60's in January

So we set a record high yesterday here in Des Moines - 65 balmy, sunny degrees!!!  UNBELIEVABLE!!!  The kids and I walked to the park - Mia on her bike and Sam in the wagon.  It was flooded with kids out enjoying this spring-like weather in January!

Today is another 60 degree day and the sun even feels hot!  Sam stripped his jacket off and Mia hiked up her pants to beat the heat --- awesome!!!

Nate has been traveling a lot this month, in Germany 2 weeks ago and most recently Orlando.  Not being buried under feet of snow or having sub-zero temps has really eased my time at home alone with the kids!!  Thank you, weather gods!!

Mia & Lillie

Sam of course found the one last remaining patch of snow to play in!

 Good thing it was warm again today - Mia wiped out in the mud after preschool, so I had to strip her down to get her home!

Sam the Princess

Little buddy is just always trying to keep up with his big sister!  At every playgroup, he ends up wearing a princess dress like the rest of the girls.  It is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Our little princess also started to say his name this week!  It is so adorable!

Beauty & the Beast

Well, Mia finally got to go to her first movie at the movie theater - Beauty & the Beast in 3D!  She and I had "girls only" date and had the best time!!

Summer-like Winter Days

We have had an unseasonably warm & dry winter here in Des Moines!  Nothing like the kids playing outside, riding bikes, etc, in JANUARY!  We did get some snow last week and the kids were anxious to get outside and help shovel.  Well, that snow has already melted and it's supposed to be back in the 50's tomorrow!  I'll take it!

Post-Christmas Chicago Trip

After our Cedar Rapids Christmas, we road-tripped over to Chicago for the week.  We stopped in the QC for a few hours to visit with my high school friend, Jenn, who was back in Moline from Boston.  So great seeing her!

While in Chi-town, we also got to spend a lot of time with the Anetsberger's.  The kids had a great time playing as usual and it's so fun having them so close to my parents house now!  Nate & I went out in the city with my college friends one night and had a ball catching up with all of them.  We swung thru Hinsdale on the way out of Chicago and spent a few hours with my high school friend, Courtney, and her 2 boys.  So great seeing everyone!  

We stayed with the Dyer's in the QC for 2 nights over New Year's weekend.  They had their annual NYE party on Saturday night, so we were able to see a ton of our QC friends there and even the Nolting's who were back from Raleigh.

In all, it was a perfect week to unwind with friends & family, after all the holiday madness!  We feel so lucky to have seen so many old friends in just 1 short week!

I didn't take many pics, but here are a few of the kids at their new favorite mall...

Mia doing the bungee-jump and loving it!

She even got as high as the 2nd story of the mall!  

Train ride with daddy

Sam is obsessed with trains & now says in his best caveman speech "train. mall." about 10x a day!

Christmas 2011

I seriously cannot believe it has taken me this long to upload Christmas pics!!  Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas, the Larson's & G'ma & G'pa Heinrich came to DM for the weekend.  The kids had a great time opening gifts together and checking out one another's toys!  They are at such a great age for all things Santa Claus.

Christmas afternoon we all headed to Aunt Sue's in Cedar Rapids to celebrate with the extended family.  Let's just say, gifts, gifts & more gifts!  Mia is obsessed with her Hello Kitty microphone & Barbie Dreamhouse, while Sam is way into his train set.  The kids all got snow shovels and sleds from Santa, but no chance to use them yet!  I guess I'm not really complaining :)