Haertel Happenings

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

what happened to 75 degrees and sunny.....?

Saturday and Sunday we played outside in shorts and t-shirts. I accomplished a lot of raking (trying to get things cleaned up before the snow hit) and Pat installed a new gutter on the front of the house so all that snow/rain wouldn't be draining into our foundation. I'm so thankful we had such a beautiful weekend to work and play outside. The kids helped pick up sticks and rocks and also had lots of fun playing together.

Monday winter returned and we now have 8 inches of snow on the ground! It's not time to pack away those winter hats and gloves just yet.

We had fun outside in the snow (kids never tire of snow -- and neither does Pat for that matter) -- we had snowball fights; we built a snowman, we bundled up Sophia and let her experience the snow; and the big kids painted the snow with squirt bottles filled with colored water. Thank goodness for Family Dollar -- $3 well spent! (And thank you Christy (our neighbor in Connecticut) for this great idea!)

(a close-up of the painted snow)

11 months

Time for another update on Sophia - it seems like just a few days ago I was posting her 10 month update -- I was a little behind in giving that update. Yesterday she turned 11 months -- I can't believe it's only one month until she's a year! This year has really gone fast!!

I attempted to take a few pictures yesterday to capture her 11 month birthday -- but she tried escaping from me again! She really wanted to get outside to see what her big brothers and sister were up to in the snow.

I did manage to get a few pictures....

Her latest record on steps taken is 9! She did this yesterday for Daddy. She gets so excited when she starts to walk -- she makes a sniffle noise and waves her arms up and down. It's pretty cute.

(sorry the top of her head is cut off -- Hannah was playing photographer as I was holding out my hands to get her to walk to me)

She loves to give kisses -- she was kissing her Valentine's Day dog right before I took this picture of her. When she kisses she makes the "mmmmmmaaaa" sound but doesn't smack her lips. It's pretty cute!

She is adored by her big sister!

She has started saying "all done" when she's finished eating and "night-night" when I lay her down for naps and at night. She loves to play ball and is also saying ball and roll.
What a lovable little girl God has given us!