The finished product

After another huge snow fall and a 2 hour delay Andrew and I finished the fort.

I finished shoveling the sidewalk while Andrew played "King of the Mountain".

It was so bright outside but I got the fort three levels high.  Andrew wasn't happy with me because I didn't make a roof .  There is no way I could have gotten it.  Sorry buddy.

The start of the snow fort

We'll be coming back out tomorrow to keep building.  This is what we have so far.

Good thing I didn't make snow balls for them to throw at me :)

Adeline's Snowman

We had a snow day yesterday and just got dumped on.  Today the kids and I went out and played in the snow.   I was working on a snow fort for the kids while Adeline was working hard building her own snowman.  I helped just a little with the rolling of the balls but this is her complete project.  She was asking what she could use for his eyes and mouth and we came up with grapes for the eyes and stones for the mouth.  I think the mouth is my favorite part.  I looks like he has pretty messed up teeth :)

Adeline sitting proud right by her snowman.  Andrew ran behind her right at the last moment.  If I would have taken a picture of what happened next (Adeline turning, yelling, and pushing Andrew away) it wouldn't have been pretty.

Good Job Addy!  That is one awesome snowman!!!!

Adeline's new pen-pal....

Adeline was so excited when she came home today from cheers and saw that she had a letter from Eden in the mail.  Immediately Adeline wrote her back and made her a bracelet   I would love for the girls to continue being pen-pals when the Williamson's go back to Papua New Guinea.  We'll see, Nisae says that it costs almost $4.00 for a stamp to mail a letter.  James and I might just have to invest in a couple $4.00 stamps.

A Weekend of Dance Parties

 Friday night we had the Dillers over for dinner and a showing of Star Wars on the Big Screen.  We then ended the night with a nice dance party.

 And then Saturday night the Morse family came over for dinner.  And we also ended the night with another dance party.  The latest so is something Adeline does at school it's called "crazy frog" and it's on YouTube   The kids just love it!

The Williamson's

A very fun afternoon spending time with our friends the Williamson's.  They are living right down the street from James' parents in Olivet which is perfect!  The kids hit it off together.  Adeline and Eden now say they are BFF's and Judah although much older than Andrew took him under his wing and played with him.  Kadynn the oldest kept herself busy building a robot.

The last time we saw each other was when they came back from Tobo three years ago.  Andrew was almost one and had a seizure while we were together.  We ended up spending our time together in the ER.

Thankfully this visit had no seizures or accidents.  It was a positive time and so nice to pick up right where we left off.  Fortunately for you Nisae and I no longer have our stone washed bff pants (not that they would fit us).

Puzzles and the Millennium

The kids had tons of fun putting together one huge puzzle with Grandma and Grandpa.  Andrew especially loves puzzles and is really good at them.

Daddy pulled out his very own Millennium Falcon from the attic.  Andrew was overjoyed!  Andrew still says that he likes Daddy's R2D2 better because his head spins around. 

A visit with Nana and Papa

Staying the whole weekend was really nice.  We got to sleep in, relax, go on a date, go to Nana and Papa's church, and have no responsibilities.  We went out to lunch with Nana and Papa after church and then went back to their house for a little bit.  It was nice being able to hang out and just spend time together.

Thank you Nana and Papa for treating us to lunch!!  We love you!

Our Valentine's Date!!!

James and I got to go on a date while we were in Olivet.  We decided to go to Clara's On The River, where we had our first date, were engaged, and had our rehearsal dinner.  It's a little different when it's winter and you can't go outside.  We'll have to come back in the summer.  This was a fun night for me, I loved looking back to all of our special memories.

When we walked in we were joking about seeing some people from our past.  When we were seated I looked over at the table next to us, all long, full table.  There was a man that looked familiar and sitting right next to him was Adeline's first grade teacher, from Muskegon.  How funny is that :)

I'm going to have to put this picture in with all of the other picture I have of James and I here at Clara's On The River.

Already time to say good-bye :(

Our couple of days went by way too fast.  We are looking forward to the day when we won't have to say good-bye!  We love you Aunt Betsey so much and are so proud of you.

Time to read or play video games.....

Whenever we talk to Betsey either on phone or skype Andrew always asks where Joanne is.  Today he got to have a lot of time with her.  They played games on her phone while Adeline read to Aunt Betsey.

