Just in time...

So I resolved to be better at posting this year, and as my dear friend Andrea pointed out this afternoon, I've not posted all month. However, I do believe I that I qualified my resolution by indicating that while daily or even weekly updates may not occur, but I would most definitely update monthly. So, here is the monthly update... on the last day of January. Just in time.

EDITED: DOES IT COUNT IF I STARTED THIS POST ON JANUARY 31ST?

The first weekend of the month all three kids and I spent the weekend with Bapa and Nga-nga. I brought the camera an effort to capture pictures to update this blog, but failed to take any pictures. That's alright, though since the real gist of the weekend could be summed up by the drive down: Noah and Luke slept and Mara talked the ENTIRE WAY DOWN!! Ugh! Sorry Mom & Dad :)

Two weeks later we made the same trek to Red Wing, only this time both Noah & Mara talked the whole way. All I could think of was how nice a minivan would be and how much money I could make by inventing a soundproof screen. We finally climbed up out of the bone-chilling cold and were able to spend some time outside.

There was quite bit more snow at Grandma & Grandpa's -- so much so

that once deposited into a snow bank, Mara was pretty much stuck.

The kids had a great time making "snow ice cream" and even more fun eating it.

This month also included Luke's Dedication. Kind of last minute since we didn't realize it was scheduled until two weeks before hand (okay, only last minute for family who live more than 30 minutes from our house). Here are a few pictures from the evening. (Yes, the quality is poor, more support for my bid to get a new camera).

At the church with Dan & Jenni, who's little Caleb is 1 week younger than Luke.

With Grammy and Bumpa

With Grandma & Grandpa

Happy pictures at the end of a long day are not my family's forte.

Finally, it wouldn't be a monthly update if I didn't include a few pictures from today. My friend Andrea (who keeps me accountable for updating this blog) called this morning and invited us to join her family at BK for lunch and playtime. Who could pass that up. I didn't get pictures of the whole gang, but here are a couple of Noah and Mara playing.

Now, if you made it all the way through this post, kudos to you. I will attempt to make them shorter, hence updating more than once a month, BUT, no promises :)