The "Present"

We took the kids out this weekend for a few errands and to celebrate Valentine's Day-and to get out of the house since we haven't much with all of the snow-and along the way we, well Avery, were the recipients of a kind act. While at Old Navy, Avery was playing with the giant gum ball machine and wanting a gum ball. A nearby dad gave his much-older-than-Avery daughter a coin to get one out. We thought she was getting it for herself and told Avery to let the girl get her gum ball. Avery graciously stepped aside, but then to our shock, the dad told his daughter to give it to Avery:)! It was just so nice of them. I think both Artie and I were completely blown away-even though it was just worth a coin-it was such a sweet gesture. We don't have friendly people like that in Fort Wayne, so it was a wonderful Valentine's Day treat to have someone be so nice. Since Avery has gotten her gum ball, she pretty much has not let it out of her sight and calls it her "present".

Behold, the "present"...such a small thing to make a two-year-old so happy!

We finally upgraded Spencer to one of these bibs since he has become a very messy eater.

He has been trying to figure out how to get it done and, finally, this week Spencer pulled himself up:) He's very excited with himself and his new accomplishment!

So now, he can do things like this!

We took Avery to the mall yesterday for a fun Valentine's treat-to play in the indoor mall playground...which was absolutely crowded and she was violently pushed out of the way on more than one occation-seriously parents, watch your kids-but she had a great time and she was really good!

Our princess-the lighting in the store wasn't very good and, well, our camera is starting to bite the dust-but she was so cute running around the store just like this!

Just a girl so happy to be riding Rocket:)

And a shot of Domer out in the backyard with all the snow...I know we didn't get as much as other places, but I am really ready for spring!

Other than that, we've been laying pretty low. I'm still getting over being sick and enjoying watching the Olympics. I was excited to see the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, light the torch for the opening ceremonies. I'm sure everyone remembers my obsession with him (my aol mail address and aim even included "gretzky") and how crazy I was when I got to meet him at Notre Dame freshman year when he was there to speak at a pep rally-dream come true!! Love you, Wayne:)

We leave tomorrow for the start of our trip out to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Jake's graduation on Friday! Family Day is Thursday, so we are heading to Indy tomorrow and flying out from there to Dallas on Wednesday...then driving the 3 and 1/2 hours or so up to Lawton, OK where we will be staying. There is no Target store anywhere within about 45 miles of Fort Sill/Lawton so I'm a little nervous how I will survive; thus we are planning a stop at one just outside the airport at Dallas to get my last fix and to get anything for the kids I'm sure we'll forget! I'm very apprehensive to fly with two kids, including one that will require a car seat on the flight-Megs, I know you've done it by yourself with 3, so I have hope:). We flew with Avery when she was 6 months old and that was a lot of work-with getting through security mostly-so I'm pretty nervous. I'm sure it will all work out. I'm just so proud of my little brother and can't wait to see an end to all of his hard work these past couple of months and the start of a new experience when he heads out to Georgia-Fort Gordon-at the end of this week for his AIT training!

Have a great week, everyone:) xo, Steph