Ninja Turtle Playing

The boys playing with the new Ninja Turtles accessories. They have been playing like this for a week straight!

A Very Ninja Turtle 5th Birthday!

Ben had a very Ninja Turtle 5th birthday, to say the least! He had a ninja turtle cake, decorations and presents! We went to Grandma and Dzaidzau's for a little birthday celebration. Ben got some great presents including kinetic sand, Pop the Pig game, a ninja turtle motorcycle, lawn mower and van. And of course the last of the four turtles, Mickie-angelo (as Ben calls him). He was very excited about all his presents! Later that night we had a facetime birthday party with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Sarah. Ben got ninja turtle dress up stuff including a Mickie-angelo mask and a shell and walkie talkies. It was a pretty awesome 5th birthday!

Mardi Gras Prep

While stuck inside for the cold storm, we decorated our mini Mardi Gras tree. Nick started his training program for Mardi Gras this year. Activities included neck stamina, agility and jump, jump, jump for the beads. Future training sessions will include one handed catching, don't let the beads hit the ground and the Hey Mister chant. 

The Birthday Boy!!

Happy 5th Birthday to Ben!! Hard to believe he is five. 

A walk down memory lane of the past four birthdays:
4: http://www.balyeatwolny.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-birthday-ben.html
3: http://www.balyeatwolny.blogspot.com/2012/01/birthday-boy.html
2: http://www.balyeatwolny.blogspot.com/2011/01/birthday-boy.html
1: http://www.balyeatwolny.blogspot.com/2010/01/birthday-boy.html
D-day: http://www.balyeatwolny.blogspot.com/2009/01/drum-roll-pleaseintroducing-benjamin.html

All That Snow - Is Pretty From Inside

The only good thing of the two days of isolation was the sunshine. It did look pretty outside. Though, the most I did was step 6 inches outside the door to snap a few pictures. 

Day 1 Of Isolation - Hot Chocolate

After enjoying the nice 'warm weather' and snow of Sunday came the ridiculous, bitter cold. And a level 3 snow emergency leaving us prisoners inside the house - for two days. Day 1 wasn't too bad. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and playing in the basement and decorating our little Mardi Gras tree. Day 2 was a little rougher. I was trying to do work, the boys were crazy wound up and by 3pm, everyone was in need of getting out of the house, but the roads were still very bad, so early bed times ensued. For everyone. 

An Elkhound's Natural Environment

Snow? Cold? I don't know what you are talking about. It's an Elkhound paradise! She even played the inside-outside-inside game in the -45° wind chill. 

Snow Jump

4 boys + 1 girl + 4 foot snow pile = jumping 

Nick even rang out his official jumping tarzan call, "Caaaannnooonnn baaaallllll!'

Before The Cold

After sledding, we came home and played on the cul de sac for another 3 hours. We left the house at 9:30 and went inside around 1:30. The kids had dug out a tunnel in the circle, but it was short lived. As soon as the plow came around, it was obliterated. Just gave the kids another chance to dig a better one, right?

Sledding Time!

Sunday, while the snow was falling and before the cold (it was a steamy 30°, which really did feel warm), we headed over to the park for some sledding. Cameryn and Avery were already there so the kids all got to go sledding together. Ben and Cameryn LOVED it!!! They rolled down the hill together, raced down the hill, rode down together, made snow angels and threw snowballs. Nick, the official crazy maniac of the bunch, had so much fun, when we got in the car to leave, his first words were, 'That was fun. Let's do it again'. I see a lot of Cedar Point adventures in his future.