February Fun: Part One

Princess Shea and Daddy

Oh, dressing up is so much fun. Let me say it again... I LOVE the fact that my children find it necessary to wear costumes almost every single day. I know one day I'll realize that it's been weeks since the costumes have been touched, and I'll probably be a little sad about it. So, I'm enjoying it as long as it lasts. Oh, the wonderful world of make-believe...
Princess Optimus Prime
Shea and T

The yearly... 'gather-up-the-crayon-bits-and-melt-them-into-jumbo-crayons' project.
Snowy days inside are made far-more interesting when paintbrushes are replaced with chalk. Who knew tempera and chalk could be so much fun?
D.R. undertook his week-long 'organize-the-legos' project with the boys. Naturally, it involved several very late nights for my dear husband. Now, if only the boys would adhere to his stringent lego-policies. (I can't say I blame them for wanting to mix and match sets... but, boy, does it bother D.R.!) :)
Dexter and a beloved creation

Ninjago Training and Shea's First Haircut

The boys went through a funny phase a few weeks ago where they would line up a bunch of toys and leap over them in a dramatic fashion. The more creative and intricate the leaps, the higher the score, apparently. This was their ninja (or, since it was inspired by a new lego-line of toys, Ninjago) training.

**Three days after these photos were taken, the plastic ninja-sword arcade prizes found their way to the garbage, after Dex got his lip split open by one of them. I can't say I miss them very much!! Now we have a light-saber ONLY rule. Did I ever think I would find myself saying light-sabers are safer than ninja swords?


Shea got her very first haircut a few weeks ago. She loved the attention and I loved the savoring my last child's "first haircut." Oh, sob, sob... :) At least we have so many more great "firsts" to look forward to... for all three of the kiddos.

Sleeping Beauty- Take One :)

One more... in this one, Dex is filming and directing a few scenes from Sleeping Beauty. Love the enthusiasm.

Once Upon a Dream

These video clips are a bit long, but they are for me to remember the hilarity of this phase we're living through. This is from mid-January. As you can tell, the kids know one phrase of the song that is repeated AGAIN and AGAIN. :) Now, they all know all the actual lyrics and Jaxon can play the song on the piano. If this obsession continues, I wonder where they'll be with it in another month and a half! I'll have to post more videos. Mostly, I just love the fact that they all three seem equally fond of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip... and it's moments like these that make being home with them even more of a gift.

Madison Christmas Fun

Christmas fun in Madison

Ring Around the Rosie

A Ring Around the Rosie (for good measure) on Christmas Eve

Daddy Flips

Love it when D.R. is home in the evenings!! Even better is how the kids will all ask me in the morning when they wake up if they'll get to see D.R. that day.

Super Duper Advent Cake

The kids make a Super Duper Advent Cake. Another pre-Christmas video that is bringing me plenty of February giggles.

Zebra Lullaby

Shea sings to her zebra... then gets a little bossy. Just makes me giggle.

Baraboo Christmas

So great to see the munchkins sitting at the same "kids" table that I sat at growing up. :)




After receiving special treats from Santa Hughes, the children were quite a hit with their blue-green tongues!
Chris, Sis and Indie
Shea Bug
Indie

Aaron, Sonja, Seth and Nicky
Sonja and Shea
Jax, D.R., Dex

Indie and Granddad... the inseparable duo
Aaron, Sonja, Dex and Shea

Madison Christmas

I don't know what's cuter... the fact that the boys get so sweaty when they sleep, that they like to sleep with Seth's old He-Man books or that they use each other for pillows when in the same bed. :)
The annual Christmas song sing-along with Sarah, Indie and Shea and the piano.
Ollie keeps the beat
Jax provides some rhythm guitar. Apparently, Dex slipped away for a minute, because I have no photos of him... but he was definitely there!
Shea and her Mimi
The removal of the late-January Christmas tree.
Seth and Jaxon

Jax received a blue yoshi for Christmas from Seth and Nicky. He was blue Yoshi for Halloween and he adores the color blue. Needless to say, his reaction was priceless and blue woobie is now no longer alone at night. He AND blue Yoshi are needed for Jaxon to have a good night's sleep. :)
Uncle Jonathan and his oh-so-spicy cookbook.

I'm holding Mimi responsible for how spoiled Shea gets after visits home!!! :)

Dex and his slinky (thanks, Ollie!)
Once again, there's nothing quite as fun as a giant pile o' cousins.Even better when there's an uncle or two to throw another boy into the mix.
Our Ollie
As blurry as this photo is, I love how much Ollie dotes on Shea
Jax
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed... no, there's nothing dangerous about this.