Playing in the snow...

Sisters...

....make the world's bestest friends!!!

finally...snow!

it wasn't very good for making snowmen or sledding...but made a marvelous backdrop for photos.

Beautiful weather in January

Juliette loves the outdoors, swinging, the playset, digging in the mud, checking out the creek behind our house and wandering aimlessly down the sidewalk in front.

No coat in January? Isabelle joins us after school doing flips on the rings.

a tutu twirl. Allie also enjoys taking the Jeep out for a spin up and down the mini hills of our property.

brought us all outside to enjoy the 50 plus degree days! It was glorious weather considering now, as I type this it is 20 degrees with blowing snow and 30 mph winds!

Winter days

The big sisters just can't get enough of little sis even though she doesn't play "nice" most of the time.

Isabelle is growing up before my eyes. Her two front teeth have grown in and I just find myself staring at her smile. She is such a "big" girl with that grin.

Allie always keeps me on my toes...the other night at dinner she looked at her food (hamburger) and then she looked up at me and said quite seriously, "Are you trying to poison me?". The things that the girl thinks of! Speaking of dinner, she finds potty talk extremely hilarious at that time of the night. Recently she has found her way to time-out.

This kitty is so tolerant...but I blame it on her lack of intelligence. Kitty sees kids ready to maul her...kitty doesn't hide. Owner thinks that kitty is dead because she sees baby laying on her...kitty is half-asleep. Kitty lurks on stairs trying to attack feet...kitty doesn't move when she trips owner.

Even though Juju has her own "look", she reminds me so much of Isabelle at this age! Seriously, don't you think they look so much alike?

Christmas #3

Unwrapping gifts

Cousins in front of the tree

Finally looking excited about opening a present.

But all she wanted to do was sit on it.

We love the Bad Kitty books!

On Tuesday we traveled to Des Moines to see Jamie's sister and her family. Grandpa Miller came up and stayed the night and we picked up Great Grandma on the way from Newton. We had a really nice time and of course the girls loved to play with the cousins. It was so nice to see so many people on such a short trip.

Christmas #2

A few bald eagles seen at the farm. We disturbed them eating a carcass in the field and they were very far away on the hill.

Grandpa rocking Juliette to sleep.

My younger sister's kiddos.

Helping Grandma unwrap a present.



Christmas fun with the Koss side.

After having our own Christmas celebration in Indiana, we loaded the kids in the car to head to Iowa. Unfortunately, I didn't plan this trip out well with a few snacks and drinks in the car. I figured at the very least there would be a random McDonalds open along the way off the interstate. Boy, was I ever wrong! We ended up eating junk food and a gas station sandwich on our trip and were lucky to find some warm pizza at a Casey's along the way. We did have a delicious meal at Grandma and Grandpa's house, so that made it worthwhile! The girls got a lot of nice gifts and were so happy to see the family. It was so much fun.