February 2012, for the most part

Our first big event for the year was snow. We haven't had any big snows, but the kids have very much enjoyed the little snows while they've lasted, especially Curtis. Favorite activities: sculpting things, making tracks, and eating snow (whether Mom says it's okay or not). And if there's not enough snow on the ground for eating, they scrape it off the cars. Amanda made a snowman during one of the snows, which alas is only preserved in memory. However, we did manage to get a picture of her trying to make a snow angel. Is this really the same kid who complained about snow back when she had to walk through it to and from school last year? Now she waits for snow eagerly and wants to store snowballs in the freezer.






Our next big news: Lydia is a biped! She stands, she walks, she's starting to dance, and any day now it seems that she's going to take off running. She especially likes being able to play more with her older siblings now. "Ring around the rosy" works so much better when you can actually be up before you fall down.



February was a big month for Amanda because she had a birthday and Grandmother came to visit for the occasion. Grandma and Grandpa had us over for a very fancy birthday dinner a couple of days before the actual birthday, but alas, our pictures of that are on someone else's camera. The actual birthday dinner of pizza was significantly less fancy, but the kids liked it all right anyway, despite the expressions the instant this photo was taken.
Mom took Amanda swimming the evening of the birthday, which meant that the other Muffins were in bed when Amanda got around to blowing out her candles (all seven of them). We went past the hospital where Amanda was born on the way to the pool. How times have changed since then! Since her birthday, Amanda has officially passed level 1 swimming, and she is excited to start level 2 next month.
Here is Amanda with her birthday doll from last year (and rather neater hair than on her actual birthday).
Amanda wanted to take pictures of her doll, and they really turned out quite well. How do you like the little feast she made for the doll?


And, last but not least, Dad got Mom these lovely flowers for Valentine's Day. Thanks, honey!