Wednesday

Nothing real major today. This morning Eli and I were working on our 'selfies' and we managed to capture a real moment. I did not know that Eli (who has a very talented tounge, as many of you know,) could curl his tounge! Neither Timothy nor myself can and it is genetic! My mom can... Maybe it skips a generation? Anyway...

After school and piano lessons tonight, Kaylee was being a very nice sister helping Eli get his boots off (which he claims he can't do himself) and she fell backwards, scraping her back on the show rack we have. OUCH!! She is being very brave about the whole thing and is showing anyone who will look her owie. 

It’s Deceiving…

The weather today feels remarkably like spring. I know in my heart of hearts that it will not last long, but the blue sky and sunshine made today wonderful. The kids were dying to play outside  after dinner and with the extra hour of light, I sent them out to run and jump and play. I can’t get over how warm it is at 6:30pm. And light. I love spring. I love all the seasons. Mostly I love that we have distinct seasons and we get to enjoy and watch them change. But really, after the freezing cold winter we’ve had, I’m super excited for some warmer weather. Anyway, while I folded laundry and the kids frolicked, I could hear them laughing and calling each other so I ran outside quickly to take some pictures of them enjoying each other’s company. I really hope that they always enjoy being together. I love to watch them play and see the crazy things they come up with and the way the treat each other (most of the time). They really are so wonderful. Kids are just amazing, you know? I have much to learn from them.

The Chef

Emma is 8 1/2. She is growing up so fast. This morning she was practicing piano and her song was challenging to her so she asked me for help. I struggled to help her! She has nearly surpassed me! She is a reading demon, she has really taken off and can be found curled up in the living room with a book (the Goofballs mysteries and Heidi Hecklebeck series are currently her favs). This morning Timothy decided it was time for her to make some pancakes. She often helps me in the kitchen but being that I am an overprotective worry wort, I don't usually let her work at the stove. Today she read the instructions, mixed up the batter, poured it into the pan and flipped them all by herself. So proud of her! Thanks for breakfast Emma!!

Winter Wonderland

Sometimes I wonder when and if winter will ever end. This year winter has just been so long and cold. After our really bitter cold weekend and 6 inch snowfall, things finally started warming up. Monday was nice, Tuesday was beautiful. Tuesday evening we have no lessons, classes or practices. No scouts and typically no Church related activities. After we ate dinner, we rushed across the street to the school park to build some snowmen. We were racing the light but it was quite pleasant and we had fun. The snow was a little hard to get started but once you got it going, it picked up size FAST. Timothy and I had to team lift the bodies up and even that was a challenge. We had a great time and made it home before it got really dark, contrary to the pictures.

Eli made the head for the second snowman there. He is sitting on the head that we originally made, but he was so excited about his ‘little head’, we just had to leave it.

Emma wanted to roll this snowball all the way to the school to show her friends. We got it half way there before it was too heavy to move. (Well, too heavy for the two of us, Daddy probably could’ve done it.)

Unfortunately, when we walked to school this morning, our snowmen had been destroyed. It’s a cruel, cruel world out there!

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

We've had a very cold winter. Record setting in December, January and February! Today, March 1, current conditions, -16F (-27C), actual temperature. Feels like -37F (-38C)!!! I can't say how many days we've had like this this year either. It's been a lot. However, that does not stop the kids! They bundled up and went sledding. Down the driveway. Maybe not the safest activity, but Daddy was extremely watchful. 

Birthday boy

Happy birthday to a wonderful man, amazing father, and, most importantly, fantastic husband! I love you baby!!

Eli is 4!!!!!

