Sliding (but not Sledding) from Jan. to Feb.

We would love to have had snow for the

last week in January, but on the other hand,

it might have interfered with babysitting.

And we can't allow that!

"Welcome to the Loyd house," says Evan,

who is not especially camera shy.

In fact he'll even ham it up and smooch

for the camera.

It was a chilly day, not fit for man, beast,

or grandchild, but that didn't prevent much

fun with imaginative play.  Featuring 

Grandma and Claire "down on the farm."

Claire delights in countless other books

and toys she is quite familiar with.

Now that she is getting acquainted with

real money, she can't resist checking.

Sorry, Claire, it's the same old plastic coins.

One new toy set that all the kids have fallen

in love with is the shaving and grooming kit.

They especially like for me and Grandma

to be their victims-- er, I mean "subjects."

The tweezers, scissors, combs, razors, and

blow dryer are all fun toys-- or implements

of torture, depending on your perspective.

When it's time to go home, Evan does a

half-hearted "hide-and-seek" from Mommy.

But he can't stay hidden too long, because

pickup time also means supper with Daddy

is not far behind.  That's an incentive that

both Jennifer and Amanda resort to for

getting the kids to load up.

On a special Saturday night, we kept 

Brianna and Hunter while Amanda and

Stephen had an evening out.  As you can

see, Hunter likes to hide as much as Evan.

Grandma knows that these children are

well-versed in the kitchen.  So a special

treat is getting to lay out the pizza rolls

and chicken nuggets on the baking trays.

After that great supper, we were all fully 

energized and got right back into play.

For Hunter, that was a few laps around the

 house on the tricycle. Man, can he ZOOM!

Bri and Judy played a new game called

something like "Crackers in the Bed."

I'm sure I'll get my initiation sometime soon.

Bri also proves to be more than a match

for Grandma at "Memory."  It may be

significant that Bri is allowed to keep turning

over pieces until she gets a match.  Who knows?

Whoa!  Hunter has given up his wheels'

for hoofs.  Ride 'em cowboy!

Giddyap! And clear the way!

Believe me, he's not just smiling for the

camera.  He's bubbling over.

Later, things begin to slow down.

Hunter plays an appropriate lullaby.

An original, of course, it helps prepare

us all for a good night's sleep.

So now, it's February.  Groundhog

shadows or not, six weeks of winter

or an early spring, it won't matter to us.

February is for fun! Check back soon.