my helper

i am watching our neighbors' little girl for a few months
during the day
and on the two (sometimes three) days a week that alex is home
he is my helper.

it isn't very often that HE gets to be the "BIG brother"
so when he does get the chance ...



he takes his job VERY seriously

and ellie LOVES it.

so do i.

snow * fun

drew has been in school for 6 years.
in that six years we have never had a snow day.
today changed that.

we started last night with some rain
then it turned to sleet/slush
which then turned to ice
and was then covered with about 5 inches of snow

depending on where in the cities you were
those numbers varied ... by a lot
SO ...
we woke up this morning to find that
our district FINALLY gave the kids
what we've hoped for
for FIVE winters



* A SNOW DAY *

seeing as though we have had barely any snow this year ...
we started the day with a special snow day breakfast
- cinnamon roll pancakes -
and then wasted no time getting bundled up
and out to play

 

even stacey was excited to get outside
so the he could FINALLY use his snowblower!!

it didn't take long
and our backyard was full.

they kicked the day off with some sledding

and snowboarding

we had a pizza party for 20 at the neighbors'.
took a break to run some VERY wet clothes in the dryer
and then headed back out for another round

poor cassie was SERIOUSLY outnumbered ;)

it was a very wet
very warm
PERFECT day
for a snow day

and we all LOVED it.

thanks district 11.
it's about time you gave us an unexpected day of snow fun!

zero gravity

** i just realized that i didn't post this last week ...
so i'm adding it now ;)
and if you're wondering why i didn't take more
or pictures ...
see my next post ;) **


on presidents day
we took the chicago barnetts
met up with a bunch of friends from school
and went to a new trampoline park that opened up -
zero gravity

as always ...
they all had a blast

i just need to find a way to get a set up like this in our basement ;)

an inside look

just in case
you've ever wondered what the inside of a lens looks like ...

you are in the right time - at the right place

my favorite little lens fell from a low shelf
hit the carpet just right
and is now in 2 pieces



i find i am not taking nearly as many pictures
without it
BUT
on the plus side ...
seems like the perfect time to upgrade,
right?!

an intense beginning to the end

today was another busy saturday of basketball

drew started out the day with a hot shot contest
if you have the game wii sports resort -
think 3 point shootout.
it is the EXACT same thing
and based on my wii results ...
i'm pretty sure i could've crushed them all ;)

immediately after this ...
ben had his first playoff game
unfortunately his team had to deal with their first loss of the season :(
BUT
it wasn't because they were outplayed!
we'll just say the team they played was not a team.
it was one kid
who weighed twice what ben does
and was at least a foot taller ;)
it was one of those games
where it takes everything i have
to not get out of my chair and let everyone know how i feel ;)
i bit my tongue the entire time
BUT ...
it makes me SO happy to say that
ben had another advocate there today...



and she did not ;)

ben's teacher and her husband came to his game.
ben was T.H.R.I.L.L.E.D
she LOVES sports and seemed to really enjoy watching ben play.
she even had the guts after the game
to go let the other coach know
that she didn't agree with his coaching style ;)
HA!
have i mentioned how much i love her ;)

we ended our afternoon with one more game.
drew's team beat a team that they lost to earlier in the season.
his team has FINALLY figured out what it takes to win.
they work as a team
they take their time
and they are FINALLY seeing the results they've wanted all season long!

nice job, boys!!
win or lose ...
you are SO fun to watch.

i can't even believe i am saying this,
BUT ...
i'm a little sad thinking that basketball is coming to an end.

dinner at our table

drew:

since it's black history month

could we celebrate by trying to find a video of the martin luther king jr 'i have a dream' speech?

stacey:

or we could just watch lebron

a new smile

it was a VERY exciting day at our house!!

drew started his morning like this

and ended his morning like this

although he will probably need a 2nd phase
to adjust his bite in a few years -
he is SO excited that for now ...
THE BRACES ARE OFF!!!

SO how did he celebrate?!
with a starburst and a big wad of bubble yum!

* THREE *

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEWY!!!



it seems crazy to think that you have been living with us for almost THREE years!!
well ... sometimes it seems like a decade ... but it's your birthday ...
so i'll be nice ;)


i still remember when you were no more than 4 lbs
and a dark brown little ball of fluff!!

NOW ...
you're 8 lbs
blonde
and are so popular you even have your own facebook page!

i know 3 boys who would say their lives are SO much better
because you are part of our family.
you love to snuggle
you love to play
and
you provide endless nighttime entertainment ;)

WE LOVE YOU CHEWY

 * * * HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY * * *

the barnett kids

this weekend the minneapolis barnett kids
were SO excited to get to spend time with the chicago barnett kids

they spent a LOT of time at the fort
they played a LOT of basketball
they played a LOT of video games

 

 

 

 



AND they had a LOT of fun

thanks for coming to visit us, barnetts!

grossology

right now at the childrens museum
they have an exhibit perfect for a group of boys



i mean ...
really ...
what could be more exciting than climbing on a wall of skin

trying to make a guy barf 

playing urine the game

or smelling random smells
and trying to decipher where they originated
yes ... i am serious.
you could not pay me enough to play this game ;)
but the boys found it very interesting

it definitely lived up to it's name.
it was very gross.
BUT very interesting!!!

how else would i have known that most people
have one nostril bigger than the other?!

do you?!