Ever seen a snowman quite like this????

First off...some people have way too much time on their hands. When I make a snow man, it takes about 15 min and he's lucky to end up with some rock eyes and a couple of twigs for arms. Check out this snowman that I found in Avon...

At first glance, it really doesn't look that tall.

But a little closer look and you can tell that it was probably (and this only is a guesstimate) about 12' tall.

Funny thing was that I was actually looking for a snowman to take a picture of with my new camera because there is a photography store in St. Cloud called Central Camera (where I bought my new lens) and they have a monthly photo contest. January's theme was "Snowmen" so I thought I would give it a whirl. These were the pictures I took in hopes of entering one of them. Well, I was a little late because the picture apparently has to be in by the 21st of the month so I guess I will just have to try another time. Either way, I got some pretty cool pictures to share with you!

Grant was with me "scouting" for snowmen and he thought this fella was super cool. That is until...

...we found this doozy!

Closer look...he is almost as tall as that silo!

This is the famous snowman on Co. Rd. 9 between Avon and St. Anna in case you ever want to drive by and check it out. Can you believe the family that lives at this farm builds this EVERY year! Not sure how long it takes, but I do not like the cold enough to help sculpt something this big. How do you suppose they get it so big anyhow?

Can you believe that I'm not even sharing any pictures of the kids tonight? Audrey has been sick since Sun so she hasn't been in the picture taking mood if you know what I mean. More like the "Hold me, Mommy" kinda mood. Grant has a cough but is still going strong. Well...he's a "big kid" you know and he now thinks he can skip his daily nap. The majority of nights he does this, he falls asleep on the way home from daycare and I don't see him until morning. That is like 13 hours of sleep. I WISH!

Oh, and I keep forgetting to mention...a couple of posts back I posted two video clips of the kids. There is sound with them, but if the music was blaring you probably couldn't hear it very good. To solve the problem, scroll ALL the way to the bottom (or hit ctrl end) and in the upper left hand corner of the black "music box" you can pause the music. Hope that helps!

I'm gonna hit the hay because I have a cold and could use some rest after tending to my poor little baby the past 3 nights. Hopefully she will sleep through the night tonight. Crossing my fingers.

Sweet Dreams!

Apple Shoot: Take #2

So these are the black-n-whites I was telling you about. It is funny how color can completely change what a picture looks like. When it is in b&w it almost feels like it takes you back in time. Sometimes I can't decide which I like better so I am glad that I am able to take both with my camera. Don't you love digital? I was SOOOOO sceptical of it when it first came out..you know, I needed to have the pictures in hand. Now, it is a rarity if I print any of them! But my pictures are my pride and joy. I believe I have somewhere around 6,000 pictures (maybe more) since Grant was born. I am on my 4th digital camera too. I have always said that if my house starts on fire I would of course make sure my kids and hubby were out safe, but I wouldn't leave without my hard drive! Now, I think I will grab my new camera too!

I got a new lens for it about 2 weeks ago and I love it! It has more of a range so I can zoom in on things that are farther away now. That means I can be sneaky and get pictures of the kids from a distance! The lens is a little bigger but the versatility it gives me is an even trade-off.

Don't worry, they get cuter...

Just kickin' back havin' a little snack!

Mom, do you have to take pictures of everything?

Oh, you think so, huh!

Look at those big eyes!

What a little sweet pea.

And her CRAZY big brother!

Nice hat ya got there, Tootie!

HEY, that's not a HAT! Its a plastic bowl, you silly pants!

Such a little stinker!

Ooop, one of those pesky apple peals again!

Audrey ate and ate on this apple and she carried the thing around for over an hour. If I tried to take it away from her she would scream and swat at my hand. Very protective of her prized possession. She set it on the floor a few times too, but if I tried to rinse the hair and fuzz off of it I got the same reaction so I just let her eat the dirty old thing! I would have never let that happen when Grant was little. His nuk was washed every time it hit the floor...NOT Tooties. She's lucky if I wipe it on my shirt to clean it off! I also figure, whats the difference? I am sure daycare doesn't' have time or doesn't see every time that nasty thing is dropped on the floor so why bother at home? Hey, it's good for the immune system, right?

This little bugger is ADDICTED to his LEGO Batman game. I can already tell that I am going to have to limit his play time. He could play that thing for hours. And it is funny to watch because he gets SO into it and his little hands don't fit the controllers very well so he has figured out a way to bypass his handicap. Hard to explain, but cute to watch and actually very impressive. I am often blown away by everything that kids pick up on. Sometimes he even out wits me!

I suppose I better find something "productive" to do. I may get to go out for a bit tonight if Lisa would ever call me! Starting to think I have been stood up.

The "Apples" Of My Eye

I had the day "off" on Monday...off of work that is...but Mom Duty never ends! Grandma Sue was taking a much needed vacation in Florida this week and daycare was full on Monday, so I got to stay home all day and hang out with the kiddos. We watched Tinkerbell (yep, Grant's idea and he even liked it!) played cars and doctor, had grilled cheese for lunch...you know, all the fun stuff! Here is my little cowboy eating his luncy and watching a little PBS kids. (p.s. That is NOT a pirate hat if you ask Grant...it is his cowboy hat but only because he couldn't find his real one!)

He's at that stage where he will not look at me when I am trying to take a picture so this is what I get. Or maybe he is going blind from so many flashes going off (that is what Duke keeps telling me will happen!) or maybe he is just plain sick of me saying, "Grant, Say CHEEEESE!" I believe he is giving me a hint of the "stink eye"

"Back away lady...Put down the camera or I will have to shoot."

"Okay, now you can take a picture of me!"

Well, Sissy Bon saw her brother eating an apple and decided that she NEEDED one also. I mean screaming and tugging on the fridge door kind of NEED! I figured "Why not, she has 14 teeth now" So she took her first bite...

Mmmmmm...pretty good!

A little sour...but good!

Not so sure about the skin although she did eat quite a bit of it.

Check her out...she was really doing a number on that big apple. Mind you...that was a whole, unpeeled apple when she started!

I think she was trying to fit the whole thing in her mouth at once!

Just hangin' out...eatin' some fruit.

Hey, I'm a BIG GIRL now!

This is pretty cool!

No, I mean REALLY COOL!

And the Punk couldn't let his sister get all of the glory. He had to show off his apple muchin' skills too.

Don't mind the stack-o-cat food in the background. That is Gabby's "special" food she has to be on now and I was too lazy to clean out some cupboard space to put it in. Oh, and that banana is still on top of my microwave since Monday...it's just brown instead of yellow now. Never mind me...I am just a bit random tonight!

Little Mister got the coveted Lego Batman game for the Wii from Grandma Sue today as a gift from her trip. He has been engrossed in it all night so that is the only reason I have had time to get this post done. I am sure I will get to hear all about it as soon as I shut this thing down. Can't wait!

I have a bunch of these apple eating pictures in black and white that I think are even cuter so I think I will have to share those next. Betcha' can't wait, huh?!?

Sweet Dreams.