I cannot believe it. I am really, really struggling with this one. I mean, I know he should be four. He is as big, if not bigger, than most of the kids in kindergarten. He likes big boy things. He’s starting to be able to understand reason. (I’m really grateful for that one!) But I don’t like it. He’s too big for me to carry around anymore. It looks ridiculous when I try to rock him in his rocking chair. He is still my cuddly boy (sometimes) and is very sweet. He loves to play. He will play anything. His favorite right now is transformers. He loves anything that transforms. He has all of the rescue bots and a couple of dinosaurs that transform into race cars. He is in heaven. But he will play house or school or church or whatever the girls are playing if they are home. He loves, loves, loves to go to the library and bring a stack of books home and he will sit on my lap for hours (okay, that might be a stretch. An hour.) while I read the stories over and over.

This year, I asked him what kind of a cake he wanted. Last year, we did a whole party for him. We had 8 3 year olds for two hours. That was crazy. Never do that. This year, we did families just for cake. Anyway, he wanted a spiderman cake. I took him on pinterest and let him choose one (within reason). We had a great time and I think he was happy.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! I love you!!

Christmas Morning

I didn’t get very many pictures on Christmas. In fact, once the kids came downstairs, the only pictures I got were the kids opening the gifts from each other. We must have been far too busy. Or the camera died. I can’t remember. We did awesome this year though. Each of our kids had one or two things they really wanted. Each of those items was about $20. We were able to fulfill all Christmas wishes! Best. Parents. Ever. I realize that that will *probably* never happen again.

 

Christmas Piano Recital

The girls both played in a recital before Christmas. It was Kaylee’s first recital and they both rocked it! I am so proud of them for their hard work. They practice and practice and I think they are learning that they can do hard things. Well done girls!

Christmas Break

We were able to go to ‘the Meadows’ (Mom and Dad’s) for a few days before Christmas. We met up with cousins and played and played and played.

I made the girls skirts this year and Eli and matching tie. I’m pretty proud of how it all turned out. (Don’t tell the kids but the fabric is really the curtains that hung in the master bedroom when we bought this house. I’ve been saving them because I thought they would make a really beautiful skirt or dress. Next, I’m going to travel around and teach children to sing. Just call me Maria.) I don’t think Emma was sold on these ‘Christmas dresses’. I’m pretty sure she thinks if it’s not red with white furry cuffs and trim around the bottom, it’s not really a Christmas dress. Poor girl. Maybe someday I’ll get her a ‘real’ Christmas dress!

We had lots of fun pulling each other around on the sled behind the four-wheeler. The kids all drove and actually did quite a good job. They love driving!

Timothy busied himself building a little bit of a snow cave (he claims the kids asked him to do it…). I don’t have any pictures of T working in there but I do have one of Dad taking over so he could have a break.

All in all, a great start to our Christmas vacation!

Christmas Programs

So, Timothy had to go out of town the day that the girls had their Christmas programs at school, which was a bummer because they are so cute. However, Eli and I went and loved them. Well, I loved them. Eli was a handful. I tried to film the girls but had him climbing on me and talking and mashing marshmallows into the gym floor (sorry about that, school…). Anyway, here’s what I got. Watch with extreme caution, Kaylee’s is very shaky because Eli was fighting me for the camera and it kept going in and out of focus every time a guy three rows in front of us moved his head. Awesome.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

We had one day in December that had snow but was warm. Like, warm. It was so nice to play in. We went sledding and built a family of snowmen and had an awesome snowball fight. Sadly, our snow people probably didn’t last too long because it was so warm. But what a lovely day to play as a family.

Kaylee’s First Basketball Game

Last week, Kaylee had her first ever basketball practice. She loved it! After two practices, it was time to test the girl’s skills with a game. It was the greatest thing. So adorable and fun. I loved it. I’m sure by the end of their ‘season’ there will be much improvement. Emma managed to get a few minutes of Kaylee on the court. I apologize for the footage, it was on my phone and is very shaky and often you’re looking at feet. Also, the sound isn’t great and what you can hear is mostly me yelling and laughing. It’s hard to tell who is who but Kaylee is the in a pink shirt and dark knee length shorts. Hopefully that helps!

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

This year the kids did the tree pretty much all by themselves. I helped get hooks on and Timothy gave assistance to get the angle on top, but the kids picked placement and did a great job. Our tree was beautiful!