Jacob, Jacob

The little man is really moving along. He's growing so fast - I have even noticed him getting taller. It's just not fair that they can't stay cute and snuggly forever... so we're enjoying it while we can. (Though it would be easier to enjoy if he weren't up and down all night long... every hour, and when I'm lucky, it's only every two hours)

Allergies seem to be under control, though when he's sleeping less he does break out, if he rubs he breaks out, and when he get into certain things he breaks out. If food is left on his face (even just while he's eating the rest of it) he also breaks out - not with all foods though. Sensitive, sensitive. But we generally have it under control and he's eating solids all day long (and nursing at least as much if not twice as much). With all that, you'd think the little guy would be a rolly-polly O... nope... he's not. (But Jeremy was much the same way when it came to eating everything all the time and nursing like crazy as the same time)



Like all little brothers, Jacob just loves to be involved with the siblings. Wherever they are, he wants to be. Whatever they're playing with, he wants to play with. It's been good for him and they are generally tolerant.. but when they decide tolerance isn't the name of the game there is a lot of sadness (and often frustrated yelling). It's happened with all the younger siblings, so I at least know it's normal. But I try to encourage them to find ways to teach him to play they way they want him too understanding that he won't get it right away. It's a work in progress.


The other day everyone was outside play - Jacob, of course, wanted to be with them. But after a little while he was not content to be in his stroller watching (probably because no one was pushing him around), so I finally let him out on the pavement (we don't have any grass and with the deer so free in our yard, well, I'm reluctant to put him in the middle of it... plus it's gotten a be on the over grown side for now). I was surprised he didn't immediately want to be picked up as the sun had been beating down on the asphalt, but he was more interested in the pitcher with a little water left from the kids having their snack. He had a great time dumping out the rest of the water and then playing in it.

Later, after we'd gone for a walk up the road (my friend and I with 9 kids in tow), I let him down again while she and I were talking and he went right for the bubble stuff. There was no more solution, though I'm sure the blower still had residue on it. He was having so much fun -I just had to grab the camera, because I can't guarantee I'll remember what it looks like when he get older. It's my only way to hold on to his baby-ness!


He's also been working on walking on his own since three days past his 9 month mark. Since that day he'd walk to family members - usually only a few steps. But we've played this game with him at night when Bob has been here having him go back and forth. He gets to excited, and we clap and encourage him. Even when he'd go (the distance being farther) and he'd start to loose his balance and sit down - we'd still clap and tell him he did a good try and try again. He got to liking the claps so much that he'd take a few steps, stop, look at us, then sit down and start clapping. It's pretty cute.

As he's progressed, he's even added "yeah" to his clapping, to mimic us. And, as of two nights ago, he's walking across the rooms, he'll let go of things and walk toward people, or even let go of people and walk toward things. He's officially a walking man now.... the down side, I don't think I'll get a picture of him 'standing on his head' (he would get on both feet and hands, then stick his bum in the air and put his head on the floor... it was the cutest thing, I loved it so much, but I never had a camera in my hand or even close... I'm going to try to convince him to do it again some time... but it may not happen).



Oh.. and did you notice his two front teeth... they're in enough to actually see now... no more yet, and no sign of any more coming in the near future either.

Dance Dance Dance

Crazy, crazy dance week! I still don't understand the point behind having rehearsal every single night all week long. Although, they do a real ballet and I guess putting the different people together in each scene does need practice... still, that could be accomplished in other ways too - and tap, well, that certainly doesn't need the over drill! Of course, that's also the mother in me who is looking at the whole picture - dance, school, dinner, sleep... you know... the whole big thing!

Anyway - we made it through and we're recovering nicely! (Thank goodness)

I was sick - and so was Jeremy - but we did the drop off and pick ups. The baby wasn't sleeping well, so one of those days he finally fell asleep and we were going to need to run out to drop off kids - thank goodness for mother-in-laws.... she ran the girls in so Jacob could sleep!

And this time of year is extra busy for Bob - you know, end of the school year and all that....


Friday afternoon till past dinner, I had the girls and Jacob at dress rehearsal. Once again my mother-in-law came to the rescue watching the other boys - she did it again Saturday morning. Jacob was great through Friday - down and crawling, getting wonderfully dirty and trying to grab anything interesting that was in his way. Saturday morning's dress rehearsal he and I took a little walk, he fell asleep and had a little nap in the stroller, and he generally did okay. In fact, for part of it he was down right happy! But, as time wore on, and he wasn't at home to do whatever he wanted, and all that, well, he wasn't quite so happy. He did get to a point where he was more aware of the music, and every time a dance would start up he'd start bouncing with a huge grin on his face!



