Troop

Troop came back from Utah a toddler.

No longer is my little guy a baby.

I am not too sure how I feel about this!

I have been finding it so comical the difference between Troop and Zanna at this age.

Zanna was mischievous and into everything, as is Troop... but he is just different about the way he gets into everything.

Nothing is... mmm... graceful.

He has such force with everything he does.

He is so funny to watch.

He is always making car sounds.

Always throwing his body into the couch, the love sack, Zanna, me, his daddy.

He loves to wrestle and run. He was so excited to join in and wrestle all six of the boys we had over for joy school.

He loves to lay on the ground with a toy car and watch the wheels go round and round.

He loves books and I will often find him in his room with twenty books surrounding him.

He jumps off any ledge he is on.

He is a tantrum thrower and has NO patience.

If he is ornery and sees his reflection in the oven or in a mirror, he gets ticked off and starts hitting and yelling at his reflection (which I can't help but giggle at him.... but also hope he doesn't have some anger management issues... ha ha)

He is a total tease to his big sister and I feel like he will hit her or pull her hair so he can make up with her. He gets so excited to say sorry, give her a hug, and LOVES to kiss her. It is really cute.

He is like a little tornado around my craft things. He sees my neat little piles of felt I am cutting, sticks his hands in them and shakes them as fast as he can. Ahhh. Such a mess!

He loves meat like his daddy and doesn't like much else. Picky Picky!

His favorite word is NO and he says it to everything. I can't wait until he figures out what the word YES means.

He has a pretty amazing little scowel.

He is not gentle at all with the lizard. I know he is only 19 months but Zanna at that age was incredibly gentle with animals.

OH my Troop, how I love you and your crazy ways!! You are so totally all BOY!!!

Mmmmm he is a handsome little stink!

It is a good thing he loves to snuggle and loves giving me kisses, over and over and over again. I could kiss and squeeze him all day long!

Iditarod

We went to the opening ceremonies of the Iditarod with some friends today. It was so cool. I have been so excited to go watch the Mushers and their dogs!

For those of you who don't know what the iditarod is, here is a quick break down:

The Iditarod is an annual dog sled race that takes place between Anchorage, Alaska and Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod isn't just any race; it's a race that pairs humans, or mushers, with their sled dogs as they make their way across well over 1100 miles of some of the roughest, coldest wilderness in North America. The race started in 1973 with a winning purse of $25,000.

All the finishers split the prize money, with the first place prize claiming $72,066 in 2005

This is one intense race, lasting around ten days!

Check out this dudes mittens. I bet those puppies are super warm! I think they are beaver mittens.

The kiddos hanging out in the chariot. I am so glad the sun was out! It was still really cold, but the sun was shining which always feels much better.

Jathan and his Beaver hat he got at a rendezvous. That is one warm hat!!

Scott & Chablis

Their darling daughter, Lydia.

Kent & Robyn

The Ladies: Brooke, Chablis, Robyn and Me

The kiss face

Look at these dogs. They all look so cute with their tongues hanging out.

It was so funny, we were right by a hot dog stand (giving away free hot dogs, hot chocolate, chips, cider and other yummy FREE food) and suddenly all of the dogs from one of the sleds go running off the trail, up toward the hot dog stand! I guess the scent had them salivating and they just wanted a little snack!

This chick was wearing a really cool Wolf hat. There were so many cool fur hat's, muck lucks, mittens, parkas and other warm furry things.

Zanna, after some hot chocolate and a hot dog. She was so messy! It is hard eating with mittens. Cute little girl!

As the mushers went by, all the kids would hold out their hands and give the mushers hi five. Here is Jathan holding little Troops hand out for a hi five!

And Troop after some hot chocolate. So MESSY & SO CUTE!

The best photo ever. I think Zanna is eating her hot dog... but I am not sure what face she is pulling! Ha ha ha! I am just glad I captured it!

We had such a fun time. By the end the kids were whining and cold and ready to go home, but they loved it and so did we. Thank you Alaska. Thank you Iditarod! And good luck all you hard core mushers!!