Big Girl, Big Boy - Kendall's first steps!

Kendall and Kaleb are looking more and more like little children instead of babies (notice the shoes). The biggest milestone for Kendall came a few weeks ago (March 8) when she took her first steps by herself! I stood her up to show how she could stand by herself and she took a couple of steps! It was so exciting! She continues to take 3 or 4 steps by herself before falling. She transfers very easily from the couch to the table and all over!

Kaleb has not attempted any steps by himself, but he will stand up for about 1 minute with a huge grin on his face (he is so proud of himself). He also transfers from the couch to table very easily.

They cruise around with their push toys.

So cool!

K & K had a fun day with uncle Dan - trying on his hat and sunglasses.

Cool dude!

She didn't mind the hat, but didn't like the sunglasses

Story time, down time...

Ryan and Lindsay visit the U.P.

Our good friends Ryan and Lindsay (and their dogs Griffen and Maya) came to visit us the weekend of March 15th. They used to live in Indianapolis, but moved to Minneapolis last July.

We took advantage of the winter sun and went out ice fishing for a little bit!

Kendall and Kaleb like to go for a ride in their sleds!

Lindsay and Kaleb

They boys hanging out with the kids

K & K got to eat an eclair dessert and loved it!

Visiting a Bear Den and Cubs

Jamie and I had a really cool experience last weekend (March 22nd). We were invited to tag along with a DNR officer and a few others to dig up a bear den so that the DNR officer could check how many cubs had been born, and to weigh the cubs. The mother bear is still in hibernation, but is given a tranquilizer just in case... The mother bear is wearing a collar so that he could find out where she made her den. We hiked into the woods about 1 mile. We got to hold the cubs! They are awake, just nursing all winter long. It was the neatest experience!

The Bear Den is not what you think about a typical den (like a cave). A lot of bears make their dens underneath trees in the brush and dig down into the root system so that they are underground.



The cubs were so small! They were around 4 pounds (like the size of Kendall and Kaleb when they were born).


This is the DNR officer that tracks the bears each year. There were 3 cubs from this particular mother (the average is 2). They are born in the den and are only a couple of inches long when they are born.

Kendall having fun after lunch

Playing down the basement

We have a GREAT basement at our rental home - it is a child's playland dream!




The front part of the basement is finished with nice cedar walls. We put up a barrier gate around the TV and wood stove so that the kids can't touch what we don't want them to, then they have free reign of the rest of the room - it works out great!

The back half of the room is big enough to set up a table for cards (or setting things out of reach of the little ones).

Push and Ride

They really like to 'help' each other by pushing behind. We also have a walker that if one is in, the other will walk behind and push.

Bathtime!

Kendall and Kaleb LOVE bathtime! They play until they are all pruned up!

Playing House

Uncle Travis got the twins a play house for Christmas that they LOVE! They have had many hours of entertainment playing with all of the different 'bells and whistles' on it! There is a mailbox, door bell, light switch, window, music, clock, door to open/close, and many other things.


This picture of Kendall below is really funny because she went through a period where she would act really offended and make this face!

Playing House

New Nursery

Kendall and Kaleb are sharing a room. We have their cribs set up so that they can see each other and they love it. You can hear them babbling back and forth and giggling at each other.

First Time Ice Fishing

The twins had their first ice fishing experience at Lake Mary on Feb 29th. We didn't have much luck that day, but over the winter Jamie caught a really nice walleye, my brother caught a 42 inch Northern Pike and the other day the boys caught about 30 blue gill.