I take pictures during dress rehearsal on Saturday because I don't want to deal with heads and all that during the night. It was a good thing I did too, because Jacob was more than done with dance stuff, fussed quite a bit and (seeing that it was also past bedtime and he'd not had good naps) he was very tired! (Not to mention that there was this issue with moving chairs around, after they had been reserved, and our chairs completely disappeared so we were no longer on an aisle and landed in the middle instead... but that's another story, which I won't get into here as it's a very bitter and irritating one for me).



The down side to taking pictures during rehearsal was that they hadn't completely figured out the lighting yet and were playing with it. So, as you see, Beth's pictures aren't as bright (and no, I've not taken the time to lighten them yet, I do know how and I will before putting them in an album). And they forgot to pull the black curtain across the backdrop for tap. Still, it was much easier to take pictures then and at least we have some photographic memories!

They did Alice in Wonderland this year - Gabi was a rose being painted red...... and Beth was a flower of some sort in the beginning. This was also the year that (in this dance studio) Gabi was able to do a tap dance.



I must admit that I miss the true "recital" form of dance recitals. The girls don't get to preform like they did in Maine, and we don't really get to see what they've learned in ballet - and for the younger kids, tap. The actual ballet is neat... but I have a friend who said that where she went as a kid (not around here) they had a "recital", all the classes doing a full dance, then intermission and then followed it up with an actual ballet. I love that idea... .but, when your dance teacher is over 80 years old (literally ... though she's in amazing shape and really knows her stuff) it's not likely that we'll see anything like that any time soon.


Any qualified, aspiring, modest dance teachers ready to take over in the area?

Well... like everything else this time of year, I'm glad it's done. Just waiting for school to get out and then we can move into summer mode... wonder if the weather will follow suit.....

10 Years

This May brought me to ten years of mother's days and ten years of marriage (as my anniversary was just days after mother's day). That's a lot of time, at least from a younger perspective. In reality, it's time that has flown right by.

I can still remember my pregnancy with Gabi, my labor and delivery, the moment she was placed in my arms. I can still remember the panic of knowing that I was now responsible for one of God's children - that she was perfect and untainted and that the world was corrupt and would try to corrupt her. It was both a wonderful and fearful feeling.

The years have passed and we've both learned so much. That's what life is all about - that's what families are for - to help us learn and grow in the best ways.

As the years went by, Beth and Jeremy and Peter came along... then, after considering moving into a different phase of life, we welcomed Jacob. The mention of each child brings a flood of memories - the waiting, the anticipation, the struggles, the love, the laughter, the courage, the tears, all of it. Each one has added something special to our family. Each one has taught me more than I could ever have imagined. I would most certainly never have come so far on my journey in life without them.

Our anniversary went by nearly unnoticed this year. Not because we forgot, but because dance took front row. Life was busy that week - it always is. So no special celebration, but the kids understood. We celebrate with them because it marks the day our forever family was started!

I was sick, or I might have figured out a way to make it special anyway... but a day or two later I was feeling better and so Peter and I made heart shaped mini apple turnovers. A very yummy treat, even if it was a little later (and we enjoyed them in our various runnings here and there).

Ten years is a milestone in the society we live in, but ten years is still barely a scratch in the time line of eternity. I am forever grateful that I chose Bob and that he chose me. Our lives have not been perfect, for, like everyone else, we have our ups and downs and trials... life makes sure of it, but we have come through time and again to show life that it can't get the better of us. Together we make a wonderful team - and when you add our five amazing children, our team becomes invincible. Not because we are perfect, but because we help each other to achieve perfection - one step at a time! We have our eye on eternity - and eternity with all seven of us together!

We've done ten - we'll do it again! Let the journey begin!

Easter

For years I would sew a new dress for each of girls... for that matter, I'd also sew new shirts and vest for the boys too. But as the years have gone on, I've realize it's too much sometimes to expect that I'll be able to do it all and get it done on time. The first year that happened, the dresses weren't done until Mother's Day. That year was hard for me to accept that I was not immune to the stresses and time constraints of life - and motherhood with very young children.