Flat Stanley, one of Adeline's favorite books!  Addy sent Betsey Flat Stanley in the mail so that he could have some adventures with her.  Aunt Betsey sent this back to Adeline's class and some day soon Adeline will be able to hear what Stanley did while out in Washington with Aunt Betsey!

Happy Birthday to Grandma

With Grandma's birthday being right after Christmas and right before Brooke's, then Mine, then Andrew and Gabby's and then Josh's it seems we haven't gotten together to celebrate it for the past couple of years.  So this year even though late and missing many we decided to celebrate.  We made Bourbon Chicken and rice for dinner and one of her favorite cakes.  Yum!  We had fun.  Happy birthday Grandma, we love you! 

I love this video....

Joanne had just gotten to the house and the kids pulled her into the piano room.  They were so excited to see her and just circled around her talking non-stop.  They love you Joanne.

Just a great picture....

I LOVE this picture.  Two happy kids with two of their favorite people.

Dance Party!!!

With Aunt Betsey back home we have to have a dance party!

Andrew's Angry Bird Towers

Andrew thought of a new way to play with his new Angry Bird stuffed animals.  He built his own towers with the blocks from downstairs and then knocked them down.  This might be a good way for Andrew to blow off some steam sometime when he starts to go stir crazy in the house.

Hooray for Aunt Betsey!!!!

Aunt Betsey tried really hard to make it to Andrew's party.  But due to some certain "crazy" complications she couldn't come until the Sunday after.  Adeline has Friday off for her Winter Break so Aunt Betsey and Grandma came up to spend the night and watch a movie on the big screen.  Aunt Betsey hadn't been to our house since she lived with us over two years ago.

To say the kids were excited would be an understatement.  Of course they came bearing gifts.  Andrew got his birthday present from Aunt Betsey which was an Angry Birds suitcase!!!!

And then since today is Valentine's Day Grandma had special bags for the kids to open.

These are two spoiled kids.  Not just with gifts but with lot's of love.

And it's time to celebrate the "older" Bean birthdays...

With Gabby and Andrew's birthday's right in-between Josh and my birthday's we always do a mini celebration after the party.  I tried to make sure this picture didn't make it look like Josh and I were a couple.  Last years did and Bethany had a lot of fun with it when it came time for she and James to celebrate their joint birthday :)  I think I originally had a pillow between us but it's not in this picture.

Anyways.....happy birthday to us.

Some kid pictures

Andrew and his buddies Brayden and Nick (and a little bit of Gabby)

Shelby has always reminded James and I of Sophie.  And here they are together.

Sophie is one smart lady!  I think I have a picture of her wearing this same helmet at Andrew's party last year.....

Matthias and Cade....

I was told to beware when the party was over before I went upstairs.  It was a crazy mess.  But I didn't have trouble cleaning it because the kids sure seemed to have a good time.

Addy and her two best buds Anna and Maya.  I think Anna has hit a growth spurt because she is just towering over Addy and Maya.  It might have something to do with her dad being 6'7".

I wanted a cousin's shot.  I didn't quite get the one I wanted but I am happy with this one.  I love how all of the kids have on Angry Birds, Star Wars, or Lego's t-shirts.

At the end of the night Al and Karrie were both upstairs with Shelby so we had Cade all to ourselves.  Josh got a Michigan chair for his birthday so we tricked Cade into sitting in the chair and saying "go state".  He had no idea he was sitting in a U of M chair.

Some of our adult guests

Of course the party wouldn't be complete if it were only the kids.  James and I are so thankful for the friendships we have been blessed with.  The ones that have been there for years and the new ones we are just forming.

Jill and Sara two very generous/giving people who I have learned a lot from.

The Rudd family has blessed James and I in many ways...two of the biggest reasons are right here in this picture.

Friends catching up

The Ellis family....we don't see them as much as we would like.  But when we do it is always special.  Hard to believe they will soon be a family of six.

Missy and Phil, our Florida buddies.

Thankful for our lifegroup and the relationships we have made.

Angela, Ryan, Jeff, Heidi and the newest addition Bryson.

Mom and Daughter.  

We need Betsey to make this picture complete.