Fun in snow with Von

Von had a meltdown at daycare yesterday and they called me to calm him down. We've been having "Family Parties" when he's good and part of the party last night if he stopped screaming at day care would be snow time. He had a blast.

He was so cute throwing the snow. The more I tried to get the shot I wanted while he was playing, the more snow I got wacked in the face with, so I said this one would have to do.

He was also loved making snow angels. I'm glad he had his melt down yesterday. This was fun.

By the way, we put Nela in her highchair inside the door to watch. She didn't want to play in the snow.

Snow fun with Brayden

Brayden pulled this piece of snowice out of the yard and I thought it looked a little like Ohio.

Here's Brayden blowing the snow off a piece of ice. He was most fascinated with the texture of last nights snow.

The boys spend most of the time throwing it around.

And making snow angels

And this was from last Friday when he got a garden tool out to break up the ice on the drive way. That was ended quickly.

Around the house

The other night Kujo came home from school and Nela was still awake so he put his hat/ear muffs on her. She thought it was funny, but I couldn't get my camera fast enough to get the cute shots of them in front of the mirror looking at each other.

Here's Kujo putting salt down on the ice in the driveway. He's such a good husband.

Hope this wasn't made in China. Nela decides to taste the microphone instead of scream into it.

And here's Nela having a little snack with the puff snacks that she got for her birthday.

Bubble fun

The boys ran bath water last night after fun in the snow and there were soooo many bubbles, I allowed Brayden to take a couple pictures with Nela and me in them. Don't worry, there's two very tasteful ones of me coming up. NOTHING revealing!

Nela, who went a few baths here lately screaming her head off had a great time. And yes Aunt Tammy, it appears she's OK with bubbles now.

Brayden, for 7, really captures some nice moments. Toward the end of the session he was trying to direct, but this was real.

And then there's the posed shot.

The family birthday bash! (part one)

Yeah! Nela turned one today and we all celebrated with a family party, complete with hats, horns, cake, presents and napkins! Kujo gets dad of the year award for not being forced to wear the hat!
We baked a cake and Brayden volunteered to clean the bowl!

I put icing and wording on the cake ..

tasted the icing ...

and Von was in charge of sprinkles...

...and more sprinkles ...

and nope this wasn't it but this is the last shot I got. Lets just say you couldn't see the words by the time he was done.

The family birthday bash! (part two)

Here's Nela with her piece of family made cake. We tried and tried but she wouldn't blow out the candle. She just got mad because she wanted her cake.

Yummy

We never have family photos because I'm always taking the photos, but I love auto timers. This wasn't bad.

Von had me light a candle and sing happy birthday to him too

Ann and the kids called to wish Nela a happy birthday. She held the phone most of the time (there were six kids passing the phone around) and she only disconnected once.

She loves the phone.

We also celebrated Valentine's Day during a break of the birthday party. The kids got a little toy. Here's Kujo helping Von open his.

This was the beginning of Nela's birthday. She had her first meal at 1 just as she did when she was born ... naked, except for a diaper on.

Our first stop was to the Career Center to see grandma and Aunt Tammy. This is the new superintendent who's last name I haven't mastered yet.

Aunt Tammy got Nela a cute baby doll, which I can't believe I didn't even take a picture of.

After the Career Center, Nela and I went to Zanesville. We got pictures taken at Wal Mart and then went to Olive Garden for lunch with Josie.

Then we stopped by the TR to see everyone. Here's Nela eating Brian Gadd's french fries while Josie holds her. To finish off the stop Pam gave Nela a chocolate bar for her birthday and Pam swears Tide will take out the stains on her white shirt.

Brayden is such a lover. He's made numerous cards this week, including this one for Nela's birthday/Valentine's day. He's reading it to her in this picture.

here's the kids with their Valentine's treats, and of course Von wouldn't look, so two kids out of three isn't bad.

Nela (and Von) loved the balloons for the party.

Here's Nela in her Kente Cloth (not sure of the spelling but it's an African dress). It was too big but I had to take a picture of her in it while she tried it on. I believe the dress was from Von's sisters when they were little.

Isn't she just beautiful!

Big party for Nela

Nela will be 1 year old on Valentine's Day. It's hard to believe. The year flew by so fast. We celebrated Sunday during a combined party for Tammy and Nela. Cousin Dan also celebrated a birthday recently. Happy birthday to all. Because Tammy is 23 weeks pregnant and didn't really want her picture taken, I spared her (even though she looks beautiful) and kept the camera mostly on my beauty.

Since I can't figure out how to upload photos in the order they happened, you'll have to just enjoy the shots.

She's 1 and gets her own cupcake!

I wanted to get our picture with Nela to see who she looks like. I have to admit, she's starting to favor her daddy a little bit.

She was pulling grandpa's ears

This was a cute moment not at done justice in this photo. Hanna and Von were singing and bee boping to some music on the back porch.

In the middle of all the gift commotion Von was trying to show me his Valentine's candy from Aunt Tammy.