Brown County: Nature Walk

Last weekend we were dying to get out in all the nice weather we've unusually been having lately, so we went to Brown County! First we ate lunch at the Abe Martin Lodge, where the food is great and all homemade, and kids 4 and under are always free! Love it!

Then we drove over to the Nature Center where they give guided tours explaining all the trees and plants in the area, the kids did great!

Brock got tired of the tour about 1/2 way through and we had to cut it a little short so I could go feed him, but he looked darn cute in his hat!

Scott took the kids and climbed up to the top of this look-out tower, I'm suprised neither of the kids got scared. It was a fun quick trip!

Party Time

Jenna & Matt threw an amazing Valentine's Party again this year, the 4th annual one with our dental friends.  We played games and had some delicious treats. So fun to get together with all our friends here, and sad our time here is slowly coming to an end.

Then the weekend before Valentine's Day the Beck's and us threw a semi-formal party. We had dinner and dancing at the Becks, so fancy with the lighting and place settings.

  And then we went back to our house for dessert and games. Here the guys and gals had to be separated for one questionaire game. So fun, glad we were able to do this again. See last year's HERE.

Then we went to a Murder Mystery Dinner at the Cutler's in January and it was amazing, of course. So much fun and so entertaining! They always throw the best parties and go ALL OUT on decorations, food and costumes. Scott was Dirty Wiggins, and I was Blackspot Jane, the widow. See more amazing details and pictures of the party HERE.

 





Happy Baby

 Here's a video of Brocky Rocky smiling...

Brock is finally in the smiley stage.  I absolutely love that anytime I start talking to him, he'll talk back and give me big grins.

Gotta love his open mouth smiles

Cole loves his baby brother and will often hug him and say "take a picture"
Brock is still putting on the pounds by adding the double chins, and his neck is nowhere to be found!!
Love you Brocky Rocky!

Brock's Photo Shoot (continued)

Brock had this photo shoot two months ago, but I finally got all the proofs back and these are the rest of the family pictures we liked.

Brock has changed so much since this time... I wish my babies wouldn't get so big so fast!

Let it snow!

We had our first good snow fall this past week, and the kids were dying to play in it. It wasn't enough snow to make a snowman as they wanted, but they could sled. After pulling the kids around our backyard a while, we decided to all go to the nearby sledding  park for some big hills.

I LOVE this picture of Brock all bundled up and his huge cheecks barely fitting in his hat.



The kids had a blast going down the hills. Probably Ella more than Cole, she's more adventurous sledding it seems.  She'd go by herself even... watch the video below to see her go!





Brock did OK in the cold. He would've done way better if he wasn't trying to finish his nap that I had to wake him from to go sledding.  He eventually did fall asleep by hot air being blown in his face.
Can't wait until it really snows and we can play in it some more.... and make that snowman!

{Preschool}

Guess who started preschool? Oh, he's been so excited about it and telling everybody that after Christmas "I go to preschool."  Or if he doesn't know something or can't pronounce something right, he says, "I'll learn it when I go to preschool." 

He had to show everyone his Thomas the Train backpack

Here he is in his classroom on the first day last week. He loves it and Miss Diane says he's doing wonderfully.  Every time I pick him up he is so excited about telling me what he did that day.   

Cincinnati: Great Wolf Lodge

Scott took his 4th yr boards 4 days after Christmas, and had 5 days before starting school again so we took a little family trip to Cincinnati. 

It was HUGE inside, there were family slides that the kids and Scott rode, and an area of just little kiddie slides, tree house, and more. We had so much fun.

Watch the video below of Ella going down the slides. It was her absolute favorite thing to do at the park.  Cole loved it the first day, the second day it seemed everything was too cold, so he hung out mostly at the kid's hot tub area. It was basically as warm as bath water so I was able to take Brock in there... he fell asleep in my arms immediatley.

Video:



Every night there at 8pm they have a storytime for the children. There was a story, character dance with the wolf, and it even snowed at the end!  The indoor of the lodge had the coolest holiday decor.

Here's Ella and Cole in the pj's right after storytime.

HUGE Christmas tree



This was the best REAL gingerbread house EVER.  It was made with REAL gingerbread, REAL frosting (my kids tested it), and candy and cookies all over it. WOW... wish I could be part of that clean-up!