I was pregnant last year, and with Easter being the same as General Conference, things went peacefully - not to mention they had dresses that still fit from the year before. This year, with a baby, I knew it would be more stress than it was worth for all our family, so I hadn't planned on doing anything. But both girls requested dresses - and I just couldn't bring myself to get in the mood. The compromise was that the girls got to help sew their own skirts. I was suppose to have one to match, but I just didn't have the energy (Jacob is still up every two hours, on good nights and naps are rarely an option for me).


But the girls got theirs done - and they love them! They got to measure, mark, cut and sew. I finished up.
Of course, while I was working on those with the girls, Jeremy insisted he wanted a new vest. I felt bad, but I didn't want to go digging through the fabric to see if I had what was needed - and it was the day before Easter. I dug through the closet and found a vest I'd made a few years ago - it still fit Jeremy, and he didn't remember it. Peter was content with the white train sweater vest, and I put Jacob in the pale blue sweater my sister had made for one of the other boys. They all looked fit for Easter - and that was what mattered this year - they were happy.



Grandma made Bunny Buns for the kids before she left to visit the other grandchildren. Jacob loved his - okay, all the kids loved them. And they were gone within the day. Needless to say, they needed to make more later in the week and so we had some very colorful, yummy, Bunny Buns.


The kids were having some issues... okay, they were being kids... but there was the threat that I would have to leave a note for the Easter Bunny to skip us. They were really scared about that - but it wasn't enough to modivate them until they had gone to bed and it was too late to get their work done. The Easter Bunny was extra generous to Grandpa, though. He must have felt bad the that kids weren't getting any, or he knew Grandma was visiting other grandchild and wanted to be sure Grandpa wasn't forgotten (wink, wink). And Grandpa was very generous in inviting the kids to come over and hunt for all those eggs at his house.


They were all fast - and the pictures are dark because there wasn't time to use the flash, but they had a lot of fun. And little Jacob, there were some special ones on the floor in the hallway. He wouldn't touch them - I'm not sure what that was about since he was all over them when I was filling the ones for my class at church. But, Bob picked one up and opened it for him, and when Jacob saw it was a Peep, he knew exactly what to do - he was content to sit and eat that one Peep, never mind the other nine eggs.


I was impressed that even Peter knew the Easter story without help - but I was disappointed that we forgot to do "Easter in 12 Eggs"... I guess it was just too busy this year!

Grandpa joined us for dinner, and we had a ncie evening - ending with Bob's birthday... but that will be another post.

Spring

Spring has come... well, in its own way. This year has had a lot of back and forth spring like weather - which I think is the same in many places around the country. But on nice days (when no one is sick) we try to get out and take a walk. If not that, then we've run off to the park (which I've yet to take pictures of this year).



Peter as so excited when he saw the first flowers, and especially when he found our own daffodils (that's almost the only flower we have at the moment). He picked me a couple and we put them in a vase, but I told him to let the others stay outside so we could enjoy them more. That we'd get more when these ones died. He was a little disappointed, until he went out to ride his bike and then he was happy that he had so many yellow faces waving back at him.


This picture of the boys is precious. They were holding hand as we walked back to the house - though you can't actually see that because of the way the were walking. Bad angle for me. But the Sunday after this pictures, I had sick kids, so the boys went to Grandma's to get a ride. Once again they were holding hands, and that time they were in cute Sunday outfits! As a mom, it was one of those moments that brings tears of joy to you eyes - a small glimpse of perfection.


But for this pictures, I had to include it since it shows just how the boys measure up to each other. They are 19 months apart - but you couldn't tell. By fall they will most likely be in the same size clothes.


Good spring days are also times just to be able to be out in the fresh air. Bethie loves to draw, and so she spent one afternoon lounging on the deck with her markets and a stack of paper. But often you can find someone out there reading - especially Gabi - and when they aren't there, they are biking or roller skating in the driveway or digging in the dirt or playing in the "maze" or on the tire swing.


Bob's be glad for garden days! It's a hobby that he loves - and which we all love that he loves! This year he got some things in the greenhouse going over a month ago now - so we've already had fresh chives, fresh asparagus, and fresh baby spinach! So yummy - and before we'd ever even consider planting back in Maine (of course, we didn't have a green house there). Many more things have made it into the greenhouse and the garden and we've been seeing plants starting to pop! It's wonderful!


