Another year here we come

Well we decided to finish 2008 with our trip to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Avery and I wanted snow so we could make a snowman and go sledding. We got more than we needed the entire trip. We had fun sledding, making a snowman, having a snowball fight, and just running around in it. Colin did not enjoy the snow at all. He was fine being bundled in several layers when ever we left the house, as long as you did not put him on the ground in the snow. We had an amazing trip!
In the end we were happy to be back in our little house, without snow. Since we returned Colin comments on snow every time we see it in a picture or on TV. Avery says she does not miss the snow, even though she did like it.
The kids are continuing to grow, change, and amaze us. Avery will be 5 in a month, which is unbelievable. Five years old is a big deal..she is officially a kid! Avery and I have been reading together nightly since she was a baby. Over the last few months I have been trying to get her to sound out words and focus more on reading. Sometimes she does better than others. The other day when we were at the grocery store I realized how much she is reading now. We walked past a row of "buy one get one free" bins, with the word "free" written larger than the others, and she says "Mommy, look, all that stuff is free". I just stood still trying to figure out if I had said something out loud (which I had not) or if she just read that on her own. Avery continues to be a girly girly. The other morning on the way to work she asked me how she would become a princess when she grows up. Her mind is always working!
Colin has discovered trains and Thomas. He is always saying "want choo choo", which means he wants to watch Thomas. It seemed to happen over night. He is busy playing Avery's old Geotrax train system as I type this. He still loves his monster trucks and any truck in general. He loves it when we drive past construction vechicles and yells "wow". He gets excited everytime the Monster Jam commerical comes on TV for the local show this month. I can not wait until we take him to the show in 4 weeks. Colin has a love of coloring and books (especially about animals, trucks, or trains). He is a wonderful two year old with all of his own views on life!
Neil and I are trying to hang on tight as the economy continues to change. Between tax cuts in Florida and the economy there are budget cuts being made in the school system we work. We are trying to enjoy life as much as we can as we wait to see how it will affect us. We are so thankful for all we have in our lifes:)