Snowy day

This winter has been especially full of snowy days for us.  We've actually had trouble playing outside because there's been too MUCH snow.  Today we had over a foot of snow,  and since Trace had cleared the driveway early, by this afternoon there was the perfect amount of snow to sled.  I went down a number of times with Caroline, which she loved, but by the time I went inside to get my camera she was done.  Jack, however, stayed outside for another hour or so, sledding, and even helping the neighbor shovel his drive.  That's the way we spent our snowy day!

A Four Year Old in the House

The princess around here turned four. None of her young friends could make it to the party, but it is a testament to her sweet spirit that all kinds of grown-up friends took time out of their day to dress-up and come to her princess party. The ladies even dug in the back of their closets for old prom and bridesmaid dresses. Caroline loved how fancy everyone was, and that the boys even wore "handsome ties," as she requested. You are one loved girl, Miss Caroline!

All the ladies dressed up. And she might be a princess, but she's still a Fike, and she requested ribs and hot dogs for her party. She's her daddy's daughter! The man behind all the wonderful food.

Saying hello to Andrew and Katherine. Have you ever seen a princess eating ribs before?

She loved her "fancy" cupcakes! It was worth all the time I spent the night before to see the delight on her face in the morning.

Blowing out four candles.

A sweet brother who was such a gentleman all day. He and I had gone shopping earlier in the week, because he wanted to spend his own money and buy his sister a gift. We went to Ben Franklin, on his insistence, and he wandered the whole store until he found what he wanted: some buttons for her to make crafts with. He carefully chose the pink and purple ones out of the Ben Franklin "treasure chest" of buttons, and then found some bracelets for her too. It took all his money, and warmed his mother's heart.

She travelled around the room and opened each gift with the giver. She also saved all the bows and tissue papers: they were all fancy!

Her favorite Aunt Becky. On a sidenote, she told me the other day that Aunt Becky is her favorite because she makes her vanilla steamers with whip cream. Affronted, I said: "but I cuddled with you all last night when you were sick!" She reassured me with, "well you are my second favorite, Mom!" She's a cutie!

Excited to see the kitten that she and Kim had shopped for together. You're an awfully nice friend Kim!

Gifts from "Uncle" John and Hynndie.

Opening a Giants shirt with Uncle Ted. Now she'll be ready to cheer on her team this year too!

Phil reading her the poem with pictures that he wrote/made for her.

The two Carolines. Sitting on Papa's lap to open her bunnies. She played with them all day today! Every year Caroline has received a book (or two) from Mike, and a dress from Ellen. What fun gifts!

The before picture of the cupcakes, which we enjoyed all day today too! Happy birthday to the surprise girl in our family. You're all girl, and we all love your hugs and giggles and your imaginative spirit. Four years old!

Jack's First Lost Tooth

Jack lost his first tooth yesterday, on Caroline's birthday, and we don't know when, or where.

He gave me a hug after everyone had left the party, and he was missing a tooth! The reason it's so hard to see the missing one is that the new one had already come in. In fact, the one to the left has also come in, also without the tooth falling out, so he's had double teeth for a while. Since he didn't have a tooth to put under his pillow, he wrote a note to the tooth fairy and put that under his pillow instead. It worked! There was a gold dollar and no note in the morning. That tooth fairy is amazing! I love that the note makes sense, but would make sense with or without the tooth: I lost my tooth. Yes indeed you did my little man!

Where do you play when there's three feet of snow on the ground?

At the park where there is only a foot of snow! One day last week we drove home past Pioneer Park, and my kids must have felt the need to be outdoors, because they wanted to stop and play despite the snow. We all had fun!

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A quick trip

Last week there was no school because of President's Day and budget cut days--and the week before we had snow days on Thursday and Friday. Trace's foot had broken open a little in the ice, so by last Sunday night we decided a small getaway might be in order. On Monday we made reservations for three nights in Reno (our requirements were inexpensive with a heated pool). It was a perfect break for our family. We were on the seventeenth floor and outside our window was perhaps the thing most thrilling to a five year old boy: the railyard. Jack spent a lot of time sitting in the window watching the freight trains, the passenger trains, the unloading of the containers, the coal trains. . . Hours went by while he gave us a running monologue about all the events below. If we weren't train watching, you could find us at the pool. Both kids loved playing in the water, and there were eight individual "bubble pools," bathtub size, and only about sixteen inches deep--kid heaven.
We came home a day early, because of a severe storm coming in. We were glad we did, because this storm, unlike most, actually lived up to all the hype and dumped three feet of snow in less than twenty -four hours. We've been out of power ever since! There was plenty of shoveling to keep us busy, and free entertainment when Will jumped off the deck rail into the snow and got stuck. Hopefully the power will be restored tomorrow, and in the meantime we're enjoying the quiet. Here's wishing you a peaceful week too!

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Jack's homemade salad recipe

Driving to the store this morning, Jack said that he had a great salad recipe: lettuce, green beans, asian pear, blue cheese, and dressing. He said we could call it Jack's homemade salad recipe. As soon as we arrived at the store, he wrote down his recipe.
Tonight he followed through with his idea and made us all a salad.

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First Real Haircut

Caroline and I have been discussing her hair lately and she had decided she wanted her hair short "like Marilyn's." So yesterday my friend Sara cut her hair. It's so cute, although truthfully I was nervous as I watched five inches of curls drop on the floor. She looks like such a big girl now!
The other two pictures are from the gather and grill at church on Sunday. Needless to say, there was a face painter and a balloon artist. They were quite excited! That's a pink and purple kitten and a crazy balloon hat, if you couldn't tell:)

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