Weekend in the snow...

Look at those bundled up kids (sans gloves for Averie, turns out she's not a huge fan of mittens... they just got in her way.) ... snow falling all around them! Tahoe was so much fun! We stayed at a cabin right off of Pioneer Trail, where the kids could play in the yard with their sleds, we could build a snow man on the porch, and when we were done, we could come in and warm our freezing tootsies next to a nice warm fire! Rob and the girls went tubing at Sierra on Saturday... an exercise in patience, given that we had to wait an hour to even get tickets to ride, and then the line got progressively longer and longer as the 2 hour session went on. The girls didn't seem to mind much, just kept smiling and throwing snowballs at each other and at Rob!

We knew a storm was coming, and hoped each morning we'd wake to snow falling and inches of fresh powder on the porch and car... but no. Not until 2 pm on Sunday afternoon did the snow start, but once it did... it sure came down! The girls (and Rob) caught snow in their mouths, although Averie's favorite method for eating the snow was more direct...

Here's a clip of the girls sledding in the front yard... they had fun doing this over and over and over... you get the picture! They slept well every night!

Stimulating the economy...

Is this not the cutest picture? My two girls, in matching jammies, doing their "homework" together... aah.

Funny story... well, not really. So last week Rob took his house key off the key ring to go for a run. The key sat on the counter for a couple of days before I put it in my pocket and took Averie to the park. Upon getting home, I unlocked the door, brought a tantruming "not tired" 2 year old in the house, and proceeded on with our day. Fast forward 5 or 6 days, and Rob wants to put his key back on the ring. Both of us remembered it being on the counter... which as since been thoroughly cleaned off a couple of times by this point, and neither of us has moved it... of course.

Until I remember, I moved it. I used it when I took Averie and Evan to the park on Tuesday, before I went to my mom and dad's house. It must be in my jeans... or if it's not there, it's in the bag I packed that day, or maybe on the floor at my parent's house, it's somewhere. But I'm sure I didn't leave it in the front door... 90% sure... maybe 75% sure... Oh God, did I leave my key in the front door?????

I looked everywhere, the car, the stroller, all the usual places in the house... I checked the pants I wore that day, even the ones I wore the next: not there... not in the laundry room, the washer, or the bottom of the hamper either. It's gone. I have to tell Rob, ugh. First I call the locksmith, see how much this is going to cost us... luckily, we're looking at the $100- $150 range... not bad. So, last night, after another combing of the house, car, and bags, and another complete recount of what I'd worn and done that day, we called the locksmith and made an appointment for first thing this morning. Sigh.

Rob was going to stay home and wait for the guy while I took Makena to school. Along the way, we talked about how I just didn't know where that key was and it was better to feel safe than to be sorry... totally justified. I got home an hour or so later, J&R Locksmith busy at work on our doors... and didn't even think about where that key was again. When the guy finished, even Rob said he felt better-- safer-- now that it was done. We kissed each other good bye, he gave the kids a kiss, and he was on his way.

Then I got a call from Rob... Makena called him from school. She's not sick... no, she found a key, in her pocket. WHAT??? REALLY??? SIGH!!! I guess this was our contribution to the local stimulus package... $126..., I hope that Steve from J&R Locksmith goes out and buys lunch today... keeps the stimulus going...

I hope you got a chuckle out of this, I can't help but smirk as I recount it now, but I'm sure it will be a lot funnier, to Rob at least, in a couple of months...

Aah... nap time.

So, although I gave the synopsis of what's been going on, I didn't get a chance to elaborate on any of the high lights. So here are a few:


December 30, 2009, a huge surprise for Papa and Averie! My mom and I took Averie and Evan to visit my dad at work on his birthday. Averie thinks that all fire engines are Papa's trucks (currently pronounced "chucks"), but she actually did get to see Papa's trucks... and boy was she in heaven running from truck to truck, steering and turning on the lights. I don't think my dad will soon live down the "Papa come!," with a swift slap to her thigh-- as in calling the dog-- his friends at the station thought it was pretty hilarious!

