1st Snowman

Levi and I played in the snow today. It was a balmy 50 degrees out. This was about the 1st day we have had where there was snow on the ground and it was nice out. We have had other nice days this month but no snow to play in. Can you see the mini snow man? :)

I came upon Levi "reading" in his room by himself. So sweet. Notice he picked the airplane book to study.

We invited some friends of ours over for dinner and a movie (Courageous) and the three kids had a great time playing together.

I just posted recently about Levi's success at eating with a spoon. Well now he is eating with a fork as well. And here is Levi doing what he likes to do best. Play with his tongue.

16 Months

The time is just flying by around here. I can't believe Levi is 16 months old already.

He loves to make airplane noises and fly airplanes around in the air. Future pilot like his mama?Levi loves the dry erase markers Mimi & Papa gave us. He likes to write on this mirror. Also, he wrote on himself for the first time (and surely not the last :) Can you see it?He also is very interested in helping me clean the house. This is his 1st attempt at mopping.We went out for a "snow day" on his sled but he was mostly just sitting there cold. We haven't had a decent "warm" snow day to play out in it."Healthy" Hash Brown Recipe

Recently I have gotten frozen hash browns for really cheap and I was trying to figure out an easy/healthier way to make them as I never make them right on the stove. (Probably because I don't like to add oil.) Here is an easy/yummy way to make them. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread an even layer of them over a cookie sheet. Lightly spray with butter spray. Bake for 10 minutes. Stir them around. Bake for another 10 minutes. They are crispier if you put a thin layer on your cookie sheet. a little moister if you put a thicker layer on your cookie sheet. We all enjoyed them. Great with ketchup all over :)This photo was taken today :)

Happy Karen New Year!

The Karen people are a larger and larger part of our community and we had the opportunity to attend their New Years Celebration today at the high school. It was fun to watch them dance and sing to their music. All the pictures are high resolution so you can click on them to take a closer look. (I linked the name Karen to a wikipedia article but I am not sure it is completely accurate. Many are political refugees and it didn't address that really... like one sentence)

Above is a dance troup that in from Huron. Below is a youth group from Aberdeen singing and playing guitar. I am pretty sure they were singing "Home, home on the Range" in Karen. This was a Karen choir. They may be from the Baptist church in town.Levi, Andrew and I enjoyed the music and rhythm.

Afterward, there was Karen food for everyone to eat. If they do this next year, Jan & Alan, you should come down and see it. I thought of you since you went to China and like cultural things.

Iowa Christmas Fun (part 3) - Pinata

Here are some pictures of the kids playing dress up.

This is such a cute cousin shot.

Levi wants in on the action with a coconut half on his head.

I just loved these photos of Mimi loving on her granddaughters so I had to post them! Such beautiful little ladies!
I also thought this was an adorable moment I happened upon: Ezra and Levi were quietly playing in the family room. He wants to be a big guy like his cousin Ezra! :)
I have never been a big fan of this type of laundry basket but think I have been missing out! Levi LOVED playing car in it. :)
Here are all the cousins. Photo #1 is the attempt to get them all in one photo. Photo #2 something HILARIOUS happened that cracked up the older ones. Too cute.

1st cousin up: Levi! He had fun whacking the sack with his bubble stick.

Next up: Louise!

3rd: Violet! So cute. She would not TOUCH the thing.

Hannah gave it a good go too.

I seemed to have missed the whole rest of the pinata time but I did capture this one of the older kids getting antsy for their turn. :)

Iowa Christmas Fun (Part 2)

Toddler piano time with Aunt Alissa.

I love this picture of Louise concentrating on skating.

Louise & Hannah resting after lots of skating.

Iowa Christmas Fun

Here are some of my photos. I tried to capture every child opening a gift but managed to miss Violet so I posted one of her kissing Levi.

Here we are walking at the Mines of Spain. The three youngest Cranbabies are loving their rides.I will post more soon including Denver Crandalls skating and pinata.