It's March already!

Spring is just around the corner! And with daylight savings time coming up, along with the warmer days we're getting a taste of, we'll finally get to do the easiest and least expensive activity... Play outside! I can't wait! I mean... the kids can't wait!

But, before that time arrives, it's been cold! The last week of Feb. into the first week of Mar. Zach's mom, Shirley, came to visit from Arizona. I know she has missed the winter weather just a little bit, so mother nature was sure to give her a good taste of it! Despite the cold weather, it was warm inside and the kids loved playing with their Grandma! Top of the list was Tickle Time!




While she was here visiting, we planned a trip to the Children's Museum with her. The kids had a blast with her! So... of course... here are some pics!



Princess Lylah (She knows it too!)


The boys really really liked playing with the itty bitty tiny legos! So much in fact that I considered getting them some... If only I believed they would keep them picked up off the floor and out of the vacuum cleaner!


There were costumes the kids could put on to dress up as royality. Nathan was a knight and Aunt Britt helped him put on this costume to joust.




It was all he could do to keep the thing up! It was heavy! But- he had fun playing with it!



There is this oversized thrown for the kids to sit in. We tried getting a picture of all of them. But- have you tried getting 5 kids to all look at a camera the same time... not to mention to smile. Crap- we couldn't even get all 5 of them to sit down!

And don't even get me started about me not being able to get my camera to focus because of the light from the background! (I swear one day I will get to reading the directions to figure out what all those other functions on my camera besides 'Auto' mean!)


Nathan enjoyed playing with this squishy stuff you're supposed to mold over the dino head. FYI- when it's rolled into a ball and thrown hard to the ground, it gets a pretty good bounce!!


Little T liked playing with it too! (I think he's actually watching Nathan bounce the stuff!)


It was really important to Carter and Nathan to get a picture of Spiderman.


Yes... there is a sign that says to keep off the back of the car. I just didn't notice it with Carter standing in the way! lol


Aunt Britt was helping Nathan play this game.


And then Lylah wanted to share her food!


I'm pretty sure Nathan's taking this apart. He's always been a destroyer of things! lol


Carter taking a timeout to smile for the camera!


From Princess to Super Hero in a matter of hours - That's my girl!!


Trying to get a cool mirror picture. Nathan is in the phase where he purposely closes his eyes for pictures sometimes. He thinks it's funny!


At home we tried to get a couple pictures with the kids and Grandma, but we only got a Take 1 and Take 2 before my batteries needed recharging.



Also- coming with the slightly warmer weather... is the need to breed. ... FISH that is. I was watching the fish last month and noticed one doing some... um... rubbing on another fish. It was actually quite interesting -until I realized what I thought they were doing and started questioning if I was a pervert for watching my fish get it on. ? lol Well- I was right- they definitely were doing their thang! The she I referred to as he had 22 babies. Two babies died, leaving me 20 to catch. It took an hour to get all those suckers out of the tank and into their own growth tank for safe keeping until they're not small enough to be eaten. They were smaller than a dry grain of rice. I figured it out to be 3 minutes per fish to be caught. But... I didn't loose my patience once! Yay! Anyway- here are their first pictures. (I'm a dork, I know!)





They've grown a bit, and they're starting to get slightly oranage colored bellies (like their mommy- RIP). But, mostly they're still gray. I'm interested to see which fish they're going to resemble- the mom- a calico large bellied fan tail goldfish - or their horny dad- a yellow molly. hehe


In addition to so much going on between the baby fish (which, FYI- are called 'fry', and Carter decided to remember this by associating it with frying fish!) - Anyway- we also babysat my brother's children last Friday night and Saturday afternoon. It was fun having a house full, but was definitely ready to relax after they were picked up! It brought back great memories having a newborn in the house, but I forgot how unpredictable they were at 4am. lol! The kids loved playing with Mya and having a sleep over with her. Lylah and the dogs, Cali and Reno, were very protective of Matthew and hardly left his side!











Carter was excited to help feed Matthew.


Here's Mya- she's getting to be such a big girl (with her own little attitude complete with hands on hip and head wave!)

(PS- check out Nathan behind her picking his nose! That's my boy! Maybe one day he'll find gold...)

One night the end of Feb. when I went out to celebrate Christy's birthday, Zach and the kids camped out downstairs. Here's what I came home to:


How sweet!


The happy couple:

Happy Valentine's Day

This year for Valentine's Day, Zach made plans for us to go rock wall climbing at this awesome place in Brownsburg. We had never been before, so were excited to go. My mom watched the kids for us for the afternoon while we went and wore ourselves out!

After we got there and got our harnesses on, they taught Zach and I to be each other's spotters. We were on one rope. So, while Zach was climbing, I was his anchor and after he reached the top, I would lower him down. It was funny because since he weighs more than me, I had to be anchored to the ground by a strap to make sure when he fell I didn't fly up in the air. There were a couple instances where after Zach would climb a few times and we'd get ready to switch, I'd forget I was anchored to the ground and start trying to walk away- only to be snapped back!

