Sydney's Haircut

We just got Sydney's haircut a week or so ago. Here are some before and after pictures:

Before:





After:





And here's just another goofy picture of our kids.

Skiing at Loveland

A few weeks ago when my parents were in town, Melissa and I took the opportunity to go skiing at Loveland with Sydney. It wasn't the best day to go because the wind was terrible and since it was a Saturday, so was the traffic. Once we got there Sydney was geared up to go. Here is a picture of her by the ski boot rack.



We got all geared up after a small incident getting skis (she wanted the red ones, not the blue ones) and headed outside. Here is a shot of her and I psyched to go skiing!



Of course those of you with kids (or those who know Sydney) are waiting for the twist and here it comes. She refused to go up the lift! We were a little stumped at what to do at that point since it's not much fun to ski without getting a little altitude (sorry cross country people but it's true). So I basically shuffled up the hill pushing her to gain some height. Then I'd ski backwards with her in front of me. It didn't take much of this before we were all ready to go in for lunch. Here is a picture of Sydney and I taking a break. Note the wind blown snow in the background.



Then during lunch Sydney mentioned that she wanted to take a lesson. We think she overheard Melissa telling me that one of her friends had a lesson and loved it. So I signed her up for $45 for a 2.5hr lesson. Of course then she completely threw a fit and would not go to the lesson. I basically dragged her over there and stayed with her while everyone (instructors included) tried to get her interested. Finally they brought out a stuffed penguin to help with the lesson and off she went. Melissa and I did a little skiing by ourselves and came back to find out she had a private lesson the whole time. Either there weren't that many kids or she was just annoying enough that they stuck one instructor on her. EIther way she learned quite a bit and last week when I took her we rode the lifts and had a great time.

One last picture of Melissa at the top of the Loveland Basin.

Random Pictures

Sadly many of these pictures are from before Christmas. I'll just try to get caught up in a single post.


This picture was from the Potter's party before Christmas. The Westminster fire department will come to your house with Santa in tow. Sydney was still scared of him this year and wouldn't sit on his lap.


Bryce apparently takes after his sister in his attitude towards Santa.


This is about as close as Sydney got to Santa just as he was leaving.


Sydney dressed up as an angel for the church Christmas program. She almost looks convincing in this picture but Melissa and I know the truth!


This is Sydney's preschool class giving their teacher Miss Beth her Christmas present. I guess she was a little excited as those preschool / kindergarden teachers tend to get.


This is a pictures of our bible study group as we celebrated Ryan and Dawn and wished them well in their move to Florida.


If only there were audio for this picture! I'm sure you can imagine the auditory damage with two 4 year olds and 2 one year olds working their magic.


Bryce apparently doesn't seem to mind what Kozmo does with his tongue in his spare time.


Bryce and Kozmo just chillin on the couch. Kozmo doesn't care how much Bryce crawls around him as long as he gets a little belly scratch in the process.


We have an air popper that we're using a lot because the kids like to watch. Microwave popcorn is easy but there is something a little nostalgic about the old air popper. Plus you can put as much butter on it as you want and somehow it doesn't seem as bad as putting a little extra butter on microwave popcorn.

Melissa cooking for the dogs?

Melissa cooking for the dogs
Originally uploaded by jason_m_thomas

We were recently babysitting our friend's two labs and I took this picture of Melissa cooking supper that night. She had quite the audience!

Desktop Tower Defense

So, why has it been so long since I've posted? Three words: Desktop Tower Defense. A coworker told me about this flash game and I have wasted numerous hours on it. Grrr, Hard mode! You are the bane of my existance!

Thanksgiving with the Thomas'

Here is a montage from Thanksgiving with the Thomas'.


The Thomas family faithfully watching the Thanksgiving day Packer game ... which they won against the Lions.


Post Thanksgiving celebration at the Nice cabin near the Wisconsin River. We mostly just basked in the glow of the Packer's win against the Lions.


Sydney with her Oma (German for Grandma).


Sydney with her Opa (German for Grandpa).


Sydney and Oma playing Twister. I think Sydney won.


Zoey wanted in on the Twister action. This is her resting between games.


The Thomas boys chillin out on the floor after some serious present unwrapping.


Sydney really liked Quincy although I'm not sure he returned the favor. She was dressed up in a little Kimono that Oma got for her.


Christmas with the Ortners, a Thomas Ortner tradition going back for over 2 decades.


Bryce was pumped with Vic treated him to some horsey rides on his leg. Of course then Sydney wanted to try and the rides got progressively shorter until I was roped into service.

Thanksgiving with Grandma Jayne

Here is a montage from Thanksgiving with Grandma Jayne in Saint James.


Sydney in one of Melissa's old clown costumes. Very appropriate for her.


Jayne was wheeling Sydney and Bryce around in Adeline's walker. They loved it!


Bryce with his great grandma Adeline.


Bryce got a haircut from Sarah while we were there. He was very still but I think it was due to fear more than anything else.


Sydney and Bryce both liked watching for the Saint James trains.


Bryce loved the tractors and construction equipment across from Jayne's house. Finally Jayne and I took him over there so he could see everything up close. He was especially into sitting on the tractors.


Bryce and Sydney with their great grandma Adeline. I guess we must have told Bryce a funny joke before taking this picture. Or perhaps someone farted. He thinks that is hilarious! Ahh, it's nice having another guy around the house.


4 generations of women.


Sydney and Bryce playing in her sleeping bag. They're just ALWAYS so sweet to each other ... yeah right!

Steph LOVES Dogs!

When we were back in Saint James for Thanksgiving, Ryan and Steph came over to visit. Our dogs seemed to know how much Steph loves animals and took it upon themselves to play with her. Hilarity ensued and here is a little photo montage of the event.


Zoey initially tried to bother Ryan but discovered he didn't give as good a reaction as Steph.


Here Melissa is trying to tell Zoey the plan of attack. Notice Steph cowering in the background.


Steph was being a good sport but Zoey was looking for an opening in her defense. You can spot her in the lower right looking to pounce.


Just like on the plains of the Serengeti, a stare down ensued. Zoey prepared her final assault.


This is the aftermath of the attack. Zoey got a tongue right in Steph's ear.


Not to be outdone, Kozmo jumped in to play.


Like a mother bear protecting her cubs, Steph kept Kozmo at bay with Dylan in her lap.


We finally managed to get the dogs out of the picture and got a nice family photo of the Reids.

Always a fun moment when Steph "the animal lover" gets together with our dogs.

Thanksgiving 2007

I just posted 45 pictures from Thanksgiving. I'll write more later but it's 11:30 and I'm done for tonight. Click here for the slideshow.

Bryce and Sydney at Krispy Kreme

I've finally sat down to upload some photos and found some fun ones from before Thanksgiving that I wanted to post. Here is Bryce and Sydney at Krispy Kreme where they enjoyed watching the donuts being made. They also enjoyed eating them although usually that just consists of them chewing off the sprinkles and leaving the rest for me to eat. Oh well, that's what Dads are for!