Kids grow up way too fast! It helps when their so darn cute! Haela didn't start crawling until 9.5 months and standing at 11. We were surprised that Enoch crawled at 7 and is standing at 9! I thought boys were supposed to be behind girls!

Reading to brother

The other night I walked in a Haela was pretending to read Enoch a story. It was darling because Enoch was very interested and studying every picture!

Acquarium

We got to go to the Chicago Acquarium on a "free day" last week and Haela had a blast! It is supposedly the largest Acquarium in the world but we didn't get to see the whole thing. Her favorites were the snapping turtles and gigantic eel. My favorite was the pregnant seahorses. I learned that the male carries and delivers the babies! Yes, finally some men that truly understand!

Yes, this looks pretty freaky! A paddle-nose shark! His mouth is wide-open looking for food!

Sledding in Iowa

Haela had a blast sledding for the first time with her cousins in Iowa. Kelly had a homeshow an hour away from Spencer and Shayla's so we got to come and hang out with family. Haela was a little nervous at first (as you can see) but once she saw her cousins giggling and squeeling down the hill then she realized that flying down a hill in the freezing cold and not knowing where you might land is fun! Her favorite was going down together with her cousins! We love having family within in a few hours ' drive (unfortunately that will only last unti June). At least we can enjoy it for a little while!

The weather is a little chilly. Luckily we are prepared for anything.

Hot rod

We call her the hot rod. She is our latest investment and she is a beauty. With my new Job I drive about 1000 miles per week and I was wearing the poor truck out plus the gas was killing me so we put the word out that we were looking for a good car. My manager in Arkansas rebuilds cars and he found this one totaled. Since it is rebuilt it was much cheaper than normal and it is VERY comfortable on the long road trips. We need to clean out the smoke smell before charity and the kids can ride with me. It gets just under 30mpg so it is working out much better. We sold the Volvo (which we had wrecked onour way to watch Wicked) and the pickup so the Hot Rod is paid off. I was telling my friend about this car. He didn't know that we had also bought a Honda Odyssey for Charity a month ago. he asked Charity how she liked the Honda and she said "Which one?" Now he thinks we are high rollers. This car is #20 in our 6 years of marriage. Hopefully the 2 we have now will stay with the family till Haela needs a car.

Haela earned her princess dress!!!

Woo--hoo, Haela went poo! Okay maybe that isn't so appropriate but we are so happy Haela is an expert toilet pooper now! Last week she made it to her twentieth sticker (meaning twenty times pooping IN the toilet) and filled up her chart which earned her a beautiful Barbie princess dress! Now we know she is capable of anything if we can just find the RIGHT incentive. We had many incentives we tried but princess dresses are Haela's weakness and she finally succumbed. We are SO proud of her for accomplishing this goal--and especially proud that we are not having to clean up poopy underwear. I think potty-training is the true test of love and patience for a parent (okay, we'll wait and see what the teenage years bring)! Yes, I admit I did not always pass the test and did, at times think, "Why am I not getting PAID for this!" But OH the inexpressible joy that comes when it finally clicks! I have really noticed Haela blossom since she has worked through this stage. She has a lot more confidence in herself seeing what she can do ALL BY HERSELF!