Walk-o-Mater

For Christmas Jamie decided to begin walking. Her eyes just looked amazed as she began walking from chair to couch to TV stand to the kitchen. Her crawl is still fast enough that she reverts to it often, but she's going vertical more and more.

Here's a little video link:

http://www.archive.org/details/JmeWalk1

THE Snow

Here are a few shots of our backyard after our first week of snow storms in Spokane. Most of the accumulation was accomplished in the first two days (which were the days we were supposed to fly out for Christmas in Utah). Consequently we were able to spend Christmas in Spokane!

We had big plans of taking down the trampoline for the winter, but as the vacation approached, we found ourselves scrambling to get prepared in every other way. Just yesterday I had thought it was about time to brave that pile of snow and relieve the springs. Then the roof unloaded and the depth of snow is now double what you see here. I think it's there until spring.

Christmas Cheer!

We had a great little Christmas here in Spokane. Our attempts to get home were thwarted by the weather. We made the best of it and actually decorated the inside of the house a little! As a little bonus, we stayed much closer to a budget than we would have travelling.

We are houseing two cats for a friend, and they are a handful. The kids love them, though!

Caitin and Jamie have had mixed reactions to the snow we've received. Caitin loves it and is almost always willing to throw on her snow pants and go play outside. Jamie doesn't like getting bundled up like a pink marshmallow, so she prefers to stay inside with Mom.

One of our Christmas surprises this morning was Jamie deciding to walk around the house. She had previously been chancing a few steps at a time, but today she walked back and forth across the room many times, and seems to realize that it's an efficient mode of travel. She is, however, very fast crawling, so she's not completely converted yet.

Cut it Off!

Last night at the dinner table Caitin was neglecting her vegetables...as usual. In fun I tried something new.

"Caitin, if you don't eat your corn, do you know what Dad is going to do?"
She turned and looked me in the eye.
"If you don't eat your corn, I'll cut off your leg!"
She glanced at Mom, and then back at my over-dramatic grimace, and then with a worried face whimpered, "No...Dad that would hurt!"
Surprised she bought it, I replied, "Then you better eat your corn!"

Immediately Mom began consoling and explaining that Dad would never do such a thing, but guess what...she ate her corn.

A few minutes later when Jamie crawled through the dinner mess she had made on the floor, I picked her up and told her I'd have to cut off her fingers. Caitin immediately began to defend her little sister by telling Mom on me.