Zach thought it'd be a good idea to wear gym shorts- not thinking about the way the harness would be strapped on! I had to get a picture of his junk in the front! He was not comfortable and it didn't take long before he switched back to his jeans!


Almost at the top...


Zach and I both made it up the angled wall. Well, I could only make it the first time. After that, my arms wouldn't get me over the corner! (it's higher than it looks!)

This is me taking the blue route up. It was tough!



whew...made it


After this, we went and picked the kids up and spent some time together. Later, I dropped the kids off at church for parent's night out. Zach made a romantic dinner for us and then we went to a movie. This video is from dinner- Reno and Cali were begging for our steak bones! (Edited to add: Well, I couldn't figure out how to get the video to load- but it was funny!)

The Monster Truck Show 1/24/09

We decided to take the boys to the Monster Truck show again year after how much they loved it last year. The night started off not so hot because we were running late and ended up having to park very far away. It was FREEZING out for the long walk to Lucas Oil Stadium. But, the boys were so excited about seeing the new stadium and the monster trucks, it didn't matter much to them how cold it was.

This was Monster Pup (I think that was the name). It is driven by a woman (holla). hehe! Its ears waved while it raced - its tail wagged, and its tongue even panted in and out! This one is Nathan's favorite. (he loves dogs!)



Carter's fave is Batman!



Everyone loves GraveDigger!







The walk back to the van afterward was much different that the anticipation filled walk we started off with earlier in the evening! It was much colder out and the boys were freezing and complaining the whole hike back. But, once we all were loaded in the van, the boys were pumped the whole way home remembering jumps and wipeouts and all their favorite trucks! It was a great time and I love how much fun they had!

Snow Fun - fm January

What kid doesn't like playing in the snow?! Mine love it and begged every day there was snow on the ground if they could pretty please go out and play in the snow! On the warmer days (when it wasn't 20 below), we all bundled up and went out to play.


Of course, they love digging in the snow using their big trucks and little shovels.



They loved playing in the deeper piles of snow made by the snow plow (when they finally got around to our circle!).



Zach shoveling the driveway- just days before the bigger snow! Thankfully it was very powdery and easy to move!


1-2-3- JUMP!


Carter


Natey


Lylah (I swear this girl has some poses!)


Lylah and I were making snow angels!


Carter was not happy about the 2 seconds after the camera clicked!


After we played in the front yard for a bit, we went out back to play with the dogs too. They really enjoy playing in the snow! Cali was putting her nose in it and scooting it around. Reno loves when I throw it up and he jumps up to get it!



These pics of the dogs in the back are after we got the 15 inches.


Poor Cali had to make herself a path to get the snow low enough so she could go potty without freezing her hoo-hoo off! lol


I didn't get any pics of the kids playing in the snow after the big storm- but they did- and they loved it! Christy and I took Carter and Nathan sledding at the Washington Township Park Sledding Hill the day after the storm. The hill was crowded, but we still managed to have a great time! Although, my tailbone is still not happy with me for busting it after accidently going over a hidden ramp while riding the old wooden speed-racer sled Christy brought! I think I permanently damaged it (my tailbone- not the sled!) -lol- and swore that next time we go sledding I will stuff a pillow in my pants so I'll have more cushion for my boney butt! They should just make sleds with extra padding!

The boys had a blast and were worn out before the hour was up. (Thank goodness, because Christy and I were worn out before that!- Have you tried dragging two sleds and two kids up a steep, snowy, slippery hill?! not easy!) We're looking forward to going again though!! And next time, I'll take the camera!

Baby Matthew is here!

On the morning of Thursday January 22nd, my little brother, Pete, and his wife, Carrie, had their baby boy, Matthew Carl Heaviland. Besides Carrie being a little sick afterward, everything went smoothly for both mom and baby. Forgive me for not remembering the specifics as far as weight and length- I was too distracted with giving love to my new nephew! So- here are some pics of him:





Mya loves her new baby brother aka- her 'best friend'



This is my Grandma Ann



This is a pretty good one with his eyes open




Proud Aunt Dana















My Brother Pete at home with Matthew




Last I talked to my brother about it, Mya was adjusting well to having a new baby brother. Pete and Carrie have been explaining to her the reasons she can't be too loud while Matthew is sleeping. (If you know Mya, you know she's a very vocal 3 year old- and she has Pete's unawareness of volume!) lol



I'm very happy for my brother and Carrie and excited for the adventures that lie before them now being a family of 4!

(PS- if you noticed there are no pics of Carrie in this post, that is because she wasn't feeling great so I spared her the grief of having her picture taken!)