Ella at gymnastics

Ella is having so much fun at gymnastics.  Although I'm not sure if it's gymnastics she loves or the two other girls in her class.  They literally laugh and giggle the WHOLE time.  It's no joke, she has a smile on her face practically the whole class.  Yet somehow they are also managing to learn a few things along the way!

This is how coach David is starting to teach the girls the 
motion of a back handspring.  They think they are big time!

Trying a handstand on the big beam all by herself.

Working on vaulting.

        

Of course their favorite part is jumping in the foam pit at
the end of class - sometimes even Madelyn gets to join
in the fun!

Madleyn

Madelyn once again has spent a lot of hours at "The Hipp" this year, but that hasn't stopped her from having a smile on her face!  She is her brother and sister's biggest fan!

Warm Winter Evening

We finally had a relatively warm winter night.  We went for a walk around the neighborhood and the kids got a chance to try out their new headlamps.  The went "exploring" all over the place.  When we got back they worked on digging a tunnel in the snow.  They were like little night time miners.  They had so much fun.

Go Bears!

We have started going to some of the WBL HS hockey games.  The kids had a lot of fun standing right at the glass and watching the game.  Collin really got into the game standing up when they almost scored and being able to watch what they were doing.  Matt had to keep telling him to sit down because we couldn't see through him.  Madelyn LOVED watching the bears (mascotts) skate on the ice. She was absolutely giddy when they would wave to her.  And Ella she is a cheerleader through and through.  At the last game they passed out free orange pom-poms - Ella must have waved those things around for 99% of the game.  The last game we went to the Bears won in overtime and the kids were so excited!!

Kalea and Ella

Ella finally managed to find a friend that is not a boy!  Now obviously Cole could never be replaced, but Ella sure is happy to have a friend that shares her passion for princesses and dress-up!

Favorite Things

Collin was "friend of the week" recently.  This was part of a project he brought to school.  You just can't make this stuff up.  The truth is, he had written just snuggling and I was a little afraid that he might get made fun of so I "encouraged" him to add snowboarding....but you gotta love it!

If You Bring a Mouse to School.....

Ella was so excited to bring Mousey to school with her.

Ella and daddy's first Father/Daughter dance.  Ella was so excited.  She had to wear a dress that went all the way down to her feet, and wanted her hair in 2 braids.  Daddy even brought Ella a special flower to wear on her dress.  They danced the night away and didn't get home until 9pm.

Trouble

One afternoon I called the kids down for lunch.  Ella and Collin came, but no Madelyn.  To be honest, I didn't even really notice at first.  After about 10 minutes I had completely forgot that Madelyn wasn't there, I ran upstairs quick to switch the laundry over and found the door closed, Madelyn was inside upside down in the laundry - she must have been climbing up on the washer to get her nuk and fell in!  Nobody knows for sure how long she had been there.  She was past crying and on to the sobbing and was pretty sweaty, so it had probably been awhile - needless to say she doesn't climb on the washer anymore!

Man House

The "Man House" at the Firkus'.  This is becoming quite the tradition.  The kids really look forward to singing songs and "being in the spotlight" - literally this year.  Ella was a riot she would stand front and center, facing her audience.  Collin is a little more shy and Madelyn - well no surprise she is not shy at all!  She sang away, most of the time fighting Matt for the microphone.  She sang ABCs and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star about 100 times!  Thanks again for Firkus' for all the entertainment!

Playing in the snow

Collin got a snowboard for Christmas and he LOVES it.  He doesn't beg to do a lot of things....ok well other than watching movies and playing wii...he is just not one of those kids that gets obsessed with stuff.  He does however ask ALL the time to go snowboarding.  He was able to figure it out pretty quick and even started trying to do some jumps.  Ella of course didn't last very long on the sidelines before she had to give it a try too.  She made it all the way down the hill on her first try!  Even mommy gave it a try - it's a lot harder than it looks :)

We had record snowfall in December.
Look how deep it is!

Collin was so proud of mommy!

Even the adults (great grandma included)
got in on the outdoor action.  Don't worry the
hot drinks are on their way!