February Wrap Up

I'm going to assume I'm not going to break any records and this will be the last of the pictures I post from February!

 Valentine's Day celebrations finally came to an end after Taylor's class party last Tuesday!

 I'm glad they decided to still celebrate though.

 The classic school "happy" face.

 And another unusual happy reaction when her daddy made an appearance!

 They did a little Valentine's shopping with some money that arrived in cards!

The weather finally warmed up a little and Taylor took Aaron for a walk one day.

 Chase celebrated the 100th day of school last week.  It was actually the same day I was scheduled to go in as "parent reader" so I took the kids a special "100th Day" snack.  It was cookies/crackers in the shapes of "1"s and "0"s....which is great, except for the kids came from an assembly with the DENTIST right before I got there so they were all afraid to eat it because the dentist said "no sugar"!!! Oh well. 

 It was also "Crazy Sock Day" - it is way harder to find crazy socks for boys than girls!

 My favorite "100th Day" activity.  He wrote: "I lost my hair.  I like the wrinkles. I am going to be fat."  Love it.

 There was also a storm on the same day. Of course the basketball hoop would fall on the truck and not even scratch it.  Had my van been there it would have knocked the windows out for sure.

 This past weekend was full of birthdays.  First up was Angel's 5th Birthday.

 The girls enjoying the trampoline.

 And some "pin the tail on the donkey" - Taylor is not usually a game participant so this must have caught her attention!

 Next up was Bryce's 5th Birthday!

 It was a basketball party and Taylor insisted on dressing appropriately!  She wouldn't let me take a picture though! 

 Another shot at a pinata.

 Knocked it down.  Oops.

 Back at home after the parties and the weather was perfect!!

 I could go with sunny and 70 year-round.  

Unfortunately, this day is now a memory and it is cold again.

Another classic from kindergarten: The Abraham Lincoln - George Washington reversible puppet.

Snowmen & Valentines

 As I write this, the temperature is on its way up to the high 50s...supposedly.  Hopefully this will be the last of the snowmen pictures.  I actually enjoy the snow, I would just rather it be 70 outside instead of 30.  

 This particular snow day was rather warm for playing outside.  Dave is already counting down the days until we get an extra hour of daylight...19, I think?!

 Taylor has yet to try sledding, just not going to happen.

Chase has tried it and is not always successful.

This is actually the day before the warm snow day above.  It was cold but it was also perfect snoman-snow.  I MADE the kids get dressed and go outside with me.  So mean, but I would have looked ridiculous out there by myself.

 If you can believe it, they actually had fun!

 Even Taylor - shocking, I know.

 The snow was so good for rolling up though that we got a little carried away and I about strained my brain trying to pick up the balls to make the snowman.

 It was clearly exhausting. 

 Snowman success...for the moment.

By the time we got inside, this was the scene out the window.  Taylor's snowgirl had clearly had enough of Chase's snowboy and knocked him down!

 This is snowgirl this morning.  Still standing but looking a little worse for the wear!  

 Valentine's Day was fun too.  I did my own shopping.  A bag of cheap chocolate always does the trick.

 We put a little effort in to making breakfast but then we got the call for Krispy Kreme and just took a picture and ran!  Never turn down hot donuts!

 Valentine's afternoon led to a little more excitement.  Taylor wanted hear earrings to match her outfit.  No problem until....

 You realize they are more attached to her hair instead of her ears.  She came to me for help but apparently AFTER she had tried to cut it out herself.  She was successful because this clump of hair fell in my lap!

 You really don't notice it unless you try to but it was a lesson well learned! 

Later that night, Taylor got to go on a Valentine's date with her daddy.  

(I know, right, what has happened here?!?!)

No worries, I found my own handsome date and we had quite the night.  We both love some bbq and mac & cheese and then finished it off with Target, Bass Pro Shop and dessert!

Chase also got to celebrate at school yesterday and brought home a bag of goodies.  I'm off to Taylor's school shortly for her party!  And if all goes well, we'll be playing OUTSIDE this afternoon!!!

Snow Day

A Fantastic Friday

The obvious problem, of course, was that yesterday was not Friday.  But it sure felt like Friday.  So much so that I even told someone at Chase's school to "have a good weekend" as we were leaving.  By all accounts and purposes, it pretty much was a Friday.  The snow was coming and it would be enough to end the school week for sure.

 Whatever day it was, it was a good one.  I went to Chase's school to do a garden lesson with his class and as soon as I walked in the room he said, "I'm on 6 right now."  Six is the top of the behavior chart.  This was the first time he had reached it and the first time for anyone in his class.  I never thought 6 was actually reachable but he got a long-term substitute a couple of weeks ago and the numbers seem to be a little easier to reach now!  Like prior to her arrival he had two "5s" all year and now he's had three of them in the last two weeks.  Either way, it's good.  He is super-competitive with the whole behavior chart so this was huge to him.  We had to celebrate with Menchies....

 and of course the claw machine!  Turns out the claw machine must have known it was a big day because we had 3 wins with only 8 tries!  And we were there in the midst of the blizzard but when you have to celebrate, you just have to celebrate.

 He couldn't contain the excitement.

 Showing off the loot.  I tried to take him after school before the snow hit but he insisted on waiting for PaPa.  I think PaPa's seemingly endless supply of $1 bills makes him a better chaperone than me!

 In other exciting news, Chase also found out at school yesterday that we won a prize in the essay contest.  I didn't get a journalism degree for nothing!  (I'm not even sure they didn't just draw names out of a hat but I'm going to pretend it was the stellar story we put together?!)  When his school read the book about Dewey you could send in a story about your family pet.  We put together a little story about our favorite pet, Zeke.  (He may have won because they felt sorry for the poor kid with no dog?)

His prize was a Dewey puzzle.  It was certainly a good day for Chase.  Now we get to enjoy Friday, the second and I'm sure we'll get to stay home for the real Friday too!

Pajamas, Pink Drums & A Party

 I hope Taylor can hang on to her enthusiasm for school.  She is always excited to go but she was beyond excited for PJ day.  They read pajama books and the teachers made them pancakes and they got to take stuffed animals and blankets.  Best day ever, she said.

 Emmy's birthday present.  When a 2-year old asks for "pink drums" you give her "pink drums".

 She sat down and immediately threw the sticks on the floor!

 After the others showed her how much fun they were she was back in action.

 Later, the whole band got together.  It was, well, loud.  And then we left!  Not really but it was enough to make you re-think giving someone drums.  Oh wait, no, that was still a good idea!

 

 Random pic of the week: Parents these days.  You can't take them anywhere.  The most ironic thing about this picture is that when I call either of them there is about a 20% chance that they will actually answer!

 Then there was Emmy's party.   It was fun.

Both kids have since requested birthday parties at Romp 'n Roll.  

I told Chase all his friends are outside of the target age group for this place.  He doesn't care.  They have a basketball hoop. 

Most of the party-people.  It was a full house.  Happy Birthday Emmy!  What should we get her next year....better start thinking of something good!