The Great Outdoors

Aside from a few cold days this past week, we've had a pretty mild winter so far. It was 62 degrees today, rather unusual for January, but I'm not complaining. Gave the kids a chance to get outside

and get some fresh air. 

Evan posing with his Star Wars laser gun. Evan tells me he only shoots at "bad guys."

Eliana came out to join us and brought Mr Incredible along. 

This is the face I got after complaining that Evan doesn't smile enough.

Eliana prefers to shoot with the gun on it's side.

They love playing on the roots of an old Sycamore tree out in front of the house. They love peeling the bark off, and playing with the brown seed pods that fall off the tree.

It was not easy photographing them today. Neither one of them wanted anything to do with the camera. It was a real struggle to get them to look at the camera for even a second. I know, they're toddlers, I have to play by their rules. If they want their picture taken, then they'll ask me.

Eliana like laying down on the concrete for some reason. Not like here in the photo, I mean, head down on the ground like she's going to sleep. Not sure why she does it, maybe she likes how the ground feels cool on her skin, maybe she's listening for earthquakes. 

Taking a Spin

Evan taking a spin on his Raleigh pedal-less bike. It's supposed to teach kids how to balance before they go to a two wheeler. I don't know why I didn't just get one with training wheels, but I digress. 

Big Boy Bed

Evan has moved on to a big boy bed! Sadly, we wrapped up the crib last night, but Evan was really excited about his new bed. He even helped take apart his old crib. Eliana liked the bed too. She gave it a test drive by jumping on it.

Louie & William

Louie and Evan pose for a snap. 

William and Eliana with their Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer lollipops.

Evan and Eliana had a visit from their cousins Louie and William this week. Mikey was home sick and couldn't make it. The kids had a blast playing together, they love seeing their cousins.

Baby, it's COLD Outside.

Man it's cold out there tonight, but I'm not complaining, not entirely. It's been unusually mild since we got back from Florida a few weeks ago, but we're really getting socked with a cold spell tonight. 14 degrees at last check. I went outside a few times late tonight to see if I could spot any meteors from the Quadrantid Meteor Shower. (Say it with me, Quad ran tid.) But it was way too cold to spend more than a few minutes outside, and I didn't see any meteors at all streaking across the sky. I had read that there was supposed to be 100-200 an hour. Well, I'm not waiting out in the cold to find out. I was out walking Elvis late last night, and thought I saw another dog crossing our path, so I whistled to it, and it stopped in it's tracks, looked at me, and scampered off. It was a Fox. I've seen quite a few around here, especially late at night. Elvis was so busy sniffing the ground and trying to mark his territory, he didn't even notice the Fox a few feet away. Good thing, because I'm sure he would have given chase, and who knows how that would have ended. 

More From Longwood Gardens, New Year's Eve.

Nana blows kisses from below the treehouse.

Evan and Pop Pop up in one of the tree houses.

Eliana met another girl named, Eliana!

Pop Pop and Evan going to check out a Tree House.

Welcome 2012!

We celebrated the arrival of the New Year with Nana and Pop Pop tonight at home. Didn't think they would still be awake by midnight, but they were putting on shows for us, dancing to the music playing on TV. It's almost 1am and I can still hear the thumping of little feet upstairs. Now I hear both of them crying, I better go and see what's going on...