Here are some pictures of the kiddles during January and February that we thought everyone would enjoy.

Drew loves taking baths and can hardly wait to get in.  In fact, while the tub was filling, he leaned over really far over the edge and fell in still fully clothed.  We didn't think he was tall enough to do it, but we were wrong.  He sat up really quickly and just started splashing in the water.  He is a silly little guy.

Avery loves to put any and all accessories into her hair once Dawn gets her ready in the morning.  Most mornings Madolyn is all too helpful in sticking every clip, bow, or hairband on her as well.

This is our nightly routine.  We get the girls ready for bed and then read them a few stories.  They love to be read to which is why I think Madolyn is such a good reader already.

Drew does a lot better at eating when he has something to play with and distract him.  Usually it's a utensil or measuring cup or something.  Some of his cutest moments are in the high chair at feeding time.  Some of his worst moments are there as well!  It's amazing how blue his eyes look when he wears that blue bib.  

Avery is such a cheeser sometimes.  A dang cute one at that though!

Valentines Day 2013

Nothing is more fun for Valentines day then making and decorating cookies.  Dawn was really good to help the girls make some treats.  They even surprised me at work by coming by with some treats and taking me out to lunch.  It was really nice.  

I saw a thing on Pinterest where they used an old empty ketchup bottle for pancake batter so they could make cool designs.  I decided to give it a go so I woke up that morning and made hearts and flowers and all sorts of fun stuff out of the pancake batter.  The girls loved them!

This is the pancake that Dawn got for breakfast.  What can I say?  I know what my lady likes!  :)

Swimming lessons- January 2013

When we first started swimming lessons back in November, the girls weren't real comfortable in the water especially without Dawn or myself there with them.  A few months of swim lessons later and they are doing really well.  We keep them in the same class although Avery is a little behind Madolyn in everything.  They love to go under the water now and float all by themselves.  It's good to see them enjoy the water so much....just in time for summer too!

The picture below is one of my favorites with Avery practicing her stroke with the teacher.

Our artist- January 30th, 2013

Madolyn loves to draw and color pictures.  She usually colors or draws at least one picture a day and usually more.  It's become quite the chore to decide which ones we should keep one which ones we shouldn't.  The other day she decided to draw some pictures of the seasons.  They aren't in order but she got them all covered; the sun for summer, flowers for spring, snowmen for winter and colorful leaves for fall.  She is a smart little cookie.  

Avery's first visit to the dentist- January 24th, 2013

Avery got to visit the dentist for the first time on January 24th.  Dawn was brilliant in thinking to check out some books at the library about dentist visits.  We read them a bunch with Avery so she knew what to expect.  She did an awesome job and held really still.  In fact, the dentist said he wishes all the kids would read books about visiting the dentist if it helps them behave like Avery.  What a big girl she is!

Drew's 1st Birthday! January 21st 2013

Drew turned one!   Grandma Peterson's birthday is the day after Drew's so we had a double birthday party which made it extra fun.  Drew loved ripping the paper and tasting it and playing with it.

He didn't know what to think about the cake at first.  He just poked at it and looked at until we moved him to his high chair.

He must have felt more comfortable there because then he went to town....stuffing it in his mouth and pounding it on his tray, he thought that was the best.

Avery and Madolyn helped decorate some of the cupcakes.

What a sweet baby boy! We love our baby Drew and he brings a smile to us everyday and we're so happy he's in our family.

A few of Drew's favorite things- Jan- Feb. 2013

Baby Drew has some things that he really loves, these are a few of his favorite things....

1.  The bathroom- especially the toilet, toilet paper  and all the fun stuff in the drawers and cupboards.

2.  Climbing and standing.  He gets soooo excited when he has a chance to climb the stairs and now knows how to go down by himself, but he still makes me nervous and I am keeping the gate up for a little while longer.  He climbs up on anything his little body can reach and loves to climb up and then stand on top of whatever he has climbed.  His favorite was the girls picnic table which we put in the basement to cut back on the crashes.  Avery's bed- he has been able to climb up on it from the time he started crawling and it makes him so proud of himself.  

3.  The Kitchen.   He pulls out everything from the lower cupboards and tries to climb into the dishwasher everytime it's open.   He loves to pull out all the lids from the drawer under the oven and either push them around like they're cars, bang them on the floor, or leave them on the floor and sit in the drawer. 

4.  The vents.  Drew likes to pull the vents out and climb in or drop items into them.

5.  Anything he can make a mess out of, like flour, the garbage can, etc.

6.  Burp clothes, blankets, material he can suck on.  He's kind of funny about it, he will find one and then crawl around with it hanging out of his mouth.  

7.  The front window, or any window he can reach.  It probably has to do with his love of climbing, but he climbs on the little chair in front of the window and bangs on the window and hollers.

I just threw this one in because Avery was brushing her teeth when Drew was sneeking into the bathroom.