My little artists

Lilly had some serious painting to do :)

What's that plaque for???

Yes that plaque has orbits engraved on it.  In case you are not on of our friends from work and so you don't recognize the plaque that is for receiving a patent.  That's right- there is an orbit out there with Tim's name on it.  

This coming in and getting to work three shift at the ISS and space shuttle mission control on Houston made a pretty great work month for Tim.  

Some things I made recently

I made Tim this sweater.  It was his Christmas present.  I didn't understand that a beginning knitter should not take on a big, fitted project like this.  There are so many parts that I knit, tired on, took out, and knit again.  If I knew what I was doing I could have made three sweaters with all the stitches I knit.  Oh well, I have always been a "jump in with both feet" kinda person.  It was month late that I finished it, but it is done and looks good now.

One of my friends posted about the Ana White website- it is building stuff for beginners.  I have wanted an entry bench and a place to store our shoes for along time- and she had a pattern.  I built this cute bench and even sewed the cover for the cushion.  Together with a couple of purse hooks and the beautiful mirror my Uncle Jeff built for our wedding present we now have a nice entry area.  Uncle Jeff is a professional builder and his mirror makes my bench look a little shabby if you look close- but from this distance wood filler and dark paint cover a lot of sins :)

May not be recently but I built these cuties too :)

The kids and I made the door wreath for Valentines.  We had a good, messy, time painting and hot glueing all the pieces together.

Moooommm, Lilly is on the table

So frequently this is what I hear from Mark as I am trying to get something else done while they eat.  

some normal days around here

The kids are eating some applesauce.  I love Lilly's lounging pose.

When I downloaded this camera is was filled with a ton of photos Mark took- mostly of his feet and his toys and the couches, ect.  In the middle of those was this one photo he took of Fiona jumping on the couch.  It is a little out of focus- but it sure captures the glee in her face.

":

And here is one of Mark taken by Lilly or Fiona- what a snugly little guy!

February was cold- Lilly was adorable

Lilly really enjoys when Fiona's car set is in the house.

February

February did exist- even if I didn't put up any photos.  I have finally downloaded some so here they go.

(Mark would like me to write Hot Springs)

Mark and Lilly love their cousin.  Lilly is pretty sure she should be allowed to pick Josie up all by herself.

 We took Fiona for her first sledding trip.  We are lucky to live within walking distance to excellent kid sledding hills.  Fiona was pretty excited!

 Lilly was NOT excited.

70 degree day in January :)

last week it hit 70.  OK I don't know that for sure, but it was close if it didn't quite make it- we went to the park in tshirts and shorts.  Tomorrow the high is -2.

Proud Cousins

Lisa and Josie were over yesterday and as they were getting ready to leave Mark, very seriously and politely, asked if he could hold Josie.  Can't you just see the love in his face.  As Josie got fussy Lilly gave her some pat pats to see if that would make her feel better.

Josie Photos

I am watching Joise today while Lisa teaches class.  I brought Josie to Lisa for lunchtime and she said that the grandparents need some new photos.  So I took some, they aren't great, but here they are:

 This is how she falls asleep for me.  It isn't easy to take a photo in this position.  But, she is still a cute sleeping baby.

HI

So I couldn't find my camera battery charger so when it ran out of juice I could no longer take photos or download what I had on the camera.  I was sure it would just turn up- but my kitchen (where I keep such things) is completely clean and no battery.  I didn't have anywhere else to look.  Until yesterday when I started doing the taxes and I couldn't find the tax file from last year on my computer (please, let it be on the other computer or the external drive) so I went to look for the hard copy.  Searching for the hard copy through the office I had to open every file box and drawer because I don't do the filing so I had no idea where Tim kept them.  And one of those draws held my charger.  How it got there?  I don't know.  But, now I have it.  And I would be showing you photos from that camera except now I can't find the downloading cord.  But, luckily I have still have my old camera and I have taken some photos on it. 

Usually when I download I find a series of photos taken by Mark.  It is always fascinating to see what he chooses to take photos of.  Sometimes they are shots he spent a lot of time posing his toys for, sometimes they are people, and sometimes they are ceilings and doors.  This installment included his feet.

 Last weekend we took a trip to the zoo.  Mark and Tim rode the carousel.  Mark thought it was pretty awesome.

 Lilly loves her new baby, Josie.  Here she is rocking Josie as they get ready to leave.

 Fiona, Lilly, and Mark playing a go to sleep game.  It cracks me up that kids think playing at going to sleep is fun.

 Lilly and Mark at the Children's museum- they both really enjoy playing in the "Tree House".  Lilly has been working on climbing in and out of the windows and Mark has been practicing sleeping on the top bunk.  He really wants bunk beds- so badly that he conceded that he would sleep on the top so Lilly could sleep on the lower one.

 We didn't get snow like the East Coast, but we have had some snow here and the kids have been out in it.  We haven't had a snow day that was warm enough to go sledding yet.  The days it has snowed have been too cold to take the kids out for any long time and then it has rapidly warmed up.  Today it is going to be 60 tomorrow or Monday it might snow and Tuesday might not break 0 (so said the radio this morning)

 This is what most of the winter here has looked like; no snow, sunny sky, cold enough for a heavy jacket.

 I have this same photo of Mark at about this age- but it is on my old computer so you can just see the Lilly version.  It is interesting all the little ways they are alike- the things they think are fun at the same time.