Happy Easter

After a week being sick, CK's first day back playing basketball resulted in this:

 The kids decided to joyride around the house

 Reese likes trying on Mommy's shoes

 But when Asher runs away she realizes running in heels in an acquired talent

 Finally some nice weather last weekend so we headed downtown to the kids festival.  Reese found a giant princess to pose with

 Asher showing he doesn't just walk now, he runs (and then falls down)

 My boys...resting after a long day

 Reese's first attempt at dressing herself.  Unfortunately she grabbed the clothes from the laundry pile

 Reese: "Asher, I'm wearing your pants!"

 Asher's response: "But I'm not wearing any pants!" (ok that's just what I think he was thinking based on this):

 Reese and Daddy comparing hand sizes

 Reese and Daddy comforting Asher after he bumped into the table corner

 Daddy under attack...

 Mommy under attack...

Home...to snow

We had a busy week.  After the funeral on Tuesday, I flew out to Florida Wed. morning for a presentation and CK, Val and the 4 kids drove the 16+ hours home to Helena (all in one day!)  The kids were happy to be home and I'm sure CK and Val were glad to be done driving.  Unfortunately, CK caught the same cold/flu that the rest of the family in SD is battling so he's been sick most of the weekend so far.  The kids and I are laying low, catching up on laundry and blogging :)  Here are some recent pictures of the kids:

Reese likes to line up her people

 Ta da

 Showing you her favorite

 skills with a straw

 Reese...no texting at the table (why do I think I may be saying that again in a few years?)

 quite the outfit

 This was the scene from our front door yesterday morning..yes, 4-5 inches of snow on April 8th.  Luckily, most of it is gone today

 Reese likes to draw in the laundry basket

Sad change of plans

Sadly, CK's grandfather (Jan's dad) passed away Friday night.  We happened to be up in Malta for the weekend and decided to just head straight to South Dakota for the funeral.  As I type this we are somewhere on I-90 (most of I-90 South Dakota looks about the same). So far the kids have been troopers and, since we're traveling with Val and her kids, we can trade drivers periodically.  Good thing because none of us have been sleeping much since both Reese and Asher have really bad coughs and sound like they are hacking up a lung most of the night. 
I have a presentation in Florida on Thursday so am going to fly there from SD and Val and CK are going to brave the trip home together.  The really unfortunate part is that, since I have no nice/work clothes with me, some shopping will have to occur along the way.  Shucks.
For those of you who were there and may remember, Francis Graff (CK's grandfather) gave me the greatest gift I could ask for when he married CK and I almost 7 years ago in a pretty little church in Big Sky.  He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed. 

Busy as usual

Asher is busy walk running all over the house... Note Reese in the background in her chair reading, I'm sure Asher is on his way over to "help"

Asher's first foray into the world of utensils'

I believe the spoon has just about met it's match

This picture is for My Mom (Janice), Reese was busily playing with her blocks, I interrupted her for dinner and had to post the picture. (for those who don't see it initially, all of the blue, green, & yellow blocks are on their corresponding color floor square, the small pile of red/green was the "in progress" part of the building project)

A couple of house pictures are always in order, framing is nearing completion, another week or so, and then on to something else, below is a picture of the non - insulated concrete form exterior wall. It is two layers of EPS foam in 2x4 walls offset for an insulating value of R-35, more than twice the insulation in a well built 2x6 home (hopefully it helps with the heating bills)

Top half has both layers, bottom half of the wall has only a single layer in the picture.

The first garage door is in and the windows have been ordered.

hopefully the siding starts soon...

Before it all went wrong...

We celebrated Lindsey's birthday with some Zumba and a pit of squishy blue blocks...

 Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Everyone started the game in a good mood...

Here's to hoping the upcoming ACC and NCAA Tournaments have a different outcome.  Perhaps some defensive drills are in order this week Coach K?

Let's Go Duke!

Big game tonight, Duke-UNC for the ACC Championship.  Reese and CK had to rest up last night for it...

Asher is walking

Asher has moved from taking 1-2 steps and falling to actually walking from one person to another (and then falling :) but we think it counts so here is a video with the proof:

Both kids are doing great but we are all getting a little stir crazy from winter.  I landed to -11 degrees last night and it was so cold the door of the plane was frozen shut so we got to sit in the plane for 20 minutes while the pilots helped to open the door with a crowbar.  In all my many flights, that's a first for me.  This morning it was -17.  Where is Spring?  I am ready!

Saturday fun

We get along so well...

until someone tries to steal my toys...

 Trying to make Mommy's heart race...

 building castles with Daddy

 Not the most eloquent exit but it works

 Funny faces from Asher

Play nice

Asher took a step last week but I think it was mostly by accident.  He was walking holding on to my hands, saw Daddy, dropped my hands, took one step and fell and then crawled his way over.  He is a pretty fast crawler and realizes that is a faster way to travel.  The kids are getting better at playing together.  Asher can stand up for himself a bit more and Reese is hitting him a bit less (or is that just wishful thinking?).  We are finally at the stage where we can actually let the kids play alone together in the playroom without having to be right there all the time.  Of course, when you do that, things like this happen...

In another funny moment (that, of course, I couldn't find the camera for) I came upon Reese last week lining up her diapers (they have sesame street characters on them) along the couch and saying "Be nice Cookie Monster. You have to be nice."  Hmmm...wonder where that comes from?