Brecken's Baptism

What a wonderful day, we got to watch Brecken being baptised and I got to become a Godmother! She was all smiles and giggles in the beginning.

Hey, what are you doing? You aren't dunking me in there are you? She actually didn't even flinch during the water, it was after the last scoop that she wanted to be upright again and started getting upset.

I went a little overboard on the cake, only a quarter of the bottom tier was eaten. Well it was fun to make.

After the water he carried her around the church in the cradle position, she would have been fine if he just sat her upright, poor girl, she never cries!

Ice Skating and Birthday fun

We decided to take the girls ice skating last Saturday for their first time. Piper started getting the hang of it and enjoyed falling, she just thought that was hilarious. The rental skates were not the best, they were pretty uncomfortable for Jason and I, I can only imagine how the kids' feet felt in them.
See, falling with all that padding isn't so hard. Piper's biggest challenge was accidentally turning herself around in a circle and loosing balance. If Reagan would have gotten up on her feet we may have tried skating longer. It was a short trip, I think 45 minutes tops.

Holly came over to visit last Saturday and ended up entertaining the kids and reading Reagan her bedtime story. Thanks Holly!

Reagan enjoyed skating as much as hanging from our arms until she reached the snowbank. She just happily sat still in the snowbank until we moved her under the bridge where she spent the second half of her time hanging out. Now if we were being clever we would have wrapped a bottle in a brown bag and posed her for some good photos.

We had Piper's Birthday party on Sunday (after the Vikings big win) so everyone was in a good mood and I kept shoveling food at everyone. Piper ended up hiding under the bed for the first 20 minutes until we persuaded her to come down to open her presents. She was so excited and then when everyone actually arrived she was too shy to come out.

Reagan was all about socializing!

Not a great photo but I was trying to get pictures of everyone who was here.

Here's her CandyLand inspired cake. I should have started it a day earlier as I just ran out of time to really execute the details the way I wanted to. It was a big hit with the kids though.

Yes, I know these are out of order.

Reagan and her Papa's had matching hairdo's.

You can't really tell but Dad does have a pony tail back there.

Sweet Baby B. She is so funny, she poses for the camera, as soon as she knows it's there she makes a funny face, she just gets cuter everyday!

We topped off the Birthday celebrations with a surprise trip to Chuck E Cheese on Piper's Birthday.

Layla even got a present, apparently Skye was afraid of her new toy so Layla took hold. It was a great toy for 5 days, it went into the trash today after she removed all the stuffing and squeeky toy.

We all cringed as the kids spit on, err blew out the candles. As soon as they were out the hands started grabbing the suckers.

brrr - Florida

It's cold down here so we've been exploring places other than the beach or pool. Here we went to Shell World where they have a petting zoo and other animals to look at. Piper and I decided to ride a dino.
Donkey for Niki - we were told to keep our distance as they put her on a diet and she would try to eat our hands, purses, anything she could get her mouth near.

Pretty peacocks

Parrots, we see these all over by the marina

Piper, Clay and Kathleen were swarmed by some hungry ducks/geese/sea gulls etc.

Swinging at the park

Look at that cute alligator (above)

big guy!

New hatchling

New Year's Eve, it was gorgeous that night, warmer than most of the days we've been here

I have not ventured into the pool, somehow even when it's 80 it feels frigid, not so much for the girls, they enjoyed a quick swim earlier in the trip

this picture explains it all - brrr!

We are having a great time here in Florida but it is cold. Yes, I know it's been below zero at home and we are very thankful to be here and enjoy being able to go outside even if it entails many layers of clothing. I think on Wednesday it should be about 58 and Thursday looks like the nicest day at 63. Hopefully we will get to the beach that day.

Christmas whirlwind - it's done already??

the king
Claire, Reagan and Piper were having a lot of fun smelling markers

Clay cuddled up with Sophie

This cash register was for both of the girls but Reagan has taken it over and Piper hasn't been allowed near it.

Reagan and Aunt Randi

Christmas morning at our house, Piper was so moved by getting a DoddleBops dvd that she wept, seriously just choked up and started crying. It was so sweet.

Piper enjoying her pile of presents

Reagan enjoying hers

Now we've moved on the the Kocina's in Glencoe

she's opening a baby

Christmas Kocina style - how many Kocina's can you fit into an room? There are some behind the camera too.

Momma's boy?? (oh boy am I going to be in trouble for that comment)

Now on to Dad and Jill's. Brecken's hands were going so fast they were a blur.

This was a tough picture to get, I have 4 of all the girls smiling and Dad looking down or to the side. This actually is pretty creepy, there is a ghost behind Piper and Brecken. It didn't show up in any of the other pictures I had taken just seconds before.

Bill and baby B were pretty tired out!

We had a wonderful Christmas, we have such a great routine down, we spend Christmas Eve at the Cowmeadow's and usually make it to church. This year due to the snow Jeff cancelled church. Christmas morning Robin, Lonny, Claire and Clay come over for breakfast, we make a big mess and then head out to Glencoe for lunch and there is always laughter. Then we trek back to Dad's house for dinner and to wind down for the day. It sounds busy and stressful but it isn't, we get to visit with almost our entire family all in 24 hours, it's really a special time!