Cody Takes Baking 101

This week Cody attended Smuckers' Baking University. He spent two days learning all about flour, corn, mixes and the chemistry of baking. He got to make various items and brought home many different yummy sample items for us. Cody made this beautiful cake on his first day.
He made the whole cake and frosting from scratch. I always tell people that Cody is the cook and I am the baker in the family but I think I'll have a run for my money now.

Morgan also appreciated Daddy's new skills.

Just another great perk from working for Smuckers!

This past week was a bit tough. Cabin fever is really starting to take its toll and I am completely done with the winter weather. I was also helping plan a Visiting/Home Teaching workshop and dinner that took place last night. It was a great success and a very spiritual experience but was a lot of work and just added to the stress of the week. Cody was gone in the evenings a lot with various activities; also not my favorite.

Thankfully, we made it through and the kids and I even managed to have some fun together.

Here's a little video of us enjoying the afternoon together. It was a nice lull between my constant yelling of, "Do not push your sister! Pepper is allowed to touch things in this house! Do not sit on your sister! Pepper, stop trying to eat shoes and the garbage can!" These moments, luckily, make it all worthwhile!

Happy Valentine's Everyone!

This is all a little out of order but we just wanted to update everyone on our week and to say Happy Valentine's Day to all our friends and family.
Hopefully, you had a beautiful day and enjoyed spending time with loved ones.
We didn't do much to celebrate this year but Cody did bring me home some beautiful tulips on Friday after work. It was doubly nice because I was having a rough afternoon and needed a pick-me-up.
So sweet, I love you, Cody!

Morgan's preschool had a Valentine's party on Friday.
Everyone brought valentines to give to their classmates and they decorated their own heart shaped cookies. The really do such a great job with the kids!

Morgan was quite proud of his cookie.

Pepper didn't get any treats but was enjoying our lunch together anyway.

On Sunday, Heather let us borrow another bow so that Pepper could be extra festive.

And do some free advertising for her.

My funny little valentine!

I wish there were more moments like these and less where I'm yelling, "If you push your sister one more time...!"

Saturday, night we decided to change things up and let Morgan and Pepper take a bath together.

If you are wondering why Morgan has a roll-on deoderant, it is a paint/soap thing he got as a present from Grandma Adams. It is almost gone but he loves playing with it in the bath and it helps him clean himself.

And his sister.

Sunday afternoon, Morgan was still in a snuggly mood after naptime and so were Cody and I.

We'll take any free snuggles we can get!

You may also be wondering why I have a picture of my garbage can on my blog but this is a picture commemorating the death of a very close friend of Morgan.

Morgan's last binky has finally met his demise and we are all a little sad...

well at least I am because Morgan isn't really napping anymore.

However, he'll still stay in bed and just chill for two hours so I guess we are now having quiet time and not nap time. I was afraid he would have a hard time going to bed at night but so far he seems to be just fine. I think I was the one more attached to his binky than he was!

Now at least when I take him to the dentist, he will only yell at me for having a binky in the past and not for still having one:)

Winter Wonderland

On Friday night we had a pretty big snowstorm here in Ohio. I'm guessing we got around 15 inches. We were suppossed to go look at some houses but our realtor couldn't not get out of her house. Morgan and Cody took advantage of the snowy fun and spent the morning outside playing.
Morgan on top of a 7 ft pile of snow.

Morgan's version of "cheese."

Just wandering through the woods.
Here's a video of Morgan and Cody discussing the snow:

Luckily, we live in a complex that stays pretty on top of the whole snow clean-up situation. There were skid steers and men with shovels and salt out working all day long.

Behind our building.

Cody's car before the dig out.

After naptime on Sunday, we went for a walk with the kids and Morgan decided it was a good time for a drive.

Cody wrote his name but Morgan spelled it out for him.

This kid is getting so smart!

I'm so glad he loves school as much as I always did.

Warming up with a cup of hot chocolate. I think he took two sips, dipped a bunch of food and other objects in it then we took it away.

One day he'll catch on to the whole chocolate milk thing.

Here's a couple videos of us playing around the house. The first one is a great one of Morgan giggling at his funny Daddy and the second is a fun one of Morgan and Pepper playing. Enjoy:

I very rarely actually see Morgan sleeping since Cody gets him up in the morning and he is already awake after naptime when I go in to get him. So when I went in to get him Sunday morning he was still fast asleep and I took the opportunity to take a picture of my sleeping angel being attacked by his Sock Monkey.

My friend Heather has started a little side business making hair-bows and headbands. She needed a model and I've been bugging her forever to make me some so finally here we are.

I loved it and luckily Pepper only messed with it a few times.I planned her whole Sunday outfit around it and she got tons of compliments.

Yay for friends with skills!

Well, that's about all we've been up to since there's not much else to do when you're snowed in. Hope you are all surviving the winter wherever you are!

Morgan's Big Birthday Bash

Saturday,we celebrated Morgan's 3rd birthday by having a party at The Little Gym.

Before we had kids, Cody and I discussed what time of year we would like to have children. I always felt bad for the kids that had summer birthdays (like Cody) because people are always traveling during the summer and forgot their birthdays. So I purposefully have tried to have our kids during other seasons and so far it has worked out. However, I didn't take into consideration that having a child born during the winter months negates outside parties. And since our apartment isn't getting any bigger and Morgan and his friends are, we decided to find other accomodations. Luckily, the Little Gym worked out perfectly and I think everyone had a fabulous time despite the thirty minute drive.

Teacher Bill was a great party host and got all of the kids very excited to participate. The theme was trains so here the kids are doing a train behind Morgan.

Morgan loved showing off all the fun stuff he does during gym class to his friends.

Julia is such a sweetie but usually very shy and quiet.

I was amazed at how adventurous she was trying out all the different activities.

Great job Julia!

Mallory strutting her stuff.
Peter testing out the rings.
Justin walking on the balance beam.

Dominic's little sister, Natalie, helped us celebrate.
I was really glad we were under our 15 person limit so all of the siblings could participate in the fun.
Morgan and Jack surprisingly taking turns on the rings.

Morgan insisted on wearing his Batman costume to the party but we insisted on taking off the cape and head gear so he could play.

So turns out all of my friends here are pregnant. I didn't realize this until I was introducing them to the other teacher who is pregnant. Luckily, Hayley (green jacket) and Becky (Abby's mom) showed up and joined me in the non-pregnant catagory. Cody said there must be something in the RS refreshments:) Pepper and Cody (the lone father at the party) hung out in the waiting area during the festivities. Such a pink cutie! Heather, Jack's mommy, hanging out with Laura and her son David. Laura took most of these great pictures (the not so great ones are done by me).

Abby was still little groggy from naptime but we were sure glad she and Becky helped us celebrate.

Heather's beautiful train cake!

Pizza, juice and cake made for happy party kids.

Thank you so much to Johnny S., Peter S., Hope S., Dominic P., Natalie P., Justin A., Natalie A., Wade A., Mallory C., Abby S., Jack B., David P., Julia N. and Pepper for helping us celebrate Morgan's birthday. Thank you, also to all the moms who drove all the way up to Brecksville right after naptime. Thank you to Teacher Bill for making it a very fun and exciting time.

Finally, thank you to Cody for supporting my party decisions and for taking such great care of our family!

For our die hard fans, here are some videos from the party. Enjoy!