Jake's drawings

I LOVE getting drawings from my kids. Jake brought home a new one yesterday and I wanted to save it forever. Here are some of Jake's pictures from the last few months. I love the way kids sound out words and draw. I love these Jake! Thanks for making my day.

This is Jake's picture he brought home yesterday. At the bottom, it reads, "My favorite place is down stairs." It's a picture of "the downstairs," including the TV on the entertainment center, our black X-Rocker video game chair, his blue Ikea chair (I must say it looks just like it), and he is on the right with his levis and favorite orange shirt.

Jake loves hanging out down there with the family, with Andy, or with a friend watching a movie or playing a game.

This one reads, "Once I went on a hike". I love the tall yellow cat tails he is walking through and the trees (it was late fall so there are no leaves). The bird in the tree is an eagle and his nest. He had just gone hiking with Andrea and saw an eagle and its nest.

This one reads, "I went to climb" and shows him on the climbing wall. The yellow thing is his support rope and the colored things are the little climby grab things.

This pictures says, "Once me and my friend at the Nature Place." These are ducks in the water. Estee saw this picture and said "quack, quack, quack, ........., quack".

Estee really likes Jakes pictures too.

Estee pics (almost 18 months)

Estee and I had a little photo shoot this morning. I got all prepared and thought it was going to be so much fun. Well, she sat there for three pictures. The whole thing did not last more than 5 minutes. I didn't think there would be any good shots, but there are some cute ones, and some really grumpy looking ones that are still kind of cute, and some just plain sad looking ones. Anyway, here they are and I am happy to say that her 18 month pictures are done.

If you want to see all the pictures go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/EsteeSPhotoShootAlmost18Months

Sledding

We went sledding a few times with the kids over the Christmas break. For the most part it was lots of fun. With the exception of my major jump and minor injury. One of the times we went sledding was at Vets (which is a big sledding hill) it was really cold and icy that day and the snow had been there a couple of days and was really packed down. After watching the kids go down a few times and Dan go down a few times and Jake was begging me to go down with him I decided it would be safe enough to give it a try. So Jake and I hopped on the sled and started down the hill. As we were approaching the middle of the hill I thought I saw a jump up ahead, yep it was a jump ahead and we were headed straight for it. I tried to lean the sled to the left and push with my hands, but we were going sooooo fast on that icy hill before I knew it we were right to the jump and it was the biggest jump on a sledding hill I had ever seen. As we flew up the jump and were sailing through the air I could feel my legs in the air and I knew it was going to hurt. I landed flat on my stomach with a big thud and the wind knocked out of me. Luckily Jake landed three feet in front of me. Jake was saying "mom, you do that the best" and "let's do it again". I was not and will not be doing that again probably ever and I am pretty sure I never want to go back to Vets to sled. I ended up a little bruised and sore for a few days. All in all I am fine but a little freaked out by that hill and mostly that jump.

Dan said the kids all around him were saying "Wow, that was the biggest air of the year". Glad I could provide.

Jake and I just before we headed down the hill towards the big jump.

Just after the big jump.

They made it look so safe and fun.

Happy New Year! Our Year in Pictures

Christmas 2007

We had a really fun Christmas this year! Here are some pics.Jake got this cool chair and him and Estee love sitting in it together. Aren't they cute :)

Abby LOVES her new American Girl book!
These boys are getting down to business with the new video games!


Abby is helping Estee pick a present to open with there cute new pajamas on.

Estee was really excited for this new toy. It's for a one-year-old mp3 player equipped with classical music and kid proof. She sat on the stairs playing with it for a long time, we had to get a picture, it was adorable.

Dan loves his new tie!

We had a great day relaxing, opening presents (with a break while Dan went into work), visiting friends and playing with all the toys! What fun!