Did Spring take a detour to Wisconsin?

We are wondering if Spring will ever come to Wisconsin this year, we think it took a detour.  Last year our average temp was 46 and I'm pretty sure we haven't even hit 40 this month.  I think we are just being a little impatient with every "little" snow storm we get when we hope for the snow to be leaving our presence.  When our family celebrated my moms birthday last year, we were in capris and t-shirts.  Guess when Spring really does come, we will love it even more even if we have to wait.  So what does one do during the "sloppy time" of the year?

Look ahead and you can see what we have done.

I enjoy volunteering in Jayden's class.  So I spent one whole day their and was ready for a nap after.  The kids just seemed like they needed to get up and dance.  I told Jayden's teacher Mrs. Alby "these kids just need to get up and dance" and I thought she was loading up a book for the kids.  Wrong!!!  She loaded up a Mario dance video and the kids did it twice.  They burned off some serious steam and were all geared up for recess.  Wish I had Mrs. Alby for a teacher in 1st grade (Mrs. Peterson was great though).

Cypress our cat (Cy or Kitties we call him) thought it was his turn for breakfast after we made a yummy pancake breakfast.  He didn't get any, but sure thought he was going to get some goods when he sat at the table.

Jeff bought me tulips...how sweet!!!  They were so pretty.

We had Chad, Stephanie and Gabbi over for dinner one night and the kids were having a ball.  They decided to make a marching band and had a blast.  I sure love creative play showing their great imaginations.

Goofy Face!!!

Sweet face!!!

My Mom and I took a day trip down to Germantown to visit Linda (Nicole's sister-in-law) and her new baby Alex.  I can't believe how long he is and pretty sure he is about Grant's size even though they are 2.5 months difference (Grant is older).

After our journey, I was relaxing after we had supper and I hear "Clunk, Clunk, Clunk".  What the heck is that?  Here is Jayden trying to fill Jeff's shoes...let's hope he waits a few more years.

 Oh yeah, Roller skating baby!!!  We went to Skater's Edge for Gabbi's 3rd Birthday.  Neither Jeff or I have been skating in years.  Jayden has never been skating.  It started off a little rusty, but it sure didn't take long and we were cruising.  It sure was a blast and I got to go "moon lighting" for my first time.  Think we'll have to go again soon.

It was a pretty crummy day outside so we took a trip to the Planetarium.  It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed to show.  We were shown the night sky that we could see right now and the two constellations that are out are the big and little dipper which form the big and little bear (Jayden thought they looked like squirrels).  Something that I learned from the show I'm going to turn into a Trivia question:

How does a rainbow appear?

Answer:  The sun relects off of raindrops and displays the light just like sun going through a prism.  I found that really cool. 

Jayden is learning about balance and motion at school in science.  So what does he ask to make?  A mable track out of swimming noodles.  What a smart kid!!!

We are running out of fun things to do during the yucky days yet so we decided to go bowling.  I lost as usual and the guys were ahead of me.
Jeff won both times with Jayden not too far behind him.

We were able to get a little egg decorating in and guess who came to join us?  Grandma Stoffel and Grant.  We had a blast decorating and also getting to see how Grant did for our first egg decorating experience.

Here is one of Jayden's eggs...think it turned out cool.

Can you believe Grant is 4 months already?

I just had to do this...just had too.

We wish everyone WARM Easter wishes
and hope your family has many great memories while sharing this wonderful holiday!!!

Hope the spring weather is here soon...until next time.

Jeff, Heather and Jayden

Love is in the Air!!!!

February is gone and now March has come.  Where is the months going?  Spring is around the corner and we are getting excited to play in the dirt (well I am at least).  This past month was a lot of fun relaxing during the cold and snowy days.  Jeff and I celebrated our 7th Wedding anniversary on the 17th and enjoyed a lunch and movie date.

We hope for many more years to come.

Jayden had a wonderful report card so Jeff got him a new toy.  A computer.  He loves playing learning games on there and exploring new things.

During one of the snow storms of the month, I was out shoveling at 4:30am and felt like someone or something was staring at me.  I turned to see that three deer just came down the street behind me and were about 15 yards away.  All three of them stopped to get a good look at me and as I tried to get my phone out of  my pocket to take a picture, they started to trot away.  So this is a distant picture of the three trotting down the road away to the nearby ravine.  The last of the three was quite the curious one and kept checking on me.

Snow hill + Snow pants = large hole along all of inner leg.  "Mom, can you fix my little hole in my snow pant because the fence bit a hole in my snow pants."

I've been enjoying DIY projects and here is one of them.  Just a little fun!!!

 Jayden has been enjoying being an artist so I bought him a few canvases to paint.  Here he is working on one of them and can't wait to hang the final project in the playroom.

Jayden was lucky enough to go on a field trip to Super Bowl and I was able to go along with.  We had a blast with all the first graders.  Jayden got a strike here in this picture and was he proud.  Think I need to take lessons from him (or maybe use bumpers).

Here he is with his final score.  Think he was pretty happy with it.

