the way kids talk

This evening we were watching a bit of the Bear's game (Chicago football team) and Mariah started asking lots of questions and making observations. Sometimes her choices of words amuses me. She was talking about how hard it was to get the ball to different places and sounding very grown-up and matter-of-fact....it went something like this "It is hard to do that with all of those people dashing around..." Indeed. They do kind of dash around the football field. :)

Probably over a year ago she had another funny that still amuses me. A couple of times her feet had fallen asleep and she would describe them as feeling fizzy. Makes sense. But then one time we were driving and her feet must have REALLY been asleep because from the backseat I hear "Mommy.....I think that my feet are speaking a different language.....I can't understand them."

a nifty picture

In his spare time, Mike does a ton of stuff with speakers -- building the boxes for them, designing the crossovers (internal parts) and putting it all together. This is a nifty picture that he took of his most recent project. If you want the whole scoop on this project (and a small glimpse into what he knows) check out this site which is a description of the speakers he is working on now....I hear bits and pieces about his various speaker projects, but it was cool for me to read about all that he knows.

winter pictures

Allison and Rachels favorite large muscle indoor winter activity....on the bench, over the back of the couch, onto the floor, onto the bench, over the back of the couch, .....

Rachel climbing.

Rachel pretending the Wii remote is a telephone.

Allison and Rachel playing in the first snow of the season.

Allison and Rachel playing the piano.

During resting time one day (which is also when I work on my thesis), Mariah spent about a half hour arranging animals and then proceeded to take 21 pictures of them at various angles. This is merely one of them.....

An Allison funny. Today we read a book on the couch and then both got up to get the camera and sat back down to upload the pictures. Allison said "my spot on the couch is warm....That's because I have a hot butt.....Mommy, do you have a hot butt, too?" :-D

Thanksgiving and birthday

It's a good thing that I get pictures from other people, because otherwise there would seldom be pictures posted here:) Enjoy....
Mariah and Allison have been into playing doggie lately complete with leashes and everything. Here they are playing with their cousin Meili.

Playing with Mariah's birthday present, Mexican Train!

Our obsession over vacation....we did 2 one thousand piece puzzles in 2 days at Mike's parents' house. It's amazing how easy the kids' 100 or even 300 piece puzzles seem now!

Celebrating Mariah and Meili's birthdays :)