The Keene Family

I do this workout once or twice a week and it is really hard. It's a combination of P90X and Insanity and Biggest Loser and anything else that Shira Jones comes up with. I have been going since JT was four months old, and I can honestly say that I am stronger than I've been since high school. I feel good and I can't believe what we do every week. When I count the total number of lunges, pushups, mountain climbers, whatever, I about die. Recently, Shira came up with this little saying. It's pretty much a major motivation to keep working out, doing my best, and staying healthy so I can do fun things for a long time to come. I'd love to take a picture of the group at workout (Jim comes too, when he's not at work) but I don't think they'd appreciate a sweaty picture posted for the world to see. We all show up a little scrubby, let the kids run wild, and get ready to work. This group of women have also become some of my dearest friends, and my children...

The Bouncy House place near our house closed its doors today, so we went on Friday for one last bounce. We haven't been in at least six months (maybe that's why they're closing...) so Haley had a totally different experience. That is code for "crazy woman." She went through the obstacle course and down the slide maybe six or seven times and went in and out of the other structures a bunch. She loved it! We managed to climb to the top of the big monster slide together and she went down that too... all. by. herself. I told her to wait for me and she shook her head no. So I said, "Do you want to go down all by yourself?" and she nodded so seriously I almost laughed. I said, "Okay, go for it." And off she went, smiling and squealing. One time she went over the edge of the small slide while I was still climbing up. I said, "Haley, wait, let's go together for once!" and she waved, yelled "Bye!" and slid down without me. Our fri...

This is an assortment of little things that have been going on lately. Starting with JT's new obsession, Trio blocks. This set came as a hand-me-down from our friends Eli and Sadie, and it has gotten a lot of use lately. There are directions to build all sorts of vehicles (you can imagine why JT loves it) and free building is encouraged as well. These little pieces end up all over the place . JT and Haley had their winter checkups at the dentist. Both got good reports. Haley has four front teeth, two molars, and another two top teeth coming in quickly. She wouldn't let the dentist come anywhere close to touching her mouth. JT opened wide and got several compliments on his great job for the whole appointment. Here they are with their treat bags afterwards. Haley has started sleeping with her pillow and blanket. Here she is getting snuggled in before nap. Haley's favorite way to spend a meal is in her daddy's lap. She mooches all sorts of food off him w...

Maybe you've heard the term already, but we've been in Snowpocalypse 2012. (Don't know what that means? Check UrbanDictionary , of course.) I've been posting about the snow but I'm not sure you out-of-towners really know what we Puget Sounders have been going through the last few days. (Melodramatic on purpose. Promise.) I started on Saturday night with some ice. And a couple of accidents and maybe a road closure or two. Then some lovely snow on Sunday. I took this picture from the car as we parked to go into church. Pretty, right? So we played and enjoyed and had a grand time Sunday... and Monday... how did I miss posting this beautiful picture of Haley? Then we had to cancel the biggest event of my year for work because of the weather forecast. Slight bummer. Major logistical nightmare to reschedule. Tuesday, no school. No big deal, we've got stuff we can do. Like school work... JT is doing a great job on his addition and got to use M&Ms a...

JT's goal for today was to build a snowman. The weather warmed a little and last night's snowfall cooperated, leaving us with perfect snowman snow. Before lunch we walked to the park and came home to build our snowman. I looked over and JT was tearing branches off our Japanese maple tree for arms. Whatever. Mmmmm, snow bites. Adding the arms Ta da! Haley had pointed out that it was lunchtime half way into the head of the snowman. She was not impressed with waiting a few more minutes. All better. :)

We've had a little snow the past few days. It really, really snowed while we were in church and JT was hoping we could build a snowman when we got home. There wasn't as much snow at our house so we weren't sure it would be enough. After nap, we went outside (in the dark) and tried but the snow at our house wasn't nearly sticky enough. It just fell apart! JT staying in good spirits anyway and Haley had a great time walking, falling, and shuffling around in the snow. She stayed 100% dry in her REI snowsuit I scored at a consignment shop last month. This is all the snow we could fit together. It is about six inches tall. :( In the morning, the snow had stayed so we spent some time in the front yard while the car warmed up for our shopping trip. Haley learned that it is important to wear mittens if you're going to touch the snow. She was not happy about figuring out this life lesson. She took off down the block and I had to send JT to f...