"The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings." - Joyce Kilmer, Spring

We were so glad to finally see the sun! We are all ready to start playing outside-I know Grayson is anxious to play in the big sandbox in the back!  Gray is really starting to string together 2-3 word sentences...we love hearing him talk and I am sure he is glad he can finally tell us what he wants--though that doesn't always go his way!  He is a good little boy-though he is most definitely 2!  His current catch phrase is "Can I have it?"

"Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled." -Unknown

We had a snowy middle and end of February...Gray really enjoyed playing out in the snow!  We spent the weekend of Valentines Day at my parents house, and then we celebrated the big day by taking Gray to experience his first Hibachi dinner--he was a little unsure of the big fire, but liked the show and the food! 

Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do. ~Jean de la Bruyere

Our families came to town to help celebrate Kyle's 30th birthday (which I dont have that many pictures of-do any of you??) the weekend of February 6th.   My family stayed in town til Monday so we could watch the Superbowl and so we could all go play at Strong-Gray, Maddy, and Paige (who got to go with us since it was during the week) had a great time!  I dont think we have ever had a bad time at the museum--it was definitely worthwhile to get a family membership!

We've had bad luck with our kids - they've all grown up. ~Christopher Morley

A picture from January of the kids at Payton's birthday party-inset is the picture from the previous year!  They are all getting so big!

Thomas: "Well, bust my buffers."

Even though he is not ready for a toddler bed just yet, Kyle and I found a Thomas the Tank engine bed on Craigslist-and we had to get it!  It is in great condition-and Gray LOVES it!  We had to cover up Thomas's face for a few nights until Gray stopped yelling for him...

Another year has gone by and our baby boy is turning TWO/It seems as if just yesterday you were so tiny, so fragile and so small/ In the blink of an eye you are growing so big and so tall.

We had a birthday party for Grayson on January 2nd--we are so thankful to everyone who could make it at the end of a very busy holiday season!!  We had the party on campus in the building where Kyle's office is-it was perfect (although a little chilly) and had plenty of space for the kids to run around.  Gray loves Thomas and friends--so we decorated the room and his cake with a train theme.  Rocky-the U of R mascot, popped in for a visit...Gray had a great time.  The best part, for me, was when we sang happy birthday to him.  He seemed so happy when we were all singing to him...

Winter came down to our home one night Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow, And we, we were children once again. ~Bill Morgan, Jr.

A few pictures of Gray from early January-his first time out in the snow-he liked it...he has been sledding once as well-but it was dark and we couldnt get any good pics.  I took him over to campus when Kyle got out of work, and we took him down the hill in front of Kyle's office a few times.  He really liked it-but it was pretty cold-so we only stayed for a little while. 
A few pics of him in his snowsuit-he wore it last year and it was big, so we thought we would try it on him again--it's a little snug with his hands and feet tucked up in it, but it will fit this winter with his boots and mittens on...we just think he's so cute in it!  Thanks again, Aunt Phyllis!
A couple pics of Gray opening up some presents from Aunt Linda and the Griffins--he loves the new books!! 

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. ~Carol Nelson

We had a great Christmas day--and Gray had a great 2nd birthday!!  We woke up at Mom and Dad Ortons, then headed up to Ballston Lake to stay with the Kolodzies-Mom and Dad Struble and Big Grandma had already been there since the 23rd.  We had a yummy breakfast and then opened a few gifts-and then Mat had to head off to work...it took us til about 2 to open gifts-between naps and lunch!!  It was nice to take our time and the kids also wanted to play with the toys as soon as they opened them-so we let them do that...it was a quiet and wonderful day!  After the kids went to bed-we played a little Wii-it was fun to watch everyone trying it out for the first time!  Lisa and I had a particularly intense sword fight!!  I think she won one, and then I won!  We stayed up there until Sunday...it was so nice to see everyone and made me wish, once again, that we lived near our families!!

This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays! -- D.M. Dellinger

We celebrated Christmas Orton-style with Mom and Dad Orton, Sara, David, and Griffin.  We started out with our annual game of BINGO-and our handmade gifts.  Kyle and I won the Leddy's gift-a pretty pillow with a tree on it.  Mom and Dad won our gift-a clock that we made with a picture of Griffin and Gray on it, and the Leddys won Mom and Dad's gift-a beautiful tiled tray.  We then opened gifts-and Griffin and Grayson had a great time!  I think opening gifts is so much more enjoyable with the little guys!!  After that-Ryan and Jane Skyped in from Costa Rica--we missed them so much, so it was great to be able to "see" them!! After that, we had a wonderful dinner (prime rib-yum!) and headed out to the Richardson's for their annual Christmas Eve party.  What a wonderful way to get Christmas started...

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." Edna Ferber

Kyle, Gray, and I celebrated our family Christmas on Saturday, the 19th.  Kyle and I put together Gray's new train table after he went to bed on Friday, and set it up in the living room...he was super excited when he came down in the morning and saw the train and track set up.  Gray loves trains-he doesnt really do the whole push them around the track thing yet, but he loves carrying then around and making train noises...he is really starting to talk now-stringing together 2 and 3 word phrases...Kyle got a water fountain hook-up for our bathroom sink, and Gray loves to go in for a drink-he says, "Mommy's turn," "Gray-Gray's turn," "Dada's turn..."--he is such a fun little guy!