60:366 - Leap Year

You would think that having 4 years in between each leap year would give me plenty of time to come up with a more creative approach to today's photo.  Think again.  So, as I was hunting high and low at 11:58 PM on February 29, this is the only thing that "leapt" into my mind!

59:366 - Pass the layer cake, please

An awesome friend popped over for some wine and chocolate tonight.  However, as we oggled the vino, we couldn't help but be underwhelmed by the chocolate choices for the evening...it's not that dark chocolate M&Ms aren't good, it's just that they aren't a delish layer cake.  Krisanne, I say next time, "cake on"!

58:366 - A boy and his monkey

From the day he was born, Beckett has taken "Sister monkey" everywhere with him: planes, trains, automobiles, and even his favorite monorail, this monkey is well traveled! And so, it is not surprising that even in the deepest of sleep, our little monkey clutches his little monkey and takes her with him to dreamland.

57:366 - Perseverance

Beckett was determined to make a snowman - no matter how little snow, or how well it may or may not stick together - that boy was going to build a snowman.  And, what I love the most, is that without tears or temper tantrums, he was SO proud that he did manage to pull off a tiny "Frosty" on the back porch. ALL BY HIMSELF.

56:366 - Up North

The beauty of being "up north" on the big lake is in the ever-changing weather.  Never twice will your skies or water be the same. Today we watched the small ice floes brake away from the along the frozen edge of the lake while the waves crashed sending spray into the air. 

55:366 - Pizza, pizza

A quick trip up north to see my mom would not be complete without a trip to Chef Charles pizza.  It's been there as long as I can remember and their 7 cheese pizza is unbelievable.  I got lucky enough to grab a few shots of this mouthwatering deliciousness....in process.

54:366 - Frosty AM

Driving to school this AM, the sun was just beginning to burn off the frost from the night before.  As we passed the field near B's school we saw all the grasses coated in ice, glistening and shimmering in the early morning light.

53:366 - My little kitchen aid

I love my mixer. Like, really love my mixer. It was my gift to myself when Z had her first birthday...I figured that if I was going to be making birthday cakes for the rest of my life, I needed a little "birth day" gift too.  Since then, it has held a place of honor on the counter whipping up countless batches of cookies, cakes, and all things yummy.

52: 366 - Rotten Bananas

Where there are rotten bananas, there will be wonderful banana bread!

51: 366 - Na na na na na na na na na! BATMAN!

50:366 - Good morning, glory

Coffee love, in a gorgeous orange package.

49:366 - POLAR PLUNGE!

Zoe's school has had a coin challenge going for the last week to raise money for Holland Special Olympics.  For every $400 they raised, one teacher would take part in today's Polar Plunge.  By mid-week, four of the six were plunging and by Friday AM, they were WAY over their goal and all SIX were destined for the plunge.  


Now, today was cold...really cold.  34 degrees and a wicked wind coming off the big lake.  And while they didn't have to cut a hole in the ice for the plungers as in years' past, they did have a full squad of firemen, dive masters, and rescue members on hand.  The rest of us shivered on the dock as one by one they each made the leap.  

a handful of the plungers, listening to the marshalls

members of the rescue team

one of the first plungers, as the Incredible Hulk, goes in...

One of Zoe's favorite teachers, Mr. De, takes the plunge!

Mr. De! Post Plunge!

48:366 - Muscles

My boys have got some muscles...although I was getting worried that Beckett was going to strain something proving it to his dad!

47: 366 - Nest

Out with the old, in with the new....Rodger replaced our thermostat with a new one.  It looks super cool and is supposed to "learn" your heating and cooling habits.  Best yet: you can control it from your iPhone or iPad when not home!  While this may be an uninspired picture of the day, this new gadget could potentially rock!

46:366 - Kindermusik

Ever since the kids were tiny, they have been enrolled in Kindermusik classes.  We got supoer lucky when our daycare actually decided to hold classes there once a week! And, even better, the instructor for Beckett's class is the same woman whom Zoe had when she was tiny! Each month, the kids bring home a new booklet, a new themed CD and a new musical instrument.  Am thinking this month's instrument is going to become a weapon at some point!

45:366 - My heart belongs to...

...well, these two, of course...and their daddy.  How could you not love these two crazy kidlettes???  Happy Valentine's Day!

44:366 - Mondays are for Donuts

Monday's usually kick off with a trip to the grocery store for me and the dude.  However, due to a little, um, plumbing problem, this Monday ended up with a trip to the donut shop ("...where there are lots of little donuts with sugar on the top..." as the song Beckett loves goes).

43:366 - Fly boy

Rodger loves his planes...and winter is his time to hole up in the shop and fix up the casualties from the previous season and build up his fleet for coming one.  

42:366 - Hot glue

Zoe was supposed to have her final swim meet this AM but we spent this morning instead at the doctor's office.  With meds "on board", she felt well enough to decide to wrap up the last details on her Valentine's Day treats for her classmates.  I think she felt pretty grown up using the hot glue gun solo.  

41:366 - Monkey hugs

There is no doubt that my guys love monkeys...and love acting like them.  Beckett thinks it's pretty cool to give dad a big monkey hug with "no hands!"

40:366 - bubbles

My dude loves the tub...what can I say! He would languish in the tub until the water was cold and the tub ran dry if his mean mom would let him!! 

39:366 - Moon, moon, moon, shining bright

Holy COW was the moon gorgeous tonight.  And HUGE. Coming back from swim team practice, both kids were mesmerized following the giant orb in the sky.  I ran home, grabbed my camera and my new favorite lens and am still in awe by the results. 

38:366 - the fridge

Our fridge door gets a work out!  Open, close, open, close, slam, slam, slam.  During the "open" part is the constant perusal of what meal needs to be prepared next.  During the "closed" part, there is always nagging suspicion that a key ingredient has been forgotten, or, better yet, may appear before your eyes should you open the door once again!

37:366 - Ouch

The little dude has his FOUR year check up today.  Shocking... He was quite impressed with the battery of tests: check your eyes, check your hearing, pee in a cup, squeeze your arm, poke your finger, listen to your body.  He even braved three vaccinations without a whimper.  So brave. 

36:366 - Siblings

Zoe loves her brother. Beckett loves his sister. But more times than not, when I try to get an image of the two of them together, one is frowning and one is crabbing.  However, when bribed by homemade waffles, I find the end result is much improved!

35:366 - Saturday

We hit the ground running this AM with a complete clean out of both of the kids' closets.  We found old toys, dust bunnies and even dresses from my sophomore year Homecoming and my high school graduation (stay tuned, these relics could become future posts!) When we took a break from the depths of the closet, Beckett set up his cars for a race and I noticed that our flowers are in their race for Spring (??). Our winter has been crazy warm but we know it is not even close to being over.

34:366 - Spelling Test

A couple times a month I get to volunteer in Zoe's Montessori class for Friday spelling tests.  This week was especially challenging; not only was the word list tough, but this was the first week that the 3rd graders were writing their tests in cursive.  I am not sure if it was a good idea that I gave Zoe her test, but she did a great job!

33:366 - Pizza!

The best part of my day today was coming home to my family, making pizzas and watching a movie...it doesn't get much better.

32:366 - Dinner Time!

Years ago, when Zoe was born, we were given a great set of glasses (big and small) as well as a cereal bowl with a whimsical little face.  It isn't breakfast, lunch or dinner without them smiling back at us all.