Oscar's First Meal by Emma

 This is Oscar's first real food, and he ate it pretty quickly. Of course, it wasn't mess free. He kept on putting his fingers in the way. After I had put a spoonful in his mouth, spat it out, and we all laughed. After that, Oscar kept on spiting the cereal out until no one laughed (Which is kind of annoying, since I had scrape his chin off every time he played his little trick).  

                                This is one of his first spoonfuls. He looks a lot plumper now.

Oscar trying to grab the spoon. After he finished his food, he kept on playing with the spoon, shoving it in his mouth to see if there was anything on it.

Note from Mom:  The first solid food is such a fun milestone and I've always been the one to feed my babies the milky, grainy mixture, but this time I asked Emma if she would like to try.  She is such a huge help to and with Oscar that I wanted her to have the honor.  She loves him and it's apparent from the bottom picture that Oscar loves her. 

Kindergarten Field Trip by Calvin

I went on a field trip. I watched Harold and the Purple at the Children's Theater.  The best part was when the disco ball I clapped and so did everyone. 

This is Riley, this is Calvin, this is Matt and this is Monte.  Riley is my best friend and Matt is my second best friend and Monte is just my friend.

Daddy's Girl

Willa always has some excuse why she shouldn't be in bed. This night she had things she needed to tell Daddy.

They were secrets that no one else could hear.

Powderhorn Ice Skating

Just one of those perfect winter days on Powderhorn Lake.

Me pulling Oscar around in his carseat, on a sled.

Emma in front of the island.

Enoch learning.

Oscar peeking out.

Calvin (and Enoch) in the warming house drinking hot cocoa.

Not pictured:
 Willa--At home asleep. She conked out right before we left.
David--With Willa, but he had planned to stay home and get some writing/work done anyway.
Taran--Does not like ice skating, he spent the afternoon on the hills sledding.

Martin Moment

Every night after we put Taran to bed he stays up another hour reading. This night was a hectic one as well a vacation night (no school tomorrow), so Taran was recruited to feed Oscar.
There you have it: two sleeping, happy boys with one stone (three if you count Calvin, four for Enoch asleep above them.)

Salon Mara

Willa is the luckiest two year out there, she has befriended Mara. Not only does Mara spend the whole church hour entertaining Willa by drawing her pictures and letting her go through her purse, she also cuts her bangs in her salon.

With a lollipop and toys too, of course.

While you should've been sleeping

Sundays is literally a day of rest in the Martin home. Thus naps are mandatory. But this Sunday when Emma and Willa went up to take their nap they found my unguarded camera and decided to do a photo shoot instead. Emma dressed Willa, styled her hair, gave her props, and set her up in vinettes.

So much better than bed.

New Year & Kites, by Emma

On a really windy day in January, we decided fly the dollar store kites, and take advantage of the cold-no snow-windy weather.

Here we are trying to keep the kite from ripping out of our hands. If you didn't have gloves or a really good grip, you'd get a string burn!

Willa crying, thinking that the kite was going to fly away.
One more pic of Willa crying as the kite was pulled around, worrying that it would snap. (Which, unfortunately, it did.)

Elizabeth and Oliver playing with the toys, ignoring the crazy people who ran after the kite that snapped and flew into the cemetery.

Different kinds of hot chocolate! How can you choose between classical and french vanilla?

Oliver and Willa, the Troublesome Duo, found aunt Kirsti's mascara.

Willa, knowing that you apply it around the eyes, decided to become a temporary makeup artist.

 

Happy New Year

I have no pictures of 2011 passing into 2012 because I was in bed at that time. But the first was still a good start to what we hope will be a good year.

We put together a gingerbread house in the day and smashed it open that night.

Emma did most of the work, as usual.

Charles Jack turned 1! and shared his cheesecake with his family.

We played a dancing game on the Wii.

The guys take a turn.

May you have a graceful New Year!