Zane, Emerson, and Smith: January!!

Oh how a month can fly by. As always, we had a pretty busy month, but life is good.

Zane is 6 1/2 and is just getting so big. He's into legos and reading and playing Wii. He loves being home all the time. He could spend the entire day just doing those things or "working" at his desk. He is also working on a new research project - reading and learning all about caves - and he'll share what he learned with his class. He's also starting to care about sports. He loves watching them with Zack and he plays basketball or football everyday at recess. He also is playing on a basketball team right now. He almost always passes the ball instead of shooting. He collects football cards and loves organizing them. He's an amazing big brother! He plays with the little kids a lot. He and Emmy do fight, but lately they've been good friends! He's still as sweet as ever, although occasionally his "I'm all grown up and too cool" attitude comes out. It's crazy just watching him grow up and be so independent.

Emmy is 4 1/2 and is all girl right now. She is obsessed with the movie Frozen. She loves the characters and the songs. She talks about it and sings all day (and night). She dreams about it even! She plays in her room a bunch, with dolls, princess castles, etc. She also takes care of her Bitty Baby and doll. She is also super creative and likes to do art projects with me all the time. She loves painting and drawing and coloring. She also wants to write words more and more - she asks me how to spell things all day. She's good at it! She helps me a ton with Smith and Molly. They both absolutely adore her and look forward to playing with her every day. She pretend plays like a champ and is teaching them how to join in with her. She has an awesome sense of humor and makes me laugh so much. She likes her hair and nails done, she's experimenting with make up, and always wants to dress cute. She's still very emotional - either way up and happy and extremely upset about something. She reacts big, but she has a big heart.

Smith lately has been the craziest two year old ever!! Ok, this kid is an absolute expert at throwing temper tantrums. He knows how to kick, scream, yell, cry, hit, and throw things. He does not like being told no, and isn't afraid to tell us. He gets upset almost every time we have to leave somewhere fun. He's basically a time bomb waiting to explode. BUT, he is the cutest little thing at the same time. We all love him and laugh at him all the time. He's irresistible, loving, and hilarious. He is getting so good at playing with his big bro and sis (and Molly). He's getting better at taking turns and caring about others. He gives the biggest and best hugs and every single morning that I walk in to get him out of bed he is delighted to see me. He's talking a ton and is learning so much everyday.

He begs for electronics all day. He loves TV and the iPad, and now loves playing dance games on Wii. WE have to drag him away. But once he's away, he's fun to play with. He wrestles, plays basketball on our little hoop downstairs, blocks, cars, with his minion, etc.

Here's a bunch of pictures from this past month.

We ALL had to get our Charger's gear on to get ready for the playoff game. Yes, we are all Charger's fans, because Dada's a Charger's fan. :) (But I secretly still like the Broncos too!)

After they won, Zack and Zane went crazy celebrating...

I love this - Emmy had a playdate with friends with make up, costumes, spying, etc. but she included Smith in all of it. She made sure he got treated well and was part of the group.

Snuggles!!

These guys have been playing legos HOURS everyday!! Wow, I can't even believe how long they can play. They create, they imagine. My favorite. :)

Smith's favorite lego is this guy, who reminds him of Lorax.

Nice face!

Park days in the winter are so refreshing. Any time the weather is nice enough to go play outside, we really try to go.

One day, I took the kids and Molly to the Zoo. The weather could not be more perfect. And they were all so good.

The geese were chasing Em

The penguins are Zane's favorite

Our backyard...

We put Molly in a ladybug costume - and they loved it. Molly ran around the circle and everyone chased her…for a LONG time!

My cutie pie

I wish there wasn't food all over Smith's face because I like this pic!

Emmy had a "Donuts with Dad" day at school. They got to have their dads come and they prepared all sorts of special things for them. She sure loves her Dad.

Zane started his baseball season. My friend and I are coaching the team together. It's been pretty good so far. He has gotten so much better since last year! Wow, what a year can do. He can dribble pretty well and is actually starting to understand what's going on and how the game works. He's so sweet - he purposely passes and barely ever shoots. We always have to push him to shoot more. The other kids mostly shoot and don't pass, so he gets sad sometimes.

One day, Emmy and Smith played Superheroes. He was Iron Man and Emmy was Super Girl. They saved all sorts of stuffed animals.

Super Hero intense expressions...

Emmy is in a dance class right now. She LOVES dressing up for it. :)

While she dances, the boys and I get to play for a little bit. They eat a snack and play air hockey most the time...

I love these pictures of Molly. She just plops down right in the middle of the action. This day, she drew for a very long time. She looked so cute, just laying there drawing so carefully - she was so focused.

And legos again...

Smith and Molly can join in on the Wii dancing games.

Buddies

Here's Zane working on his research project. He seriously does almost all of it on his own. He's taking notes on caves… And then he excitedly tells me everything he learns.

Playdate at a friend's house

Cold Stone for no reason in the middle of winter…why not?

Emmy loves her little cousin

Here's Zane one day after art class. He loves art at school, it's his favorite special. He was COVERED in paint!

Zack and I got tickets from a friend to Nuggets game - almost in the very front row! It was insanely close to the court. We had so much fun and since it was a national televised show, we were on tv a bunch. I would want to go to Nuggets game all the time if we could always sit that close.

Emmy and my mom and I went to see my cousin Jud race in a Cyclocross race. We met Judi and Bob and Pappy and Carrie there. It was an intense race and a fun atmosphere to be in. Emmy was a trooper, walking up and down hills with us.

This picture was to show how Smith buckled in his two best friends into the seat next to him - Olaf the snowman and his minion.

Children's Museum with Jord and Molly…

Firefighter Smith and Emmy...

Veterinarians

These crack me up. Zane constantly tries to kiss Smith and Smith has gotten so tired of it that he just pushes him away. It's a little out of control. So Zane was trying to give him kisses.

Smith got mad!

Emmy drew a picture of Dada,

And then Mommy. Haha

This is Zane, super late at night before bed, when he finally finished cracking a code. He deciphered a message that Judi had written to him. He worked all afternoon and couldn't go to sleep until he finished it.

Just random

Smith and I spent a morning together last week. We went to his gym class and then to the park. He's so darn cute!

Molly and Emmy pirates!

Pretty baby

Silly Monkey

Zack and Zane went to a Nuggets game, just the two of them.

This was Smith taking a bath after he puked all over himself. He had a nasty case of the stomach flu. Look how pale he was. I love how many bubbles Zack put in. LOL.