Averie's birthday, New Year's Eve, Rob took the girls to the bouncy jumpy place here in town. They came back tired and hungry... but I think that they had a really good time! She can "foof" out her own candles this year, and knows that there are two of them. It just blows me away how smart she is! Me, being technologically challenged can't hook up the video camera to load the video of the bouncy house, so here are some pictures of opening presents at home and her Very Hungry Caterpillar cake. Averie got lots of books again this year! I am so happy that she loves to read so much. Her current favorite book is Good Night New York (pronounced New Eruk), a gift from Auntie Bo.

Speaking of Auntie Bo, she just left, back home to New Eruk City... but it was a definite high light of this past month to have her home! Averie took to her like a personal competitor, taking out all of the two-year-old stereotypical behaviors on her auntie (sorry, sis!) but in the end gave lots of loves. Evan, on the other hand, felt right at home with auntie and gave her all of the loves and cuddles he could! Hopefully she'll be able to come home soon again...???

We're all in recovery mode this week... I'm finally getting a feel for what it will be like to be home, and not insanely busy with a new born and Christmas, and birthdays, and New Year's Eve. It's nap time now, my house is quiet, and I have a little time to sit and relax (although there are a hundred other things I could or should be doing)... it's nice.

Resolution...

Ok, so I know... it's just been blah-- for a long time now. We've been busy, so there's a lot to catch up on! We had a crazy summer, Makena's swimming and Averie's emerging independence kept me and Rob on our toes. It seemed as I got bigger, she got faster and smarter, but I think I can thank her for keeping my pregnancy weight under control! Below is the cliff notes to get you caught up to now...

Summer at Donner Lake with my parents, Uncle Maccu and Averie with the "Papa Gucks" (they are also Uncle Maccu's trucks...), pumpkin patch at Impossible Acres, just passing the time in the car wearing Noni's goggles, a pregnant me with Rob, Averie checking out her new baby brother, Evan, and me and my new little guy, Makena, Averie and Evan (and a pile of laundry-- it NEVER ends), Evan and Auntie Bo-- who made a special trip out to meet her nephew, Averie as a ladybug for Halloween, hanging out at Noni and Papa's house, getting our Christmas tree at Apple Hill and, finally, Evan, just a couple of weeks ago-- all smiles...

And now, here we are--2010-- and my resolution isn't necessarily to be a better blogger, but it is to be better about keeping people updated about what's going on in the Wahl household. So here goes... let's start the year off right!

Makena is in 3rd grade now, doing great in school and is currently in the (only) off season for sports... thank goodness! She did soccer in the fall and began to see that it doesn't just have to be bunch ball. By the end of the season she and her team mates were really working together and even won a couple of games! She is taking piano lessons and is diligent about practicing what she has learned! It's amazing that kids pick up new skills so quickly! She is wonderfully artistic and produces numerous pictures, paintings and crafts daily... now, if we could only get her to clean up after herself we'd be golden! Swimming starts again in spring and I'm sure she can't wait to get back in the pool!

Averie is 2! I was running this morning thinking to myself... I have a 2 year old, oh my GOD! That is just crazy. People keep telling me to watch out because two is terrible, I'm hoping they're just pessimists. Sure, at times she is trying, but terrible, not really. She is so loving, and wants to give kisses to everyone. She is sweet to her "baby bwodda, Oven," and will pile toy after toy after toy on him if he is crying in his swing or bouncy seat. Sometimes I'll find 5 or 6 in there with him... she thinks it will make him happy. We are constantly deciphering what she has to say, some of the translation is pretty obvious, others... not so much. Some of the current favorites: be-o-ranna= ballerina, issin to issic= listen to music, and of course Chissismis twee= anything Christmas, to include the actual tree, lights on people's homes, lawn statues, etc.

And, Evan, my sweet, sweet boy. Born on October 15th at 5:22 pm, he weighed 7 lbs and 6 oz, 20 inches long. The c-section was a breeze this time around, and he came out perfect! He is the cuddler Averie wasn't... so I'm in heaven 'cause this boy loves to be held! He is a sweet, easy going baby and loves to smile. He's started laughing, and yes that means I try everything I can think of to make him do it more. He's very observant of what's going on around him, he watches what we do so intently that I think he must really be trying to figure us out. I can't wait to see how his little personality develops, but for now, I'll be happy in the moment with this little guy, because time flies and I can't believe he's almost 12 weeks old already. Since he's changing so quickly, here are a couple more of Evan... currently 24 inches and 12.5 lbs!

2 Days Old, 6 Weeks Old, 11 Weeks Old