Sat. Feb 27th

Happy Birthday to our sweet "O"
How did you get to be 8 years old?



More birthday party pics here:

Feb 2010 Album

Ebeanstalk ... We love you!

Picking toys is not easy but there is a wonderful toy website called ebeanstalk, dedicated to selecting good, safe baby toys. BUT they need help from moms like me to help pick the toys. They sent us a Spiral Spin Top by Infantino this week to try out and review. Here are my two youngest kiddos enjoying that toy:

A box from ebeanstalk is always a good thing

But this toy had Mary just a little stumped at first




Then it was big brother Z to the rescue:


And Mary just had to say thank you!



Mary is really into the cause and effect type thing right now, so she does like this toy now that she understands if she pushed down on the large button the balls inside will spin. Her only complaint now is that she sometimes wants us to "Ope ope ope" Which means open open open ... she wants the balls out

Feb. 18th

Please excuse my messy dresser/bedroom ... just part of my reality these days, but wanted to catch how adorable our youngest three looked while watching a scooby-doo on our bed. Mary and Owen kept squishing in on Z and then Z said "hey I'm a sandwhich!"

Feb. 16th - Fat Tuesday!

Good Bye Bearskin

Gus takes one last go at a hill before we load up and drive home



Mary, Gus and Owen fast asleep while Mikayla and Zeke sing along to crazy music, somewehre just before Duluth

Twins on skiis!

My niece and nephew are so darn cute!

Valentines at Bearskin

Some of us went for a dogsled ride!




Played with the pups


And warmed up in the tepee



Then back to Grandma and Papa's cabin for coffee:


And card making:


And Valentines Face Paints:



Then out again for more fun in the snow:





Yep, it was a very happy valentines in Bearskin this year!

Feb 13th at Bearskin

Papa and Mary making morning coffees


Choas of breakfast for 22 in a small cabin


Lots of picturetaking and skiing happening today

Way up north

Once a year my parents rent a log cabin in the woods near Grand Marais, MN. My sisters and I brig our kids up for a long weekend while they are there and we have a great family snow and ski time. Its great, no phones, no tvs, no computers! Just family, snow and fun!





Havin' some broomball fun!






A very yummy family dinner:

Water fun!

We spent Thursday night at a hotel on our way up north. We are headed to Bearskin Lodge for some winter fun, but first a stop at the AmericInn in Silver Bay: