Imagination runs wild

Lydia has really gotten into imaginative play. When I came downstairs, I saw this. I frantically ran to get my camera, it was so cute! She put her shoes on all of Eli's dinosaur's. Lydia is really becoming such a neat person and Michael and I both adore her personality. She is so loving, but at the same time very strong willed and an individual thinker. She's such a little sponge, sometime I don't know where she gets the things that come out of her mouth. Hopefully soon everyone will be able to understand her, as I am still mostly her interpreter still.

Aunt Tatey FINALLY comes for a visit

Not more need to say except, as you can tell, Eli was so excited to see her (along with Lydia). Lydia spoke to Courtney the night before and unveiled her plans which consisted of "making a mess and not listening to momma". Oh boy, I think I have my hands full with that one.

Michaels new truck

As many of you know, Michael has been working very hard on his Jeep CJ5. Michael is a lover of all things old... well, at least when it comes to vehicles. Once he got his jeep to where he liked it we made a gruesome discovery. He was too tall for the vehicle to drive it safely. If he had an accident, it would have been the end of him, since his head would end up wrapped around the roll bar. Wish we had made this realization prior to purchasing it, but, you live you learn.

So we sold the jeep and Michael had it narrowed down to two differnt vehicles that he was looking for. Now, try not to laugh when I tell you them. It was between a Dodge diesel pick-up (early 2000's model), or a Lincoln Continental (pffff, ok, even I laughed at that). OF course the Continental was the old one... I think 68? The one with the suicide doors. All I could think of a pimped out, lowered, getto car... Michael assured me no. (verdict still out)

So... Michael made his choice! Boy was I surprised when I woke up in the morning and looked out my window and saw what he bought. Keep in mind the criteria we had set for his vehicle. 1. Had to be dependable. 2. Had to have a back seat so he could start taking the kids places, or pick up Lydia from dance class or whatever... it had to be more family friendly. 3. LITTLE to no work needed. 4. He had to be happy with his choice, because I was tired of selling cars. (Seriously, I feel like a used car sales man, since! Since Michael isn't the most computer literate, it's me that has to post the ads, manage the email, take the pictures, you name it, when it comes to selling the vehicles.) Other than that, he has free reign to choose what he liked.

Now for the unveiling!
Yes, my eyes are rolling so far in the back of my head I may never see again! He got a 1968 Jeep Kaiser (M315?). Michael informed me its an old Military vehicle. Someone help me! Michael assures me that it will run like a dream... you all may have picked up on the future tense... that's right, it doesn't run! So we haven't met the "dependable" part yet, I also noted that there is no back seat, there goes criteria number 2, number 3 was little to no work... a non working vehicle does not fit in that category.


But Eli, Lydia, and Michael all love it, so I am going to try and get on board. Oh, and Michael says he can add a bench seat...

Dance Class

In an attempt to get Lydia more socialization, and myself. We have added dance class to our weekly commitments. Lydia LOVES it. Really, when we get home from dance class on Tuesday night, we have to start the count down to her next class. She has been going now for about a month and I have seen such change in her. Every morning we have to turn on music so she and Eli can dance. Eli is not always a willing participant, but tolerates Lydia grabbing his hands and making him dance with her. (So cute it hurts to watch!). With her class, parents aren't permitted to go back to the classroom so we all cram into a room to watch out dots dance around the room. Most of the time we try to see if we can figure out which one is ours. Since everyone has to wear the same leotard, shoes, and have their hair pulled back... the only way to distinguish which is Lydia is to add a HUGE bow (that can be distinguished on the TV), leggings, or a tutu.
This is Lydia's first dance class and she's the one right in the middle with black pants. (This was before she got her leotard)

This is what happens when dad feeds breakfast

Breakfast menu: Oreo Double Stuffed Vanilla Cookies anyone?Oh, I have been spied! Better shove another cookie in my mouth.

Here, I'll take that off your hands Lydia.
Look! He knows he's getting away with something!

Glamour Girl

I think this picture needs a little explanation as to what lead up to it. First, we have been cooped up in the house now for almost 2 weeks straight. It all started with snow. Then Lydia and Eli came down with RSV, then I came down with something (that I'm still battling). So, needless to say, the Indian's are getting restless. Lydia started feeling better and now has decided that she doesn't need a nap and instead stays in her room and entertains herself in various ways. The recent have been trying on ALL her clothes in her drawers (which reminded me she had some clothes in there she doesn't fit into anymore), going through all her books, and her toys chest (stuffed animal overflow is in her bedroom). All of these such adventures end up on the floor and she gets in trouble and has to clean it up. Well, this day I'm not sure what she was thinking, but she snuck out of her bedroom and into mine. I hadn't realized it and was surprised about 40 minutes later with this:

I have to say, for her first attempt at make-up it was a great one. Note that the Mascara is actually near her eyes. She was also very ingenious in her use of my eye shadow (which she used as lipstick). Perhaps we have a make-up artist on our hands? (Of course we have to think big... so imagine MOVIE make-up artist). And the most amazing part of all this? I almost NEVER wear make-up anymore. So for her to pick up on where the various products go is amazing to me.

Super Bowl

Many of you may think that since Michael and I don't watch football that we wouldn't do anything for the Super Bowl. Well, normally you would be right, but we happened to be invited to our good friends Jay and Kathy's. We had a GREAT time despite Jay having a horrible head-ache. I think the highlights were for sure the food and the horses! Jay has a barn and is currently housings some horses along with his own in it for the winter. When we got there we were greeted with the news that one of them had a baby! Needless to say we had to go check out all the horses. Lydia was able to pet nearly all the horses and even got to sit on one. I wish I had my camera with me because you could tell from her face that she was so excited and felt so important to be the only one that got to sit on one. Thanks to the Gregory family for having us over!