February

I know we're only a week into March, but February is already a blur.  If it weren't for cameras, I'd probably just sum it up with one word: Cold.  

This was the coldest February in Michigan in 140 years.  And I believe it.  

The month started out with a pile of snow.  We were lucky that cousin James showed up just in time to help with the manual labor.

The composed tour.

The silly tour.

He made some ice "sculptures" to store in the boys' snow cave.

Eliot's robot

Ira's knight helmet

The boys are now big fans of ninjas...  not my favorite, with all the chopping and kicking.

We went to the dentist and the boys did great.  But Ira has his first cavity!   

Chillin' with the ladies on Valentine's day.

 Birthday party of Ira's friend Stella, at the Zoological society.  Eliot was thrilled to get his hands on any creature he could. 

Ira preferred viewing from a distance.

Now's the part where you can judge me for my son's cavity, because I have had a major sweet tooth lately!

The makeshift sign says, "Happy First Day Dad!"

After much consideration, Anthony started a new job within GE as project manager for an HR application.  It seems to be a great fit with a good team.

We finally tried out the Deli around the corner from our house, and I have no idea why it's taken so long.  Not only were the sandwiches amazing, but they have soda I haven't had since I was a tiny kid visiting Philadelphia's Famous 4th street Delicatessen. 

 Mmmm.  Carbonated Celery Beverage.                               To the right is Ira's sour face.

And then there's nothing like a good old fashioned plunger battle.  Don't worry though, they're new and unused.  

That's pretty much life.  I'm 22 weeks along now in my pregnancy, and feeling the baby move more which is really fun.

Happy March everyone!

January: Cold, Cake, and Cars

2015 Started off with a January feeling like real Winter.  

Our December was so mild, that we've been trying to take advantage of the snow and also staying in for plenty of "pajama days."

I don't think I've ever seen snow flakes like these, until Ira pointed them out on our van windows on the way to Preschool.  My cell phone pics do not do them justice.

Extending Christmas

  I like this Drawing, because it's something other than dragons, and also because of the huge smiles.  Ira still has Christmas candy in February, but he ate this prized piece in late January.  He's been rationing it to make it last as long as possible.

In mid January, we started to feel really cold, as in our furnace wasn't working properly. I was wearing every hoodie I owned simultaneously, and Eliot was walking around the house in his snow pants.  During that time I made some homemade lollipops and jewels to use for Ira's cake.  I was pretty proud of them until....

Anthony changed our furnace filters and our house was finally comfortable!  I love cheep, easy fixes.  Especially since we had no idea that changing furnace filters was a thing.  Or that homeowners are suppose to do it regularly.  Anyway, we're warm now, but I realized that if I'm going to make lollipops again, I should probably buy a candy thermometer and do it right. 

Ira's B-day

The big 5

 Presents from G & G Quinn: Super cool race car

and G & G Ellsworth: A check.  Ira's slow realization that a check=money, was pretty hilarious.

Rainbow pancakes by Dad

Dinner at Steak 'n Shake.

Ira was a little disgruntled that his mini hamburgers included burger-patties. "I just want hamburgers that are bread and cheese.  No meat!"  Oh, my children are fast food deprived.

The Party

Painters tape is my favorite.

Captain Hooks and Earrings

Walking the plank

Messy fun chaos

The treasure hunt

Lunch

 

Ira trying to forgive Keva for the giant fingerprints she put in the cake. Ha!

Present opening.

This month we also made some time for the... 

 

In Detroit.

Field trip to Marco's Pizza

In other news...

Eliot's suddenly decided that he wants to draw recognizable objects.  This totally took me by surprise because Eliot's still 2, and Ira didn't start doing this till he was about 4 1/2.

A ghost.

Ira decided to coach him on other body parts to add, reminding him of hair, teeth, limbs, internal organs (which ended up being a baby) and pupils.  So this is Eliot's Pregnant Ghost Man. 

I know you're probably tired of hearing it every month, but he's making good progress with his language.  Last night was probably his longest semi-sentence thus far, when he said, "Mine shirt on cool, yeah?"  He's a big fan of the swimming shirts he's been digging out of his dresser.

We must all be just a little homesick around here.  The boys built a train track that goes from our house, to Grandma and Grandpa Quinn's house, and Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth's house.

This was my friend Chelsea's Birthday party, a Girl's Night Out.  With all the snow, I forgot how easy it is to feel stuck inside and a bit secluded.  It's been nice to have opportunities to get out and be with friends lately, after that initial anti-social winter shock.

Anthony has been making lots of ice cream lately, and looking at possible job transitions within GE.  I'm 18 weeks pregnant now, and feeling great.  Sometimes emotional, frumpy, and tired,.  But mostly just really great. :)  It's always kind of nice during resolution season to be pregnant.  It takes enough energy, that having a baby and keeping it and my other children alive is my primary goal for 2015.  Happy New Year everyone!