Yesterday we took Paige and Megan ice skating at the zoo. It is the last weekend that the ice rink is open. I wish they would have it open through the end of February. It would make sense because the schools have a 3 day weekend in mid. Feb. and it is certainly cold enough. As you can see from the grins the girls had a great day of skating. We skated from about 1:45 to 4 when the ice rink closed. Megan was the last off the ice. While we were taking off our skates she went back out for a few more laps. I am not in that many photo's because I seem to be the photographer. Paige took this picture below for us. It turned out good. I should get some brownie points for being able to skate and take photos at the same time. Cocoa break for our skaters! I think we were the envy of the skate rink. They usually have a little snack bar that sales cocoa and treats but it was closed. We packed our own so we were all set. We also had some homemade snickerdoodle cookies.


Now here is a non posed action shot (above) notice how Paige has to skate into the picture with her tongue sticking out. Thanks Paige we will always treasure this picture.






Why is it that at some point (weather it ice skating or swimming) your kids decide they want/need you to pull them around? Maybe because you can? I don't know, but this is their favorite game on the ice or in the water they love for their dad to pull them around. Poor dad he's gonna have a sore back.



Getty up Bullseye, skate (run) like the wind! For those of you who don't know, Bullseye is the horse from "Toy Story 2".


"Mmmmm thanks for packing the hot cocoa mom, you think of everything, you are the best!" I am just making that up, but I hope they were thinking it at least.

We have a new neighbor we would like to introduce you to. This is Luke he was born last Friday, January 18,2008. He surprised his mommy and daddy by arriving 3 weeks early. He was 6lbs. 12 oz and 19 inches long at birth, so he's not too small for being early. Paige and Megan think he is adorable. His parents Brian and Laura are very proud, and say he sleeps all the time due to his early arrival. I told them not to blink because Paige started off at 6lbs. 8 oz and look at her now. It all goes by so fast, and they just keep growing and getting smarter and lovelier each day.

We had Brittany spend the night Sunday since all of the kids were off school on Monday. We had reservations to bowl at the little 10 lane bowling ally next to Der Dutchman at 3 p.m. so we went a few minutes early so we could stop and share a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie. I tell ya they know how to bake pies at Der Dutchman, mmmm do they know!?When we got there the hostess took us to the Amish buggy table, this is an actual Amish buggy with a booth built inside. It has the little lights, windows etc. The kids were thrilled, it was our first time in the buggy ever. I always thought you had to request it. It must have been our lucky day! Luckily I had the camera in my purse and we snapped some fun pictures.



mmmmm chocolate peanut butter pie it's a special treat!

Bye now were off to the bowling ally next door, we have to go work off that pie...ha ha :)
Here she is our little bowling queen with her big 6 lb. ball that matches her eyes.
Paige and Brittany sharing a smile.
Megan kept getting frustrated because she "wasn't winning". I told her it's not all about winning but having fun and doing your best, of course it is fun when you surprise yourself with a strike or two.
Bowling beauties!
Paige and Megan what a couple of cute sisters they are, if I do say so myself. (and I do)
X equals Strike...I was beyond surprised I got two in a row that is a first for me, maybe a last too who knows?

Here's the final scores...I was the leader with 129 (that may be my all time high score), Paige was next with an 84, Megan came in 3rd with a 77 (that's pretty darn good for a 6 year old!) then Brittany had a 69. But the most important thing is we all did our best and had fun doing it!

The first graders at Megan's school had their musical , "Oceans of Fun" last night. It was a huge success. I still have the songs swimming around in my head. Of course I was lucky and got to see it twice in one day since I went in the afternoon to see the dress rehearsal.
Megan was an angel fish. I was thrilled about that since she already had an angel costume left over from the preschool Christmas play a few years ago. Good thing we didn't sacrifice that pillowcase for just one show! ha ha
Here is Megan and her friend Jaydon. Jaydon is a starfish, how cute is she?
Here's a group shot Megan is in the middle of the shot. They are supposed to be acting like they are afraid of the shark. In the end they all become friends. Megan's line was "he wants to be friends with everyone!".
Megan humored me and did some poses from the show. My favorite is the one below...her swimming pose.


Hey look Mom got her new glasses. I had them on in the afternoon when I came to her first show. I also had them on when I picked her up after school and took her to dance. Megan didn't notice my new glasses until I was combing her hair before the show at 7. So much for my new drastic look!

After the show we took our angel for some frozen custard at Culver's. She had cookie dough with peanut butter cup sprinkles.

My blog is going to the dogs today. I took these pictures of Rowdy and Rebel over the weekend. They were playing tug with each other. I think Rebel ended up winning he has about 6 lbs on Rowdy and a couple of inches oh and he is 10 years younger too. Rowdy puts up a pretty tough contest, he still has some get up and go in him.I'm glad that they get along so well. At first Rowdy wanted nothing to do with the pup. As Rebel got older he took a few educational nips from Rowdy, they were always well deserved. Usually a result of Rebel nipping Rowdy in the haunches. The young dog has learned to respect the old dog and only has a tiny spot on the tip of his ear where it looks like he had pinking sheers taken to him. Sometimes they even lay on the chair together all cozy like, that makes me smile but not as much as when they get down and play tug together.