Kids 2008

I discovered too many cute pictures of these kids that I just need to post here. They aren't silly or weird, just cute pics and make my heart ache a little every time I see them. Happy New year to all!

Best of Ella 2008

Bow Head Ella

Hitting Ella

Dancing Ella

I don't want my picture taken- Ella

I have come to discover that there aren't nearly as many silly pictures of her as there are for Lars. It may have to do with the fact that she squeals and runs away when I attempt to take her picture but it may also do with the fac tthat she just really tries to look cute in pictures most of the time. It is much more difficult to catch her doing something totally silly than her brother! Cast your votes now.

Merry Christmas Lip Dub

Wishing You a Merry 'Vintage' Christmas! from Jared Foster on Vimeo.

This is the coolest video from a great blog, Melancoly Smile. I love the idea of involving the whole family in such a project. Perhaps next year I can get my hubby's evil mind involved in some diabolical plot to make a smashing Christmas card or vid. You will have to wait and see!

Eleven

Shoes...need I really say any more. I love shoes (especially for kids). I like the See Kai Run shoes but sadly my kids are too big for this cute line. Hooray for companies making larger sizes of cute shoes like Eleven. I particularly love the 11 Trainers for Lars. The pink boots are called "Nora". If you love them, they are 20% off right now with free shipping!

Best of Lars 2008

Possessed Lars

Look! I eat my hand Lars

Smile! Super Lars

Cast a vote for your favorite Lars in review for 2008.

Creating Crayons

Another snow day activity here! We cleaned out the crayons and decided to try to melt them down. I threw a little water in the bottom of each mini muffin tin and broke crayons up into small pieces. Then I threw them in the oven at 200 degrees for a little while. after cooling off on the porch for a bit, they popped righ tout and were these cool little crayon discs.

The only weird thing was that something separated the wax from the color and on the top of each there is a layer of wax that does not color. Ella figured out how to turn it so it did owrk and she thought they were pretty cool. It was a fun sorting exercise and all those broken crayons are gone from the crayon box. It's a good thing!

Amana Petal Tree

This picture does not do this beautiful gift justice. It is a petal tree from Amana which is their version of a new kind of marble run. You put a marble (or many) on top and it goes around the petals and makes a very satisfying plinking sound. I purchased on of these for Karin as thank you for all the wonderful things she has done for our family over the past 4 years as our daycare provider to first Ella and then later Lars. Ending my daycare relationship with her was hard, but we have realized it will just turn into something new. Karin and her family are just too close to us to let her go.