What do you do in the wintertime when the high for the day is 3 degrees, you ask? Well...

1. We take lots of baths just for fun.

2. We spend a half hour getting bundled up just to go outside for 5 minutes!

3. We go to giant indoor water parks (the kids favorite thing to do), but make sure to dry off good before we put our snow boots and coats back on.

4. Camp out in the family room.

5. We've considered hibernating.

If you have any other good ideas of stuff to do we are quickly running out of ideas. I think the next thing we are going to do is make a giant chain to count down the days till summer.

We just experience our first tornado. At 3:30 this afternoon on the way to Bayley's ice skating lessons the emergency siren sounded, we hurried to the gym and were sent to the hockey players locker rooms. We stayed there for almost an hour until it was safe to come home. We later found out that 2 tornadoes hit Kenosha, one was less than 6 miles from our house. It was right by Glenn's office (less than 1 mile). It touched down right after he closed down the office and sent everyone home. Luckily we were far enough away that we didn't have any damage. It was pretty crazy though. The siren continued to go off for the next couple of hours and every time we went down to the basement Isaac would say "The tomato is coming, the tomato is coming, we got to hurry." Funny stuff.

Despite two sickies (Bayley and Noah), we had a wonderful Christmas and are still enjoying the last week of Christmas break. It has been so nice not having to run around and the kids have had a lot of fun playing with their new toys and have been best buddies lately. Shelly and Billy came here for Christmas and it was a lot of fun seeing them, time just went by too quickly.

Okay, so I know there are a lot of pictures, but I just love pictures and wanted to share them all with you. We just got back (just means almost a month ago, but life is so hectic) from California. We went out for Andy and Tricia's wedding and for Thanksgiving.

Good old Bob watched the kids while we were in the temple!!!

Bayley giving Jo a big hug hello

Andy and Tricia outside the temple

Glenn and Andy

This is my favorite picture. No need for a caption here.

All of the boys, I mean men

All the brothers at the end of the night,

Andy, Roger, Glenn, and Bob

Andy and Tricia and their nephews

Uncle Roger and Noah

Glenn and Isaac

The Harris Family

Bayley and Luke posing

Funny Grandma and little Noah

Glenn deep in thought

Amee and Isaac

Hugs!!!

Bayley Kate posing for a picture

Riley and Bayley

Lexi and Isaac

Bayley and Isaac with Joe and Misty's kids

We drove down to San Luis Obispo to surprise some friends of ours. When we got to where they were staying Misty answered the door wearing the exact same outfit I was. I don't think I have matched someone since high school. It was pretty funny.

The family at the beach in San Luis Obispo

Bayley and Noah

Bayley Kate

The end!!! We had so much fun in California visiting everyone and enjoying the nice weather. We were sad to leaving and even sadder when we stepped off the plane in Chicago with short sleeves in the 30 degree weather.

Isaac is known for his ability to make just about any face on queue. Here are just a few:




It's hard work making faces. This is a picture of Isaac a little while later.

Happy 5th Birthday Bayley Kate

Breakfast in bed for the birthday girl

Dinner at The Rain Forest CafeOpening presents from funny grandmaBayley blowing out the candlesSwimming


Opening more presents


Bayley Kate is now 5! Her birthday was on the 30th and over night she went from 4 to 14. She has recently informed me that now that she is 5 I am not the boss of her. I thought that didn't start for a few more years. On her birthday we celebrated with the family and took her to Rain Forest Cafe and then yesterday we had a friend birthday party at the RecPlex pool. Only a few snags but over all I think it turned out alright, according to her "this is the best birthday ever" (which she says every year) and that she doesn't like it she loves it!!!


This definitely was a big birthday. Just in the last while she has been acting so grown up. I feel like we are entering the next phase of parenting (which seems exciting and a little scary). She is now starting to read which is really exciting for me and her. She is loving school and having fun meeting lots of new friends. Her favorite thing to watch is High School Musical and stands in front of the mirror singing "you are the music in me" and looking all dreamy eyed. She is definitely a lot of fun and full of personality.