Thank You Benaiah!

Cute Gloria

Lions

Me and my little cubs...Daddy got transformed into a statue...they always said he had a "lion personality."

Me and the kids (all 3)

JB is smiling because Daddy didn't attract Mommy by "vibrating"(see video below). No comment on my current condition or the kids on either side...

The Peacock

This is how it got started...

A trip to the Zoo

Monkey JB

JB loves climbing on things. At this playground at the zoo JB searched for other little boys with whom to play. He's very social. Spring weather keeps coming and going here in Kansas. I guess I should be grateful for the nice days we do have in the end of Feb/early March!

Cowgirl Gloria

Gloria currently loves her cowgirl boots and her stick pony that makes a trotting sound ending with a neighing when you press the ear. She's getting so big (I suppose she always has been) and blossoming with personality.

First Night in the Bunk Beds!

JB and Gloria were so excited to sleep in their bunk beds last night. We got them new mattresses, mattress protectors, sheets, warm fuzzy blankets, and I am in the process of making JB a quilted duvet cover out of flannel outdoorsy print that I got for him 4 years ago in Minnesota. Switching them to old bunks that we stripped and painted and had to outfit cost a lot all together, but the project was fun to do with Max and new tools and techniques came out of it. The transition would have to happen eventually, so hopefully they will be using these bunks for a while. They can also be separated, but I have a feeling JB and Benaiah will be sharing them next. Making Gloria's room into Baby Benaiah's room is another story...

I was pleasantly surprised that Gloria slept in the bottom bunk all night and we didn't hear a peep out of her (or JB). Gloria up until last night has slept in her girly room in a crib with the sides as her security all the way up. I wasn't sure how she would do transitioning to a "big girl bed" so abruptly, but she seemed to sleep great. You can kind of see the pillows and comforter we put on the floor in case she fell out...although these bunk beds are very low to the ground.

Max did a great job with the step ladder up to JB's bunk and the guard rail up top. We finally gave into JB's plea to have the bunk beds hunter green...a good choice for their room. Now I have to figure out how to make the room at least a little girly for Gloria. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I was thinking maybe butterfly or flower"stickers" on the wall, the kind that you can peel off or stencils.

Sanding the Bunks

This is a very dusty picture when we were in the process of stripping and sanding the bunk beds we bought for 50 bucks for the kids.

Boys and Tractors

JB was beaming as he sat on the John Deer tractor with his granddude. They were trying to make the 1/4 mile long driveway less muddy in places by moving dirt around and adding dry dirt. The snow that is melting has caused the driveway to turn into a swamp in places with big boulders of dirt and mud in other places. The Honda minivan did pretty good getting through the mud. The ride home was also interesting and at some points intense because of the on and off rain and snow.

Gloria in the Haybarn

Fun in the Hay Barn

This is the big hay barn in the beginning of the Bremer driveway. A homeschooling family that rides the horses at the Bremer ranch and helps out with chores outdoors, were playing with JB and Gloria in the hay after building a fort and tunnel.

JB in the Hay Barn

Hard Workers

The kids and I are in Colorado because Max went to ND on a trip for four days and I didn't have any commitments for those days, so we decided it would be a good time to visit Colorado again.

The grandparents put the kids right to work - JB feeding the animals grain and Gloria catching the cat...actually pouncing on the cat. It took a while for her to let him go, but he is a very tolerant cat...almost as tolerant as Scotch...who has unfortunately disappeared probably to a coyote or something.

The mornings here have been very cold, but the days have been beautiful. I'm so glad I brought the kids' rain/mud boots because things are thawing slowly, but surely...puddles and mud everywhere in the middle of the day when it gets into the 40s and 50s.