Kevin and Alison

There isn't any snow today, but a few days ago there was! It took me about 10 minutes to get Chloe dressed for playing: and she stayed outside for about 10 minutes :) But, that was enough time to at least make snow angels with Dad: The reward for 10 minutes of play? A cup of piping warm chocolate of course! :) She liked it just a little .

I saw someone do this on their blog.....Here is what we were up to a year ago today: We were watching Uncle Bill shovel snow! :) This was the end of our stay with brand-new-Connor, helping out the new parents and there was so much snow!!

April is such a happy baby! She's such a joy :) We were at the doctor's today for her well-baby checkup and he thought she was doing great ... the only problem is that she's so small! At 9 months, she's just 14 pounds, 8 ounces. We will be going back in a few weeks for a weight check and in between now and then it's my goal to chunk her up a little bit! :) April is saying 'ma', 'da', 'ba', and 'na' with the occasional other sound mixed in - like screams of excitement! :) She's always watching Chloe! April likes to sit and play with toys, but she's also starting to try to reach for things that are out of her grasp. She can fold herself in half reaching for something :) April likes to use things to pull up - the coffee table, a nearby chair, laundry baskets, mom's hands - anything she can find! April's hair is just long enough to put a clip in, so she's been sporting one of those most the time. She has a bit ...

I guess April doesn't really do anything but pull the books off the shelf....but maybe it will lead to a love of books! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR! January 21st has come so soon! Can't believe you are a year old already! We love you and have loved watching you grow this year! :) January April May June July August November December (you'd think he was my own kid or something! :) 8 out of 12 months isn't too bad!!)

Zacchaeus, by Chloe: I Love You! Keyus was a man was he Got a one to see As a ..... that way .... Look in a, in a tree Said: KEYUS COME DOWN Comin house today, yeah! (original lyrics: Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. As the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree and He said, "Zacchaeus, you come down For I'm coming to your house today, I'm coming to your house today") The Barney Song, by Chloe: (these words are pretty clear! enjoy!)

Over the past weekend, Kevin's parents came to visit! The visit started with an exciting event: After an extended holiday at Mimi and Poppops (read: we forgot her on Dec. 26th....) Baby Shnookums was returned to our home by Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa got to do the honors of presenting the missing baby......Chloe was just a little excited: and what would you do if your baby was gone for 19 days? Feed her, of course. So that's what Chloe set out to do, all while playing with Grandma and April: We also opened Christmas presents from Kevin's aunt and uncle who we missed over the holiday. Chloe loves this microphone (it plays songs as well as records!). and checked out a new coloring book from Grandma: they soon discovered it also had stickers..... and Chloe was more than willing to share! On Saturday afternoon, we headed to a local train museum (Alison's parents and sister met us there). Here is Chloe running one of the trains! April seemed to enjoy looking at all the...

What is this?! A picture of both girls?! Looking at the camera?! at the same time?! Yes, yes it is. :) We also got a pretty good one of Mom and April that same evening: but what was going on behind the scenes? Crazy Chloe :)

....I've caught April's tooth on camera: ....these two enjoy each others company: ....Chloe wanted her picture taken: .....she pushed herself backwards through the living room: ...I saw this picture of April.... ...and was reminded of this picture of Chloe:

We had enough snow to require some shoveling, so Chloe and Kevin bundled up and went out....They were excited....April's face looks like she's thinking "They are nuts!" Chloe plopped right down to make a snow angel -- can you see it? and although this isn't a great picture of either person, it shows you how nice it is to shovel a paved driveway! :) Here's a picture of April in her preferred sitting position (I mentioned this in her 8 month post). We hung out in the warmth :)