Hopefully this is not her only claim to fame!

http://www.gazette.net/article/20130116/NEWS/130119414/1025/sharing-a-secret-message-at-art-works-studio&template=gazette

A foggy ride

Sunday was all the rage.. it was forecasted to get up to over 70 degrees. We were so excited to get outside and get active. We took off on our bikes on the trail behind our house that ends up at Lake Artimesia. Once out at the lake the fog really set in. We rode back in the mist and to be honest it was pretty miserable. We were thankful that we got out and were thrilled to get home after 9 plus miles.

we stopped half way around the lake for a snack

snack time

L and I stretched our legs

First Art Class

L and I went to her first art class on Saturday morning. We went to Art Works studio just down the street over the boarder in DC. This was the second Saturday drop in class for toddlers. We spent a lot of time on the main activity which was mystery painting. We colored with white crayons and then L did water color over the top! It's a great way to spend a Saturday morning and we will definitely be making a return trip. 

L is really into large arm movements when painting

 In addition to the main art activity they also had cars and toys for the kiddos to play with.

Friday Night Fun

Most Friday nights we get together with some close friends in the hood. We rotate houses and celebrate the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend. For Christmas I got Cory a sausage making class, we bought the Kitchen Aid attachment and did a little sausage making demo last night for the crew. Even though I'm a tad bias I think our dinner turned out well. We had homemade biscuits with our breakfast sausage, eggs, cheese, jam and yummy fruit salad. 

our own butcher

Esther and Avery looking on 

George and L 

George and Clay

So y'all did have to go about a whole week without blog updates while Misty was in Washington, but there is at least one piece of video evidence that Laurelea still existed during that time!

We were out grilling some steak and broccoli and, well, Laurelea took matters into her own hands....

Big girl grammar: Prepositions! Present Participles!

Given the diminutive nature of the words themselves, this is not that big a deal. But Laurelea has started appropriately using prepositions to describe her world, and it is really pretty cool to hear her getting it! "On" and "at" are the ones we've heard so far. And, Laurelea has been present participling around for a few weeks now, most notably at Neen's on Christmas with dear cousin Caroline narrating, "I'm running, I'm running!" She has been experimenting with her -ing words, and has really begun to catch on, telling us she is eating, walking, and playing. It really is fascinating to listen to her little brain begin to process these little niceties of language!

My trip out West

Last week I headed out to Bellingham for some quality family time. Here are some pictures from my trip.

While we were in the Ham we went through some of our old baby clothes. While Karli was upstairs getting ready, I might have put a certain outfit on Talan that she did not want on. It was from a friend of my parents in Germany and she sent it to us when we were babies.

T-Man sporting the most amazing outfit

Happy Boy!

Kisses from Mom are the best

snoozing with Papa

cuddles with Nana

 Karli and I went on a quite a few walks. Here are some of my favorite shots.

The view right above my parents house

walking Lake Padden

 And a trip home is not complete without a stop off at Cruising Coffee for a Mocha Milkshake. I've been dreaming of this since I got home :)