Swimming in February

I decided to celebrate today and kick off my month with the kids alone and go swimming in the bathroom. Yes, you read that right, bathroom not bathtub - that's too cramped. I put a piece of clothing in the bathroom sink to soak and jumped in the shower. Devon was down for a nap and Marissa was otherwise occupied and I like to take long showers. Luckily, it was probably only 15 minutes into my shower when Marissa called to me from outside the bathroom. After a moment of confusion as I looked at all the water on the floor, it was then that I realized that I left the sink running. Then Marissa ran and got a little hand towel from her bathroom to help clean it up and asked, 'Mommy, why did you take a shower with the sink on?" That's a great question. Apparently, I got tired of waiting for the weather to warm up here in Michigan and decided to create my own indoor pool. However, I'm not sure I would recommend this seeing as it was probably not very sanitary. Awesome.

Our Ice Sculpture Extravaganza...

...turns out to be not so extravagant! Ann Arbor was having an 'ice sculpture extravaganza' last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during which ice sculptures were being carved all over downtown. We went on Saturday and apparently, we went too early because we didn't see too many ice sculptures and it was absolutely freezing. However, we ended our little outing on a positive note (about twenty minutes after we started :) and had hot chocolate at the Chocolate House on Main street. I must admit that this was the highlight of the trip for at least three of the four of us involved!


Devon was bundled up well - maybe a little too well, but at least he was a good sport about wearing my girly scarf!


Marissa and me in front of the Chop House ice sculpture.


Ryan and the kids in the Chocolate House where we were all enjoying some very satisfying hot chocolate (including Devon).

Our Holidays were definitely Happy!

We had a fabulous Christmas out in California with Grandma and Grandpa Earp. We were all a little more than spoiled this year so it might be a little difficult to adjust to normal life again. In the meantime, here are a few highlights from our 3 week stay in Roseville.

* All of Ryan's siblings and their families were out there. Marissa especially hit it off with her cousin Taylor. Those two little three year olds had some bright ideas, but they did get along quite well.
* The nativity play that all the grandkids put on (brief was better - baby Jesus/Devon had a difficult time staying in the "manger")
* We spent New Year's Eve in Sacramento at Grandpa Earp's office - Marissa loved the fireworks at nine and then everyone settled in for a late night movie.
* Free babysitting!!! - Ryan and I were able to go shopping and enjoy a dinner out on our anniversary kid free thanks to grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles!
* Elizabeth, Dan, Ryan, and I were able to get away for a leisurely bike ride down in Sacramento. Unfortunately, we grossly underestimated the air temperature and it took quite some time for the feeling in our limbs to return. In retrospect, however, it was worth it.
* The new suit for Ryan and the 75 dollar shopping spree Grandma and Grandpa Earp graciously provided. I know it sounds funny, but, quite frankly, having 75 dollars in my hand to spend for clothes was a dream come true!
* Ryan and I received the photos of San Francisco that his dad took so we can frame them for our apartment. Ever since we've been married, Ryan has been coveting those pictures and that was definitely Ryan's favorite present he opened.



My two little angels and me!



Actually, Devon was supposed to be baby Jesus, but he had a little problem staying in character.



What a cute angel! She was little disappointed in the brevity of her lines but nonetheless enjoyed the acting experience.



Taylor and Marissa at Chuckie Cheese on Christmas Eve.



Devon on Christmas morning - he looks a little wary of the whole presents thing here, but don't let him fool you, he thoroughly enjoyed the unwrapping process!



Cowgirl Marissa showing one of the many princess accessories she received in her stocking.



Marissa is showcasing her princess fingers with little jewels and if you look carefully you can see her pink glitter in her hair as well.



Devon showing his die hard loyalty to a football team that undoubtedly stank this year!



Ryan and I after our 10 mile bike ride in Sacramento (look my lips are still purple). When we started out I was on one of the bikes we had borrowed from neighbors and I found that the combination of especially small wheels and slightly lower grade of the bike made it so I was pedaling faster and more frequently than everyone else. Ryan took pity on me (or maybe it was because he didn't want to hear me gripe the rest of the day)and switched with me so I ended on his dad's bike that was the biggest and Ryan was on the smallest bike. If you can imagine one of those circus bears on bikes that are too small for them you can picture Ryan riding that bike, and I don't think he stopped pedaling once on the second half of the trip!

Drawings by Dan

Ryan's brother drew these pictures of our kids and we love them! If you're interested check out his blog at www.drawingsbydan.blogspot.com!

Sneak Preview!

I just went to Meijer today to get Marissa's halloween costume for next year. I came home and asked her if she wanted to be a kitty next year and she was pretty excited. I tried the dress on her to see how it would fit and then she wanted to try on all the little accessories that went with it as well. Then she wanted to wear it the rest of the night. As she was picking up some of her toys I walked by and heard her "meowing" and later she asked me "Mommy, do you want to pet me?"

A little Adventure/Disaster!

So Ryan had his first interview at a residency program on Thursday at Grand Rapids. They paid for a room for him to stay in overnight since there is a dinner the night before the interview. We thought we'd take a little family trip so the kids and I went. Unfortunately, the room was at a bed and breakfast not a hotel, and other med students were staying there as well. I thought we'd be fine but what I what I didn't take into account are two very important things:
1. Marissa is not a quiet child. Even just her talking voice is loud.
2. Devon actually does cry when I put him to bed sometimes - I just don't notice that much because I ignore him and then he usually falls asleep pretty quickly.

What this resulted in was getting after Marissa at night for simply talking, picking up Devon when he made the slightest whimper, and all of us very tired the next day.


However, we still all had fun that night watching "Anastasia" on Ryan's computer, and then the kids and I went to the mall in Grand Rapids during Ryan's interview.



At the mall, I took the kids to play on the rides. Devon thought he was pretty big!




The steering and the floor of the car were at the perfect distance for Devon to grab onto the wheel and pull himself up, which he thought was pretty neat!

Halloween!

Here's my little Tigger!


Here's my little princess!


She was pretty excited to be getting all that candy! She still did not quite get that the more trick or treating she did the more candy she would get, which was a good thing or we might have been out all night!


Little Tigger tuckered out! During the day on Main st. downtown, the businesses invited trick or treaters to come. So Halloween morning we already had enough candy to be done for the day, but it just didn't feel right not to go out at night, too! We wore poor Devon out!


Here she is with a few friends downtown.



Here's Marissa downtown trick or treating.


The day before Halloween, the lds med students had a party. So between our ward halloween party, the med students' party, trick or treating downtown, and trick or treating halloween night these kids got enough Halloween to last them a year:)!