Other days, that look beautiful from the window, but are too windy and cold to enjoy outside, are great for indoor things. We often like to do a family read aloud. Bob hasn't had a lot of time (you all know how he likes to book himself solid and run non-stop), so school vacation as a treat. He was still busy, but he found time to spend with the kids and me - more then the usual wrestling match at bedtime, kisses out the door kind of thing. This picture shows him reading Tom Sawyer to the kids - well, it started out as reading to Gabi, but as soon as kids hear a story, they come running! It was so nice - and we all enjoyed it!

Milestones

So I'm terrible about milestone markings for little Jacob.... sorry!

Amongst all the allergy issues (of which I know make my own detergent and Jacob only uses the same soap that I use for the detergent which isn't a real soap for bathing and we're still trying to discover what I believe is one culprit which is so random and rare that I think I know, but I'm not certain) Jacob has been teething like crazy! Needless to say, sleepless nights were so normal that anything more than a hour at a time was heaven.

Something I did notice was that Jacob would break out every time his teeth bothered him, and when I'd give him pain killers the redness went away. I also noticed that if he rubbed his skin, it would immediately flare up. In other words, he has extremely delicate skin.

But with all that, Jacob finally cut in two teeth - he was around 8 months old. In fact, he got sick twice in a three hour period and then was fine and six days later cut the first tooth. Then, a week later, he got sick once and was fine in less than two hours and six days later cut the second tooth. See a pattern.. I think maybe, but we'll have to wait for tooth number three to be sure.

What I loved this time around was that I actually got to see the whole process. Yes, I've seen the blister before. Yes, I've seen the tiny white line just after it pops through. But I'd never seen the tooth inside the blister and watched it actual move upward over the course of the day. I got to do that with Jacob! It was such an amazing and neat experience.... maybe only a mother can appreciate the odd joy there, but it was something I know I'll always look back and smile on.

He's been a lot happier (although even at his crankiest, Jacob found ways to be happy and smile and giggle... what a huge blessing). He loves those little teeth and biting things. In fact, he loves to bit so much now that his top teeth have begun to bother him that he can't understand why we keep telling him no. He doesn't understand that those bottom teeth hurt and therefore make such biting on people no longer acceptable.

He went back on food around 8 months too... and has done very well. He is able to eat everything so far except cold dairy products... as in, if milk is in something baked, he seems to be fine, but he appears to have an issue with cheese and yogurt. So, we'll hold off on those for a while longer and see what happens. I must admit I was surprised to learn that not only can he eat eggs with out problem, but he LOVES egg salad - which was discovered after he ate a bunch of Bud's potato salad!

Getting Jacob to move - roll over consistently, crawl, that kind of thing - has been a little tricky. He'd been able to roll over for a while, but didn't do much of it until we cleared up the weepy rash back in January. Even then, he, being a 5th child, found that there was generally someone around to do the work for him. And if he was sitting up, he was happy. But after much encouragement, Jacob finally managed to get on the move - ever so slightly. Just on his tummy, digging his toes into the carpet, and only maybe an inch. He'd do it often enough that we knew he was really doing it, but he wasn't happy enough with it to really go far, although he loved to spin in circles.

After that came about a month of leaning forward from his sitting position, rocking on the one leg and one knee and immediately coming back to sitting. Cautious - Beth had once been that way. We kept encouraging, but I was seriously giving up and resigning myself to haven't the baby suck to me - because following me wasn't really an option.

My friend let us borrow a push behind walker, which Jacob loves - but he can't turn it himself, so someone still had to be with him while he used it. He also loved holding someone's hands and walking - most especially if that someone was Peter and they were both all but running down the hall to the boys room (where Jacob loves most to play) - I love those moments because Jacob will laugh the whole way down the hall.

Next I noticed Jacob start flopping to his stomach, and then he learned how to pull one leg back up. Then he was starting to butt-scoot. Anyway, he still wasn't getting very far until one more, one week and three days before Easter (so that would have been April 14th... exactly 9 months old) he figured out how to scoot on his hands, with on foot down and one knee down. By afternoon he'd figured out how to go with both knees down, but found it less satisfying and generally chooses the former. Three days later (Sunday before Easter) while everyone else is busy doing things around us, Jacob is trying to get a block out of the block basket (one of those collapsible toy basket things) while holding on to my hand and standing. Not content with what he can reach, he let go of my hand, one hand on the edge of the collapsible basket, and took three steps. I know he had no idea what he'd done, but he'd done it all the same... and without any coaxing.

