What a cool way to end the year. The kids and I enjoyed the very warm weather by going for a run at our elementary school’s track and played on the playground. Jordan showed off how she plays during recess. She’s quite the daredevil. She also told me that when she falls down, she says something silly so no one will run up to her and check to see if she’s okay. I thought that was interesting.

As we head into 2012, Jordan put together a quick end of the year message for you! Thanks again to each and every one of your for being awesome!

Here are the blog hop rules:

I have a few traditions… I started them back when I had one child who was tiny and I wanted to get pictures of him for a family calendar. Now I have two kids, a popular and highly anticipated family calendar and an inner desire to have awesome pictures for it.

So last week I realized our Fall leaves are as good as it’s going to get… the crazy calendar-minded me wanted to the get the kids out into the leaves. I ran my furthest run ever on Sunday… 11 miles. While I ran I noticed so many beautiful leaves. I suddenly had visions of great photography moments. My plans to take pictures of the kids powered me through the run. (I’m less than two weeks away from my first half marathon.)

Later that day, my brother got into town for the week and I dragged him and the kids out into the leaves along our town’s nature/fitness trail. Unfortunately, the kids weren’t that interested in getting the pictures taken. I’m guessing it’s because I place WAY too much importance on pictures for that calendar. Here’s what I was able to take:

I had to pull out the camera yesterday… It was warm and breezy and the flowers are out on the trees and the kids were getting along. Jordan’s arm is getting a rash, but that didn’t stop her from climbing our favorite climbing tree and having fun outside. Enjoy the pictures!

Just when we thought Jordan’s was healthy, she continues to have tummy troubles. Last week, she spiked a horrible fever mixed with having a hard time keeping medicine down. It was super sad. She came around last weekend a little, but had another fallback and missed school on Monday. It was ANOTHER missed day of school. I knew she wasn’t going to make it in on Tuesday and Wednesday because we had a blizzard move through.

Luckily, her health was really coming back around just in time for the next round of snow storms. This time mother nature took it up a notch… A blizzard that dumped 17.5 inches on our town in 19 hours. I was working non-stop from home while the kids played. They didn’t get to go outside until the next day.

Jordan was amazed! It was super deep everywhere she went. I had to go to work, so I didn’t get to capture her entire time out in the snow… But I know she thought it was awesome. The only thing she wished was snow that was really good at snowballs. (Our inches and inches of snow were pretty dry.)

The good news? Miss Jordan is getting back to eating normally again. We’re still taking it easy. I’m really looking forward to her tummy getting back to normal permanently! Not to mention, she needs to eat constantly for a month to get back to her normal weight!

It snowed last night and that means two very happy kids in our household. I woke up with a little girl begging to get her boots on and head out into the snow. So that’s just what both kids did. Jordan and her brother jumped in and ran around in the cold snow and didn’t mind the brisk wind that makes it pretty uncomfortable out there.

Best moment today: Both kids jumped in and enjoyed creating a bunch of snow angels. Giggles, laughter and little arm angels. I love it.

Jordan and I had a chance to go to a picnic with a whole bunch of limb different kids and their families this weekend. It was a lot like the impromptu gathering we had last year except this time it was a little further away from our house and we had even more families! It is SO awesome to meet and play with new kids and families.

Jordan got to spend time with a few friends who we talk about often, but don’t often enough. This picture is Jordan with a little friend who Jordan was thrilled to see and get her to giggle. She even shared her doll with her for a little while. It’s kind of funny, but Jordan is almost one of the older kids in the limb different crowd… Or at least she’s the oldest of the little kids!

The best part of our day beyond just the opportunity for all of us to spend time together was flying kites. One of the dads brought a TON of kites so the kids could enjoy the wind and a lot of space. It was so great to see each and every kid fly a kite – hands, no hand, legs, no legs… It didn’t matter. We were an awesome bunch.

Most of our group came together through two different groups: Sammy’s Friends and I-CAN (International Child Amputee Network). We’re so lucky to be connected this way… Without our wonderful kids we’d never have met!

There’s something so remarkable about Spring. It’s a chance to just be who you are. The outdoors do that for all of us if you let it. What’s awesome about the outdoors and Jordan is she is attracted it to during all seasons. She’s happy to wander around in whatever the conditions. (Wet, snowy, windy) But give us a breezy warm spring day… and she’s at peace.

Jordan spent a ton of time outside today… and most days lately when we’re home. Both kids spent a ton of time out there. It just makes me happy. Spending time outside seems to calm me… and it feels good when my kids are out there without complaints because it’s just that wonderful out.

Carefree. Happy. Peaceful. I love it.

The weather was sunny and warm-ish enough on the day Randy and I returned home from our vacation to watch the kids rude their bikes outside. Jordan had to wear the new tutu her grandma bought her while riding. She was having so much fun!

It’s refreshing to have a child who is happy to just go outside. Last night she spent 45 minutes or so playing out in the slightly muddy backyard. She spent time on the backyard treehouse and swings. She returned covered in extra dirt in her pretty pink dress… But I won’t complain. I appreciate a girl who is willing to dress pretty and get messy.
By the way – that hat is a dinosaur she decorated at school. Very cute.

I’m pretty proud… After school Jordan went straight to the swing set in the backyard… She’s fallen in love with it again recently. While I was away in China, Jordan upgraded from a baby swing to a big girl swing. She’s figuring out how to pump her legs and swing all by herself. Of course, I’m proud. I was rushing around the house cooking and getting ready to go to the gym, so I didn’t take really good pictures of her successful swinging. But either way, I’m proud.