it's a new decade!

it's so hard to imagine that the next time we say "it's a new decade", this little stinker will be almost 11 years old... what's the devilish grin for, you might ask?

she learned a new trick, which is why she's earned the title of "stinker".
yeah, 'bout made my heart stop too.
whew!

thank goodness the holidays only come once a year, because the photo overload is enough to make my head spin (and make me temporarily re-think blogging. it's just too much work. giggle!)
to start the photographic timeline:
we spent new year's day at kelvin's parents. the kids had (nap-free) fun with grandpa dan and grandma ruby. then i was reminded of how last year, we spent new year's day at their house as well, only then, i was as big as a house. no, more like an apartment complex.

but i digress.

cole "helped" sweep the basement floor; had i known he was so enthusiastic about cleaning ("kheen foohr! kheen"), i would have put him to work long before now!

*kidding. for now. he will most certainly learn all aspects of housework, age appropriately of course*

grandpa dan gave cole tractor rides. rather, he was instructed to give rides; he happily obliged to the insistent chorus of "wide, trahtor, bapa. now!!"

and cole kindly returned the favor.

in normal cole-fashion, there was the trying-on of grandma ruby's shoes.

*word of warning to any and all visitors or visitees: cole WILL wear your shoes, should you leave them lying anywhere within his line of vision*

when cole discovered he couldn't get his leg over the tractor with grandma's shoe dangling from his foot, he stepped back, thought for a few seconds and tried a different route. he took off the shoes, put one on either side of the tractor, hopped over the seat, slid his feet into the shoes, and off he went. crazy!! he's not quite 2 1/2, so that little demonstration of problem-solving skills totally blew my mind. rather, all our minds. we watched him in gape-mouthed amazement, unable to say a word. oh, and i would like to reiterate that he attempted to lift his foot over once. just one time. one single, solitary time, before taking the shoes off.

smartie.

the kids found a new "toy": grandma ruby's nice centerpiece.

she was gracious enough to let them tear it apart and happily bang the pinecones and assorted pretties around for quite some time. they played together. nicely. for more than 5 minutes!
('twas the day for new year's miracles, i guess)

men and their tools...

saturday we went up to my parents. they had been out to montana to see sarah, elissa, logan, coy and of course, sweet little bentley!

they were having cole-and-madi withdrawals.

they took grandma on a "ride"... like a tiny family trip!

madison endeavored quite a few solo steps and was quite thrilled about the whole thing.

her face says it all...

and last but not least, making faces with grandpa!

oh, we had a marvelous weekend... spending time with family, getting away with little-to-no napping, getting out of the house; it's hard to walk away feeling unfulfilled when you spend time with the ones you love.

i say, no better way to kick off a new year (and a whole new decade) than being with our family!