And a visit to see Dr. Schouten...always a fun trip.  Most people don't like going to the dentist, but Jayden and I sure do.  Nothing like a good old cleaning!!!
Oh, Jayden found out that he is getting in his adult back teeth and he is stoked...maybe he'll start to loose a tooth or two so the tooth fairy can visit.

Hope all is well and looking forward to the Easter Bunny!!!
Until next time...
Jeff, Heather and Jayden

A New Year = New Adventures

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We Welcomed 2013 with open arms so we can begin a new year of adventures.   We don't know what we all have in store, but so far we have started out with many great things.  Most people start the year off with a New Years Resolution so we decided to not do that at our house.  What are we going to do?  Just have tons of fun and make many great memories.  We will show you the fun that we have started our new year with and hope that you can share in some fun with us this year.

Santa brought this shark for Jayden and we really had lots of fun putting it together and painting it.  We were supposed to use markers, but chose the quicker way and used paint.  It was a lot more fun that way I think too.

Now we just have to find a place to hang it up.

One day after school Jayden and I decided to hit up the snow hill at Pierce park.  We had a blast going down the hill.  Jayden is such a dare devil that he went head first on his belly.  I don't think I would be able to do that.

Sledding fun...thanks Unkie and Aunt Steph!!!

Here he is posing in his favorite tree at the park that
is shared with his school.

 Jeff took Jayden to a Science Expo in Green Bay and they had a blast.  Jayden was so excited to see the great big snakes so he went up

on stage to hold a giant one.

Here he is holding a smaller one.

Running across goop.  If you stop or go to slow you sink.
He ran so fast that he never go stuck.

So after Jeff took Jayden to the Science Expo, this is what he did with Beck before school one morning.  He had to show Beck that they could float a ping pong ball with a blow dryer.  Try it, it is really fun.

Grant Michael was baptized Jan. 20th.  I was one of his Godmother's and was very blessed to be part of his special day.  It turned out to be a wonderful (yet cold) day surrounded by a lot of great people.

Me, Nicole, Grant, Mike and Linda

Linda and I are Grant's Godmother's and we are very happy as you can tell.

Can you believe this?

Grant (8 weeks), Brook (17), Sam (21) and Jayden (6)

Wow, how they have all grown so fast.
My Mom and Dad are pretty lucky people.

Nicole and Mike went away over night for her Birthday and guess who got to watch Grant over night?  Yes, that was me and Jayden.  We had a blast and I just HAD to bring my camera along.
I think I might have gotten a few good shots.

 

 

So what does a kid do when mom and dad are cleaning up from the snow storm?  Make a snow hill in the back yard.

After a ride down the hill.

A little glimpse of Wisconsin Winter...8.8 inches of snow!!!

Hope everyone has a great start to their new year.

Until next time...

Jeff, Heather and Jayden

Snow Days

Winter is here!!!  We are very happy at our house since it is white outside.  The sleds have made many trips down the local hills and a very large snowman was built.  The year is coming to an end, but we feel so lucky to be blessed
with so many fun and new things.

The first snow fell and we managed to build quite the snowman.  It took both Jeff and I to lift the middle ball...heavy snow!!!!  Here are the guys so proud of our new friend.

Jayden and I hanging with our new friend.  The weather didn't cooperate for us, so Mr. Frosty wilted and is now buried under the latest snow fall.  Think we will have to wait until spring for our scarf and our hat.

Did I mention that Jeff and I were going to treat ourselves to a new fireplace?  Well here is the old one...

And here is the new one.  We are very happy with how it turned out.  The mason did a great job matching the stone for the enclosing the one side in.  The warmth that we have now is so wonderful.  It is well worth the wait.

 Jayden recieved from St. Nick a rock kit and here he is digging for a treasure.

We had Gabbi for a weekend and so we took her and Jayden to the Dinosaur show at Shopko Hall in Green Bay.  It was not all that it was said to be, but the kids enjoyed it and that is all that matters.  So happy we can do these special things with the kids.

"Mom, Mrs. Alby said we have to wear our pj's inside out so we have a snow day tomorrow."  So this is what I came upon when it was time for night time prayers.  How fun for the kids to feel they are doing their part in making a "snow day" happen.

 

 Christmas Eve we had Jeff's family over for supper.  We shared with them a tradition my family has had for many years...egg rolls.  It may seem strange, but they are the best.  We enjoy making something different for the holidays instead of the typical turkey and ham.  I think they were a hit.  The kids had a blast playing
together and opening the many presents.

Merry Christmas from the Kraus house...this was our tree Christmas morning.  We had a very excited boy when he came down the stairs to see if "Santa" came.  With great surprise, he sure came with lots of extra goodies.
His favorite thing...a Knex roller coaster.
 
 The Knex roller coaster.

The two boys waiting to see what is under the tree at Grandpa and Grandmas house.

We hope that everyone has had a wonderful year filled with many great adventures.  We look forward to the coming year for new things to come and new adventures to arise.

Happy Holidays from the Kraus House!!!

Jeff, Heather and Jayden