I'd been saying all along that he'd probably do it all at the same time, just the way he was doing things, but it was still a shock to me. A little later I set him just away from me and he walked to me. Later still, Bob had him walking to him and the it was back and forth between us. I didn't get pictures until he was worn out and tired, but I did get a couple that night. That first night he took 6 steps in a row - that was the most.

Since then he'll walk to the kids as well, walk along the furniture, and even tried to walk to the TV. He's not really a walker yet, but he's certainly stepping away. I'm sure it won't be too long before he's steadily running - but for now, he's happy to crawl around as fast as he can, exploring the house in a whole new way.

Lit Jam

I have really not written much this year..... at least not on the blog. I feel like some how I'm missing parts of the story of our life because of it... oh well, I'll try to do better, but I have to admit that I have a lot of things that take up my mind - not to mention my time.

The first year of the kids at the school year was a great year in learning about some of the special programs that happen. One program was Lit Jam - Literary Jamboree - which, I must admit, I was not very thrilled to hear about. Of course I had my own pre-conceived notions about the program and could not understand why a "writing conference" was focusing on kids starting as young as 3rd grade. To be honest, I'm still not really sure about that side of it.

However, I learned a little, and it wasn't the "writing conferences" I had been exposed to as a teenager, and since Gabi had her heart set on it, well, we let her do it. Her whole class wrote pieces as if they were going, but only those who actually were planning on attending submitted their pieces to be judged. You could submit up to three pieces of work, but Gabi wanted to just do the one since it was her first year. All I ever saw of her writing before it went in was when I helped her separate paragraphs while she was typing it up.

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with the piece, but I didn't know how it would be graded and I am not at all experienced in her age group and writing abilities. All I knew was that I'd seen better from Gabi before - at least I thought I'd had.

Still, we were given notice that she had won an award so we went to the awards ceremony - boy was it packed - and found she'd received a mark of superb. Obviously the pieces were marked with grade level appropriate rubrics. I was impressed (and very much grateful that my lack of expertise had not been part of the rating and grading).

She had several friends that went as well, but one friend in particular, from another school, also earned great marks. Eliza had submitted two pieces and received the marks of excellent and superb. It was a great evening for them both.

Gabi loved going to Lit Jam and is eagerly awaiting next year. In the meantime, she wrote Bob a story for his birthday (in about 30 minutes) and as I typed it up for her (she'd run out of time and isn't as fast a typer) I realized how well she really writes - especially when it's completely her own idea and her own topic - not trying to focus on a topic someone else has told her she has to write about. The girl's got talent - noticeable talent!

Don't tell her, but I think she's better than I was at her age..... not that I have anything much to fall back on!

School Spirit Days

There have been a few more Spirit days....

One was Sci-Fi - somewhere around Valentine's Day

Gabi was Princess Leia

Jeremy was Flubber

Beth was Valentine Girl (she made that up herself... her own superhero)

The other one was Crazy Hair Day and happened to just be last Friday.

Gabi wanted to do something with three braids and then pulling it up on her head - "like a tent" she had said.

Beth did her own... she has lit clipped under her chin.

Jeremy wanted a mohawk - so lots and lots of mousse and hairspray, this is what we got. It looked better when it was fully dry - but his hair just doesn't stand straight up - he looked like he had a large wave no the top of his head! (And it stayed like that, even through sleep, for three days before I forced it down for church)

Nose-Sault

A week and a half ago, Bethie invented a new move.... I call it the nose-sault.

Recess is never as boring as when you need to get a drink - so you amble inside to a classroom (with a water fountain) because the one outside is just not to your liking. There is no teacher around, just a few close friends, and well, it'll only take a minute. Get a drink and then work your way back through the maze of desks... wait, this is by far more fun then recess. Hands placed squarely (or close enough) on two separate desks and begin swinging. Before you know it, feet swing too far back, hands slip off, and down goes the head making the nose-sault complete!

Yes, this would be Beth! She landed on her nose - it started to bleed, so she and friend went to the office. The bleeding was taken care of, no explanation given, and off they went to class (at this point, it was not obvious there was a problem). Bob (who works in the same school) saw her later. She had a black line across her nose and going down into her right eye. The rest of the nose was swollen and red -a true Rudolph! This all happened at morning recess.

