Sledding at Blue Mound State Park

Peter is finally starting to like sledding! It helps that we have "Peter Penguin" snow tube, the bumps are a lot softer. "Jamison Polar Bear" snow tube is super fast also! "Uno for the money, due for the show, tres to get ready and quatro to GO!"

The boys went up and down that snow hill like troopers!

It was a perfect day for sledding, no wind, fresh snow and temperatures that were ok. The trees were very beautiful, layered with snow crystals. The cross country skiiers were out by the dozen!

and a picture of me and Pat, we seem not to get photgraphed as often as the kiddos.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"no more pictures please momma"

Childrens Museum and McD

I took friday off to have some fun with the boys. We went to the Madison Children's Museum and had a lot of fun. Jamison and Peter really liked playing with the Madison landscape, dinosaur dig area and musical instruments.
The boys had a real difficult decision to make, go to Culvers and have ice cream or go to McDs, get a toy with their meal and play in the play area. McD won. The boys told me we should do this more often. I asked the to clarify "more"

Cold nights work and warm robes

"your shop is too messy dad". Out of the mouths of babes. Pats task after the holiday is to clean up the work shop and build a work space for the boys, now they have tools.
SO in the mean time, Peter thought it would be helpful to start measuring the tires.

After a night of hard work in the shop we took our bath and wrapped up in our new fuzzy bath robes. Hey Gma Van.... we are not freezing our cajones off any more! love the robes! they are sooooo comfortable!

German Presents!

We got presents and chocolate from Heike! THANKS. We are trying to learn the concept of taking turns when playing our new memory game and colorful octopus game.

Our puppies now have friends!

Meet "Outlaw" and "Deputy", also known as "ah-lah" and "puuty". They are so soft and go with us where ever we go! Thanks Lutz and Christine!Pat also really like the BMW and Porche, sometimes the boys say, "Dad, that is my car!"

Border Wars

Santa thought we should start the boys out early. Jamison fell in love with Bucky the Badger when we moved so Santa brought him a Bucky doll, shirt and hat. To fuel the fire Santa brought Peter a Goldie Gopher doll, shirt and hat. It will be interesting how this plays out!
(Jamison has the best facial expressions!) I dont remember what he was saying

Christmas at the Cullen house

Well you guessed it, the boys were pretty good this year, at least Santa thought so. I think Santa was a little excessive in his gift giving but you are only a kid once.
Peter can not take the stress and threats of Santa and more. His ugly side has emerged You cant live in Madison with out having Bucky the Badger wear!"More?....I am working as hard as I can" says Peter
And then is was over the river and through the woods to gma and gpa Van's house. Most everyone got a little rest on the way up to Green Bay

Even more chaos at Gma and Gpa Van's house!Aunts are the best for horsy rides! Giddy up KT!Christmas morning....Cheers!

We are having loads of fun with our new toys, almost to much fun. Jamison had to take a rest and Peter got a jump on the after christmas sales. Shopping cart rage has started a bit early.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hot Snot, we are back in business

YEAH! After the many long months...we now have a digital camera. I think our family was tired of listening to us complain that we dont have one. Actually both of our families gave us one, so we will return one and invest in another needed household item, likely a chain saw.

Jamison is sporting the new tools and tool belt he got from gma JillPeter rushed over to the dining room with his tool box and started fixing something. Safety first! You always need to wear safety goggles!

Misc Fun

Peter is sporting his "rescue wear" just like Diego. Tonight he is on a mission to find the elusive slippery anaconda that surprisingly looks thin and pink, just like holiday ribbon. Peter is also pretty computer savy, in just a few key punches he has managed to lock up the computer!
Not much I can say here except....that is Pat's child, not mine. I think he was pretending to be a walrus or maybe an elephant.
And the Cullen boys are enjoying a heated game of table tennis, courtesy of our friends in Italy!
Pompoon, the Beanie Baby golden retriever, frequently needs to eat at the table. This morning he is dining on a variety of mixed cereal. mmmm! He was very hungry. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Pat gave me an early present. I dont think you can see what the label reads....."Mommy's Time Out". Iwould love one of those. Hopefully I will get one soon!

The Holidays begin....Presents!

Keiko and the boys in front of the tree! The presents have started! Our friends Lily and Lucy sent us some baby dolls that we have creatively named "elmo baby Grayson" and "orange baby Grayson". Not sure what Grayson (our cousin) will think of that but he is the only baby they know.
We are taking very good care of them...feeding them, sleeping with them. There is an occasional head bonk or drop on the floor but the "baby Graysons" have not minded to much.
Our friends from Italy sent Ferraris and Fiats, "a real ferrari! punch me Guido"
It has only begun. The Holidays are fun!

Thanks Heike

We like our shirts from Nurnberg! (The boys like the christmas calendars with chocolate even more!) Happy Holidays!

Trip to the State Capital

We headed down to State Street one snowy morning and made our way to the state capital. The boys were fascinated with the gold person on the top of the dome. They wanted to get up there and see it closer and were not too happy when I explained that that was not possible. Peter said this statue looked cold, he was right! (note Jamison is posing like the statue!) Inside the capital
Up the huge set of stairs. The boys thought it was fun to play "hide and seek". I agreed that there were lots of places to hide but thought it was probably not the best idea. Knowing me I would find myself knocking on Gov Doyle's office asking him if he has my kid.
There was a huge tree in the center of the capital with a train going around and around. That made the whole trip!
oh, and all the snow piles made it a lot of fun. Jamison and Peter are pretty good at balancing!