I can't believe it's already February. Time continues to fly. Well, Sam finally says his "r"s correctly! We've been working on it with him a lot the past few months and told him once he got his "r"s down and was able to use them correctly in his words all by himself without us reminding him, that we would take him to the Dollar Store. So, the time came where there were 2 to 3 days where we really noticed the transition and he was saying them all on his own. Here he is with his new monster truck that he chose from the Dollar Store. That kid sure loves monster trucks!
Morgan being a kid. Yes, that's his arm coming out of the box:)
We've had A LOT of snow recently. It just keeps coming! This was a couple sundays ago. On this particular morning I looked out a few times to watch and they ended up shoveling the yards of the neighbors on both sides of us. The kids were excited to do service!
At the neighbors yard.
The kiddos playing with monster trucks.
Check out what Sam's fingers can do! That kid cracks us up.
A couple weeks ago I went through the kids rooms to dejunk and to get rid of stuff the kids no longer play with, fit in or need . Noel is a lot like how I was when I was little and hoards ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. I was going through this little container/box of random collections and completely unnecessary things that she keeps and there was a tiny playdough container that felt like it didn't have anything in it. By this point in the organization process everything was hilarious. Noel was sitting right next to me watching me go through her stuff and watching me laugh and be completely entertained by every little thing I found. So I ask while laughing "And what do you have in here?!" And she was starting to understand how ridiculously hilarious some of these things were that she hoarded and she started laughing but tried to defend herself, "It's playdough crumbs!!" Oh man, we were laughing forever. I sure love that little girl. She keeps everything she puts on paper even if it's scribbles so we went through a huge messy pile of papers and I found this. This is a drawing of Jesus that Noel drew. Definitely keeping this one.
I also came across this "Tomorrow List". She IS A LOT like me! I'm a crazy list gal. So here is the interpretation of the list: Play with my doll house, Play Mom Dad (Sam and her like to play Mom and Dad with their cars or with their stuffed animals or with Noel's dolls), Draw a card, Make a craft.
Beautiful weather.
Beautiful sunsets.
Sam and I went on a Mommy/Son Date out to breakfast one morning while Noel was in school. He had also earned 10 stickers for being good so we went to the Dollar Store and he chose out a puzzle.
So we went home and put it together.
We have had a few warmer days and on this particular day the kids went outside and played in the backyard because it was in the 40's! It felt so nice!
Morgan and Noel went on a Daddy/Daughter date the following day. They went out to breakfast at a donut shop and then to the mall to the Build A Bear store. Noel got to build her own bear and design it pretty much. Then they took these adorable pictures. They had a blast.
On this particular sunday morning, just over a week ago, we sent the kids out to shovel the driveway while we finished up breakfast. They LOVE shoveling the snow and we are grateful! Then Morgan joined them and that's when he threw his back out. There was a lot of heavy snow and it really did a number on his back. After a few days of being down and working from home while laying down, he was back up and able to go back to work.
More snow fun in the backyard. The kiddos were building snowmen.
Goofy Noel.
While Morgan was down, with his direction and little bit of help, I BBQ'd him some London Broil. Mmmmm. It was so good.
My glasses bit the dust. Hopefully I will be getting some new ones soon.
So, the next two pictures say a lot to me. I'm a helicopter mom trying to let go a little. It's HARD! For the first 4 months of Kindergarten, when dropping Noel off at school in the morning, I would park the car in the parking lot take her hand and walk her into the school to her class. The first 2 weeks or so was necessary as she got used to her surroundings and where her class was but beyond that, I was the one who needed to walk her to class more than she needed me to. For a few months, while all of the parents would pull into the drop off area, let their kids jump out of the car on their own and let them run into school on their own, I still was parking and walking her into her school and taking her to her class. Finally a little over a month ago we were running late and I LET GO. After a few tears were shed I realized it's a part of life and I am holding on a little too tight. Letting go is so hard but so completely necessary for growth. Every morning I now drop her off and she runs into school all by herself.
Another way I have let go which I know sounds ridiculous is taking the side railings off of Noel's bed. That one was a little easier than just letting my child go into school all on her own, worrying if she made it to her class ok.
Noel's class celebrated 100 days of school last friday. They had a party and she made a hat that says, "100 Days Smarter".
Friday night we went over to Chris and Kareena's for a Tepanyaki Night. Chris was the chef and cooked up some mean steak and crab and shrimp. It was a blast.
Kareena was a genius and went out in the garage and grabbed some pliers to crack open the crab legs.
Yummy food!
Ems and Ben.
Dressed in their sunday best.
Sunday Night we had the Utah Watkins Clan over. We had 8 adults sitting at our small table. It was a blast. We ate soup, salad and rolls.
Sam, Noel and I shoveled again yesterday. There was once again a lot of snow. Finally there was a break in the weather and we went out and shoveled for an hour or so. Sam's hands got frozen so he went in after a half of an hour or so. But it was definitely some good exercise.
We recently organized a play area for the kids downstairs. Their rooms are so small and are getting so cluttered with toys that we thought it would be best to use this space downstairs behind the couch for a play area. Most of Sam's toys fit down here and half of Noel's fit, which makes their rooms look a lot less cluttered and it fills the space well downstairs.
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