No ice was given - no tears shed - and home she came happy as ever and ready to play with friends. She was watching a movie (which came earlier in the week then planned) when Bob called to ask me if I'd seen Beth yet. I had no idea - four extra kids, getting snack out, and Beth running off to change made it a little less than obvious that I need to take a look. So, on the phone I walk to the other room and stand in front of her - curtains closed, room nice and dark (so the movie could be better seen) and I saw the mess right away (of course, I've also already heard the story from Bob) and am trying not to laugh as I say "She broke her nose!"

Well, it was straight, it had happen HOURS ago, and she appeared to be fine. So I figured, no reason to head in to the doctors and possibly re-break (the nice term being, "set") her nose. Bob took her to see Dad, it was decided that she was probably fine but that she ought to have it checked just in case of breathing issues. So, the next morning (the black now being contained just to the nose) I get her an appointment and in we go... doctor couldn't tell right there if it was broken or not, but the one side was more swollen then the other, so he wanted an X-ray... nix that, a CAT scan (apparently it makes it easier to see such little bones and differentiate between growth plates and fractures).



That afternoon she went in for her CAT scan (the first of the 7 of us to ever do that) - all smiles, but trying to "not be happy". I had to laugh... it is fun to have the attention, even if it wasn't planned and even if it did mean you had to do normally 'scary' things. She's a middle child... can you tell!

*I took the picture the second day - it was healing well... it did blacken more a couple days later though.

Gabi Really Did Have a Birthday

I seem to get later and later at this stuff... don't remind me....

Mid March was Gabi's annual celebration. Like her sister, she went without a theme and planned her own games and things. I just put together treats and called it good. It was really easy, she had tons of fun and that's all that matters... right?

She didn't want cake, she wanted brownies... oh, let me back up.... for her Class treat, she wanted to do the mini cheesecakes with strawberries again... no problem... except, well, our oven had been a little on the fritz off and on. Still, things were going well.. until the last batch, and then I wasn't sure what really happened, but they were still yummy.

When I tried to make her brownies the next day, they were perfect on top, so I pulled them so they could set up. By the time it was time to have the "brownie sundaes", well, the bottom had never really set up. I was glad she was doing sundaes, so we just scooped the brownies and called it good enough. Everyone loved them.


I was a bit frustrated... when Bob came home, he took a look at the oven... the element was in need of replacement (I so should have taken a picture) - when he removed the bottom element, there was a whole section about two inches long that had fallen off - the circuit was thus broken and there was no heat coming from it. I vaguely remembered once a "spark" that I thought I had seen from just that spot when baking earlier in the week. But when I had "double checked" I had figured it was my imagination... I guess that's when the element really died. (Yes, it's been replaced and the oven works fine now.. thank goodness)

Gabi loved all her gifts, which were, of course, mostly books! But was most happy to have been able to have several friends over to play while I kept the other kids out of her hair - most of the time.

We did have our FHE birthday too - which was full of hyped up kids - because what's better on a Monday night than cake and presents?

Buried

Well, it's been while, and it all melted away and we only have a little today - which is new, and that's why I'm blogging this now.... seemed a good reminder.


I know there are many of you who think we don't get snow... or at least not much... that's okay, having lived in Maine for just over 12 years and Vermont before that, well, I can certainly attest to the LACK of snow in comparison.... however... we do, on occassion, get snow... even enough to be "buried"... although it doesn't seem to "add up" pile upon pile upon helpless, miserable pile.


These pictures were from a couple of "large" snow storms we had out this way - I think, if I remember right, between the storms (which were only two days apart) we had about 4 feet, maybe more. The kids had fun... I liked to see the snow "pictures" before tracks and kids had knocked the snow about... okay, before they stomped it down - it was, after all, a very heavy, very wet snow.... we do like wet around these parts... we'll take all we can get!



Like the "chair"? That was on our deck, and Beth decided to just "hang out" and created this chair from all the snow. The next day, Gabi discovered the chair and, with her own addition, made it into a lounge chair.



Strangely enough, though the kids started snowmen at different times this year, they never did make any. Which, with so much wet snow, we should have been able to make an entire neighbor of snowmen... oh well... and I never took Jacob out in it... he can wait until next winter when he can enjoy it more!