Waibel Family: February 2008

Today we took a trip to Oaks Park with our playgroup for some preschool skate time. It was an hour and a half of learning to skate for 6 year olds and younger. They tought them some basic balancing rules and such and then played some hokey pokey, did a choo choo train line, and then some on your own skate time. Then snack, then Chipper the squirel came out(a person in a big costume)...which Zach LOVED and wouldnt stop touching him. Chipper then did the chicken dance with all of them. And then they served cookies and milk to the kids for snack and then it was back on the floor for more skate time. Zach however, at that time, decided he was done and took off his skates and just ran around the rink with his cousin Gwen while Eli continued to master skating...and bruising of his bottom. He was such a trooper! The boy was doing so good for his first time on skates, but the poor kid would fall occasionally and it wasnt very pleasant. STRAIGHT down on his bottom every time. He would tear up, sometimes a real hurting cry, and get himself back up on his skates not wanting me to help him..and off he'd go again to try some more. It gave me such flashbacks to my days as a kid and loving the skate rink. I remember those awful falls, and not wanting to quit no matter how bad my bottom hurt. When it was time to leave, he was very sad and begged to stay. So I think we're going to have to go skating more often now...

So the last month or so has gotten away with my time, and ive been neglecting my blog. oops. So this one may be a little bit longer than normal to catch things up. :)

The weather here has been crazy this month. Super cold. Were not really that far out here in Dundee at our house, but somehow we got more snow than those not too far from us. Eli had a few days of canceled school due to snow and ice. Jake even got a day off work due to the snow. The boys made a great snowman that stuck around almost a week. Eli was very sad to see him melt. On the day Jake was home we walked up our street to the top of our hill and did some sledding in the little grass area that will become a new walking park this summer. I was happily supprised at the amount of snow we were able to sled on. Eli took some fast spills just like he did up at the mountain last month and had himself a blast. We even got Zach unafraid and got him to sled a few times laughing and asking to go again. And unfortunatley I did not catch Jakes awesome run-jump-dive-sled move that almost broke his back on camera. It was a classic Jake move though, so I know you all will get a good chuckle out of just reading that line. Eli said it was much more fun to sled at home rather than driving so far all the way to the mountain. We definatley need to start getting more snow down here off the mountain. And YES that is our christmas tree in its stand on our back porch behind Zach...two months after Christmas. :)

I started a playgroup a few months ago. To get us out of the house more and to meet more mommies and families. Yesterday our group went to the AC Gilbert House in Salem. Much the same idea as the Portland Childrens Museum but in my opinion was WAY cooler. The kids all had a blast and cant wait to go back again soon. They had a "China" room, and so Eli had a great time looking around at all the interesting facts and items and knowing that Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben were there right now. Zach had to potty durring this part so I took him and he durring his potty break said "Mommy we have to hurry! I want to go back to Aunt Alisas room!!" So cute. Eli just celebrated Chinese New Year at school on Wednesday with his class (and thanks to Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben for the yummy snacks from Hong Kong to share with his friends! His teacher even used the mailing package to teach the kids where Hong Kong is and showed them on the map and put a pin up for where "Aunt Alisa and Uncle Ben live"...thank you guys for sending that stuff over, they all really enjoyed it! And a package will be coming your way shortly!!) So it was a fun time on our playdate yesterday. Here are some of the pictures from our day.

This was the best picture we could get of the kids...kind of hard to get every kid to say cheese happily all at the same time. haha! This HUGE rocking chair was so cool! I want one in my living room. :)

Zach and Jaxon having some "rice and tea" in the China room.