Jason's Birthday

Jason's birthday was a lot of fun this year - mainly because the boys were way into it and planned the whole thing.  They planned, shopped for, and helped make the breakfast.  They know dad likes waffles with strawberries, ice cream, and cream.

 

We have never done birthday presents for mom and dad from the kids and I hadn't planned on starting - but one day while we were waisting some time at Target Noah saw this Lego Halo set and KNEW dad would LOVE it.  I agreed but told him not now and thought he would forget.  He did not.  For two weeks he asked and asked, so worried that dad would be sad on his birthday if he did not get that present.  So we went back and let him get it. 

 

It took them a good two hours to put it together - but Jason did love it (and I think the boys are happy about it too :)

More January

I think these are the last of our random January/February pictures - at least for now.  Brock has really started taking a lot of pictures (mostly with out me knowing) and then when I go to upload my pictures I find them.  They show a good "reality" of our home.  So I will probably include more of them.

 

For example:  Me and Megan making dinner.

This boy Noah has a thirst for knowledge I can not quench.  He can read things that I would not have thought he could read.  I have no idea how smart he is because I have not really pushed him to see what he can or can not do.  This book he is reading is a first grade level book.  I thought for sure he couldn't read it, but Jason sat down with him - it took about 20 minutes - but he read every single word in that book.  I can't believe he still has almost 2 years to kindergarten!! I don't know what I am going to do with him.

More snow playing.

  

 

My grandma restocked our art supply for Christmas and we have been painting up a storm.  The kids insist I hang every piece up.

 

I finally got my Christmas presents in the mail.  Beautiful canvas' from my lifestyle session from 2  years ago.  I. Love. Them.  I just look at them all day and smile.

 

Brock has been working hard to peal an orange in one peal.  He finally got it!

 

We have been building monster forts that take up two levels or our house.  It always turns into a Baxton hunt (from the new Whinnie the Pooh movie).

 

Breakfast with the girls.

  

Valentine

I think I am a little bit Jehovah's Witness (a religion that doesn't believe in celebrating ANY holiday's or special events).  It turns out I have been ignoring most holiday's with my children, I never meant too, I had always PLANNED on doing fun activities, decorations, and crafts to celebrate and prepare for upcoming holidays; but in the last few years I have woken up on Valentines or St. Patrick's day and realized my kids had no idea it was a holiday.  At that point I have a decision to make: make a half @*$#! attempt (pardon my french) at the holiday, OR since my kids don't go to preschool, pretend it never existed and go ahead with our lives as usual.  Holidays take panning, work, and effort, things I HAVE, just don't want to use for holidays.  So the latter is always picked.

 

Well our past is... past.  Now that Brock is in Kindergarten all holidays must be celebrated and recognized and all the children want in of the fun.  Valentines in our house was HIGHLY anticipated this year.  They counted down everyday and on the 13th Noah woke up at 5:45, ran into our room and said, "mom, dad, tomorrow is Valentines" - I muttered to Jason, "I am in trouble tomorrow, I have no idea what they are expecting to happen, but I have a feeling they are going to be terribly disappointed."

 

Anyways, we had a good day.  We went to my mom's for a Valentines party with the grandchildren, gave out valentines to each other, made some valentines(glitter and all) for people, and frosted sugar cookies.  They are already counting down to St. Patrick's day.

 

Oh my, my, she just eats the frosting as fast as she can get it in her mouth.  She is like a crazed woman around this stuff, it was all I could do to keep her from drinking the sprinkles.

 

Noah's

 

Brock's

 

And Megan ate her's as fast as she made them.

 

Snow Maze

We made a snow maze in our backyard.  Totally worth it.  No matter how cold it was they always would run a few laps around it everytime I opened the back door.

Noah made himself a "king seat" and get all wet sitting in it - but he didn't care.

  

Megan ready to come inside.

 

 

 

January

Oh... January and February - hard months aren't they?  I have wondered if I lived in a place that had nice weather year round if I would still have some "hard months".  January hasn't been particularly hard just long, cold, boring, and...well, sick.  Probably the same as most of you.  Since Christmas we have probably been on five activities (Discovery Gateway, Chuck E Cheese, my mom's twice, my in-laws once) the rest we have just been playing with toys and doing a whole lot of nothing.  When I am desperate to get out of the house we go to Walmart, Target, Arctic Circle (can you say, courtesy cones?), and when I am out of money and our jammies are still on we run to the church to play some soccer.

 

We have showered or bathed sparingly and often go days and days with out getting dressed (minus Brock - he is the productive hygienic one who goes to kindergarten).  Below is our documentation of our month.

 

Well, here is our exception - church.  Maddie looked particularly cute one such Sunday - so I grabbed a few pictures.

 

I want to say a little something about the below pictures.  Almost all of them are taken by Brock or Noah.  They have really gotten into taking pictures.  When I uploaded them I realized that they captured our day to day pretty good - messy, yucky, but a lot of fun.  So this was our REAL January.

 

We play with blocks a lot - all these pictures are from different days - and taken by the child who made the tower - this one happens to be Brock's.

Yes... I allow my kids to be on the counter.  Brock took this picture as well.  I am about to serve up dinner I think it was spaghetti and meatballs with ceaser salad.

Noah's tower.

 

Weird that I am texting - I am the worst texter-backer - sorry.

  

Madison loves to play picnic.

  

Brock's city.

 

Singing songs with dad - I took this one.

 

She is basically the star of our house - what 18 month old isn't?

ah - she kills me she is so cute!

 

 

 

These two are like peas in a pod while Brock is at school.  In the fall they just fought - but now they just love each other and play together so well.

 

And a lot of napping and sleeping - especially with how sick we have been - nothing serious - thank goodness.

 

That is all for now - there will actually be one more post just like this - I have the last week of January still on my camera - but posting those would require me to go downstairs and get my camera - so you will just have to wait.