More Winter. More Snow.

It is February.  Happy Valentines Day.  Less than a month and we are in Florida.  Our vitamin D levels are at a critical low, but we manage.  We had a nice chill weekend with the Moog sledding date.  It took is 45 minutes to dress all four kids in their outdoor gear, they sledded for 15 minutes.  Oh, I exaggerate, they sledded for 10 minutes.  Kidding.  It was so nice to have those buggers outside to play and burn off some energy.

Sunday we took the morning to go ice fishing.  Daddy and Jr. set up on the ice and after Graham's morning nap, we joined them.  It was a PERFECT day.  The snow on the ice made it safe for kids to walk on.  The sun in the sky warmed us up.  It was Graham's first trip ice fishing.  He was so serious and very interested in the holes.  These overly friendly strangers came by to tell us that we were breaking the law taking these young babies out on the ice.  Ha ha.  They also insisted that Graham looks like a girl and that we need to get a snowmobile.  Oh funny.

Moog sledding date. 

Dads preparing for the sled race!

The babies had the most fun.

Look at those blue eyes.

He loves her.

Graham snuck in too.

She is very sweet.

Coleman men fishing on the ice.  It was a beautiful day.

Baby Graham's very first ice fishing trip.

Graham really wanted to put his hand in the hole.  Jr. demonstrates how you ice fish to his little brother.

Riding in the sled.

I love this photo.  I love this boy.

He is a great fisherman.

He was watching his brother play with worms.  I took the opportunity to snap some photos.

The worms.

A lifetime of fishing obsession starts now.

Perfect morning on the ice.  If only there was some fish...

Ice fishing isn't classy.  See my getup.  Ugh.



This is a video.  A good one.



Winter Time Things

Since the last post - the boys got sicker.  Poor baby Graham ended up in the hospital for a couple hours to get some meds to help him breathe.  It wasn't even scary, we were super calm and the doctor was great.  He was a great baby, he just fell asleep in my chest while we waited.  The nurse referred to him as so stinking cute.  I couldn't agree more.

After nine days of illness, Jr. and Graham finally got better.  They went from awful, whiney, crabby boys to sweet happy little guys.  It is a true test of our patience and parenting skills when they are sick.  We slipped by with a C-.

I got to escape for a weekend to Jackson Hot Springs with some girl friends.  It was weird to not be in such a hurry all of the time.  It was a great break.  I can't wait to do it again!  Next time, I want to go somewhere with Ed.  Just one night - that is all we need.  One morning of not getting up at the crack of freaking dawn.  I used to feel like leaving my kids made me a bad parent, but now I know that a small break makes me a better parent.  It resets my patience thermometer.

Graham hit 18 months last week.  He is so stinking cute these days and now that he is feeling better, he is so happy.  He is very stubborn, but a pretty good baby all around.  He copies all of his brother's actions.  It is pretty darn funny.

Jr. had a big weekend, he got to go ice fishing, hung out with his beloved Uncle Justin and got a big boy bed.  It was a big deal for all of us.  Ed and I are still wondering if he will make it all night.  If not, that is cool, we got him a big one so one of us can sleep with him during the transition.

I love taking the boys outside to play in the snow.  I hate the 30 minutes it takes to put coats, hats, gloves, boots, snow pants, coats, and then my stuff.  Oh and then there is Selma, inches from me breathing in my face.  Gross!  Some days it is totally worth it.  The photos below show off one of those days.

Photo 1 of the series.  The set up.  Lots of snow, baby in a swing.  Brother wants his attention.

Photo 2 of the series.  Attempt to take cute photo of Graham in 3 feet of snow.

Photo 3 of the series.  Brother showers brother with bitterly cold snow.

Photo 4 of the series.  Graham cries.  I should note here it is the policy of the documentary crew not to interfere with the subjects. 

After the crying ended, Jr. joined his brother in snow swing.

So yeah, it snowed.  Epically.  At the time of this post it has mostly melted.

Little stinkers locked me out while I stepped outside to take the photo above.

Look at that sky.

Football!

Didn't get his morning nap.

That is Jr.'s fishing boat.  Graham likes to go fishing in the boat.

Uncle Justin came to visit.  The boys LOVED him.

He was very happy, but still needed that missing morning nap.

Jr. pushing his brother.

The Coleman boys and their snowman.

Justin was the true architect of the snowman.

OH MY GOSH!  Big Boy Bed.  Yeah, we know that almost 4 is a little late to keep him in a crib.  We have set aside funds for his psychotherapy.

He likes it!

Graham at the carousel! Photo credits Cissie!

Ice fishing with Justin, Grace and the only fish caught by Erik.  He carried that fish around for an hour.

The fish.

He LOVES ice fishing!

And a bonus video of dance party.

TREAT!

After a truly terrifying week we were ready for ghosts, goblins, skeletons and DRAGONS!

Nanny was in town on Friday so we debuted Jr.'s dragon costume. He hated wearing the dragon head, but seemed to like the outfit.

On Saturday morning I took Dragon Boy to the children's museum to play in the play room with Monkey Boy Carter, Bee Girl Zola and Puppy Lady Allie. They had a blast and after playing and playing and playing we walked next door and rode the carousel. Jr. hated it and would only sit on the bench with me. The other kids rode nicely and poor Zola cried and cried when the ride was over. She got to go twice.

After a nice nap it was time for trick-or-treaters. Adrienne came over dressed as the cutest lady bug you have ever seen.

I put the chair in front of the door so that Jr. could watch out for the trick-or-treaters. He would yell "TREAT" at them and knock on the door so they would come to our house. He even gave candy to some of them.


By 8:15 we were out of candy and Dragon Boy was in bed.

Leaf It Be

Jr. and I raked up leaves only to run through them and fall into them. We sometimes threw them around. Then we took a ride in the wagon.
It is fall.
That kid is super cute.
Oh and just so you know, he is now 18 months old. That is one year and six months. Time to think about potty training, advancing to cups and learning.