February

Ahhh February. What feels like the longest month EVER. The weather is awful. Students and teachers always seem to fall apart in February. The cabin fever sets in. We tried to keep busy. We had some fun outside in the snow on a relatively warm day...I think it was around 40 degrees.




A&E were so excited to see grass! They started asking for to snow to go away this month!
I can't say that I blame them one bit!



Daddy making paths in the snow. They LOVED this! Daddy can be so creative sometimes!




I love this picture!



Emmet loves to snuggle with Daddy while the Nascar race is on.

Speaking of Nascar. For Roger's early 40th birthday present (yes, that's right, I did say 40!!!) he took a trip to Florida to visit his oldest and dearest friend Rob. While there they attended the Daytona 500.

Roberto....we miss him so! But I think Roger enjoyed having to go somewhere warm to see him!
It has it's perks!

Roger defrosting in the Florida warmth!



He had to get a picture of Matt Kenseth. #17.



Valentine's Day was fun this year! I surprised Emmet and Ada with a little goody bag and we enjoyed a visit from Andee and Diego!

Emmet loves driving his cars (oops, I mean red truck - he always corrects me) over bumpy surfaces.

Yes, much to my dismay, Ada has found the wonder of princesses and I have decided to indulge her on special occassions :cringe:

It's amazing to me how much entertainment a balloon can provide to little ones.


Andee reading to the munchkins who are snuggled up on my bed.



Cold and flu season....YUCK! Ada and Emmet both came down with Pneumonia and an ear infection. Poor Emmet got hit with the one-two punch...just when we thought he was on the mend he spiked a fever and went downhill again. Thanks to nebulizers and antibiotics they recovered - although it felt like it took forever!
Emmet passed out on the couch with a fever. My poor little man. This just happened to be the day that Aunt Kathy came to do our taxes (Thanks Kathy!) along with Greg and Gina. Poor Greg came down with the yuck shortly after this.



Nana and Pops took us all to the Zor Shrine Circus. Ada and Emmet were coming down with the above mentioned (damn, I got this out of order) Pneumonia and were not feeling 100% but nevertheless they enjoyed themselves. Ada was freaked out by the height of the seating and did not like how loud the music and announcers voice was - she was literally shaking and covering her ears. We didn't make it to the end but instead went to Red Robin for dinner where we ended up sitting next to Bumpa, Julie and some of Julie's family. A happy coincidence!

January

As with every month....January just flew by. Here are some random shots from January.

I was able to spend a weekend with my BFFs - Andee, Troy & Erin. We hunkered down in Troy's new house and talked for nearly 24 hours. We did manage to get some sleep - we camped out in Troy's living room; slumber party style. These times spent with my friends revitalize me. I miss them terribly and wish our lives allowed us to be together more often. For now, I'll cherish weekends like these. I've posted pictures although we took about a million with NO success. Ah well!





We had another snowy winter (no surprise here obviously)...as I look back at these pictures, I'm so glad spring is on it's way! We all start to feel a little trapped. We were able to spend some time outside though!

Daddy & Ada love


Emmet making snow angels


Ada making snow angels with Nana...seriously, who's the best Nana in the world?

Nana pulling Ada around for a ride...Matdie was pretty sure she needed to work on her herding skills.

Emmet & daddy...and Matdie herding again.


Ada sledding down the "mountain", which was just the pile of snow on the side of our yard.


Mommy & Ada sledding.


Nana & Emmet sledding.

Arenz Christmas

We had such a fun day at Great Grandma & Great Grandpa's new house with most of the Arenz family. Ada and Emmet had so much fun playing with their second cousins and great aunt and uncles! What a great day!


The great grandkids playing "the stair game" with great grandma and great aunt Kathy. I remember playing this when I was a kid!


The WHOLE (almost) family.


The Greats with the Greats + Kraig Jr.


I love this picture....Gma & Gpa watching with love and happiness all of their great grandkids.


Emmet helping Great Gma & Great Gpa open their present from us.


Emmet explaining what the present is.


Family pic L-R Top (Kraig, Keith, Kurt/Bumpa)
L-R Bottom (Karen, Gma, Gpa, Kathy)


The kids hanging with Great Gpa while Great Gma and Bumpa sing Christmas songs.

Marcin Christmas

We enjoyed spending some time with Roger's mom, nephew and his girlfriend the day after Christmas! We don't see them very often so this was such a nice day!



Grandma Barb opening her present from Ada & Emmet.

Grandma Barb & Emmet

Grandma Barb & Ada

Grandma Barb, Christian w/Emmet and Christian's girlfriend (I forgot her name - so sorry) with Ada.

Christmas Morning/Day

I'm having an incredibly hard time deciding which pictures not to post...they all seem so important! Life seems to be flying by me and I just don't want to forget any of it. We spent Christmas morning at home where Ada and Emmet were so very excited to see all the presents under the tree and find that Santa had indeed eaten the cookies and milk we had left out for him. Christmas day we spent at Nana and Pops celebrating with the Flynn family. We had so much fun!



Woo Hoo! Santa brought presents!

Ada very excited about her Cat in the Hat video.

Emmet showing off his Green Eggs and Ham (or Sam I Ham as he calls it) video.


One of Emmet's favorite gifts....a new zipper blankey - he outgrew his old one and rubs the zipper for comfort.

Lovin' the little laptops.

Ada playing with her new laptop.

Tools!

Pounding away!

Stockings....my personal favorite event of Christmas morning.

Stockings!


Pics from Christmas day with the Flynn's.

L-R Blaine, Abby, Kathy, Blaino

Gary, Peggy & Miranda

Miranda & Abby coloring and chatting.

Nana & Ada playing the piano.

Eating yummy lasagna thanks to Nana!

Kathy & Peggy

Mickey, Blaine, Blaino, Gary, Nana