Happy 2013!!!!

Ringing in the New Year with our kiddos has been an ever-changing tradition.  We used to visit our local First Night celebration, but our nearby town no longer has festivities, so we have made our own traditions!

We start out with a warm dip in a local hotel pool.  I am amazed from year to year at how much fun it is to take our boys swimming, and how quickly their skills progress.  Prince K is a proficient swimmer and is constantly in the deep end of the pool.  Prince L just learned to swim this summer, and is getting stronger and stronger as the months go by.  Prince M still uses his floaties, but is fearless in the water.  Seriously, this year he plunged into the pool before I was ready and sunk to the bottom.  So I quickly tossed what was in my hands, yelled no (as if it's would help) and dove in after him.  You'd think he'd be scared, but nope... he tried it again a few seconds later.  Sigh.  Needless to say, on went the floaties!!  Prince N appears to love water, but not cold pool water... I'm thinking he'll be a water bug by summer though, and will soon be crawling in after his big brothers!

After swimming, we warm up at a local restaurant for dinner.  Last year we ate dessert first (because Preggo Momma said so), but this year we at in the traditional order.  We even wore special New Years buttons we made at home that afternoon. 

 

We then went home for petit-fours and Sprite. 

Prince N went immediately to bed when we got home, exhasted at his usual time, so the party continued at the other end of the house with a dance party in Momma and Daddy's room!  We turned on the good 'ole clock radio, donned party hats, and danced the night away.

The party was a blast, except Prince L kept falling off the bed, and Prince K kept knocking his brothers with his flailing limbs.  I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my cheeks as Hubby showed off his dance moves to the kids!

I wish I could say we stayed up to ring in the New Year at midnight, but the kids were in bed by 8 o'clock, and Hubby and I crashed shortly after.  Maybe in 5 years or so we'll actually stay up to see the ball drop!

The following morning we had homemade biscuits (yes, in Mickey Mouse shapes with heart centers), eggs, oranges, and juice...

2013 is off to a good start!

9 Years Old!

Happy 9th Birthday (yesterday) to the boy who made me a Momma!

I can not believe how fast 9 years goes.  Seriously.  I remember the day he came into this world, wide eyed and curious.  Prince K never cried when he was born, just gazed at me and his surroundings.  So quiet and peaceful, tiny and precious.  I could never have known then how quickly time would pass, and what an amazing little boy he would turn out to be.  I seem glimpses of his teenage years from time to time, and it makes me just want to squeeze him a little tighter.  I can not wait to see the man he grows up to be, but at the same time I hate the thought of this fleeting moment being gone.  No more smudged walls, no more scattered toys, no more unmade beds.  I want to cherish it all while I can!  So today (or should I say yesterday) we celebrate.  Candles in your breakfast, cupcakes to share at school, the present you didn't get at Christmas and wanted to so badly, dinner out at your favorite restaurant, a celebratory button to wear, singing that almost embarrasses you already, and an extra long hug and kiss at bedtime.  Happy Birthday, my sweet boy, we love you more than you will ever know!

Skating, Snowmachines, and Sledding. Oh, My!

In an effort to keep our kiddos active this winter, we signed the boys up for ice skating lessons (in addition to archery for Prince K, and basketball for Prince L).  Prince M would only go out on the ice with me after his first lesson because he got scared (and there weren't enough hands for one-on-one help).   We have been skating as family, off and on, for years, but it was nice for the boys to get a little help and scheduled practice. 

Prince L was ready to get rid of his crate (for balancing assistance) after his first lesson.  I am so proud of him, and amazed at how brave he is!  He's got great balance for standing up again if he falls, too.

Prince K played hockey as a little guy (about 4 years old), but gave it up when they started getting into games.  He doesn't seem to enjoy the sport of a little competition, but loves to do just about anything for fun!  He took a while to get his balance and remember his old moves, but he got it in no time!

I love how the boys skated side-by-side most of the time, chatting to each other as they zoomed around the rink.  I can only imagine the things they were pretending!

Another winter pastime favorite of our family is snow machining.  Prince L has begged nearly every day to take out the kiddy kat, and of course Hubby is more than happy to oblige.

Prince K is on "snow and rescue" when the snow machine is running.  He's armed with just about anything he may need in emergencies, including a whistle!  These boys are all business!

Prince N is not very impressed with the cold weather this year, so he's looking forward to spring.  But we get him outside as much as we can, even for just a few minutes, in hopes that it will grow on him!

Our new house is situated on a little hill, so the kids have had a blast sledding and exploring.  On the other side of our driveway is a steep bank that they seem to love most.  They slide down on their bellies, face first, and then giggle and squeal as they try to climb back up.