February

Um, February is, way over.  We have been very busy.

We had Mardi Gras celebrations,

 

played in the snow (snow, snow, SNOW!, and more snow),

 saunaed,

 took naps,

 crocheted and knitted,

 made buntings and Valentines,

 visited Michigan to play with our cousins,

 and to snuggle our Grandmie, Grandpa,

and Aunt Jeannette.  Gus loved seeing "his Gabe".

 We came home to a haircut,

 

and sported matching black eyes!

 Theo turned 6 months, had a healthy check up, and started on solid food.

Life has been full, and good.

January Wrap-up

 We ate lots of soup this month.  Pea Soup.  Squash Soup.  Chicken Soup with Corn and Chilies and Bacon.  Italian Wedding Soup.  We've sampled a bit of everything!  For a while it was all our recovering bellies could handle, then it got very cold outside and hot soup became what our insides were craving.

 We read lots of books this month cuddled on the couch keeping warm!  Favorites?  Anything Tomie dePaola (his artwork!), Dragons Love Tacos, and books about Egypt.  Claire read The Hobbit and loved it.  Lily is devouring the Sisters Grimm series.  ("Lily! Put that book down!")  Theo has taken to picture books about animals.  He giggles at all the animal sounds, especially "woof-woof". Hysterical!

 

 

Despite the cold, the sun didn't wander.  Thank goodness!  Gus's glasses broke.  That didn't stop him!

 This is my beautiful January snowflake bunting!  I made me smile all month!  We're already planning February's bunting.  Can't wait!  I'm totally addicted to buntings now.

 I made it to a swim practice (Chris usually takes them). Aren't they the cutest?  New goggles.  New swim caps.  A new suit for Lily.  They are getting so big!

School has been grueling, but satisfying at the same time. The course work is gradually becoming more demanding.  I wrestle with the girls over Math. We shout out parts of speech as we diagram sentences.  I've started studying Latin vocabulary and grammar after the kids are in bed--they are passing me by!  We are currently rereading volume 1 of Story of the World.  It is even more wonderful the second time!

The beginnings of my days are sluggish.  The middle of my days are busy and crazed.  The endings are often hard because things are left undone.  But I don't have trouble falling asleep.  I fall asleep happy, content, and pleased with my life and all the blessings bestowed to me.

Happy Birthday Gus

Winter Hike at Long Lake

 Saturday was a beautiful winter day, sunny and not too cold.  We went for a hike at a local State Park. 

 Theo came along too.  He face planted into his blankie about 2 minutes into our walk and slept the entire time.  See him nestled there in the backpack, snuggly tucked inside the red bunting? 

 Gus loves his "Daddy coat".  I do too.  Adorable.

 We were almost trampled by 6 deer running through the woods.  A dog was chasing them.  Poor deer!

We drank our hot chocolate out on the frozen lake when we were finished walking.  I got a little creeped out as the ice fishermen drove by in their pickup trucks, but the kids thought it was great, oblivious to any danger.

Theo : 5 Months

Take 5

 1.  Isabel is reading!  We celebrated with a Reading Party at the Zoo last week (her choice of locale).   The Zoo was deserted, cold and snowy.  It was fun to feel like we had the place to ourselves as we meandered through the buildings.  Favorite animal of the day?  Hippopotamus--but we were all disappointed not to see the new baby jaguars.

 2.  We did not escape a Christmas virus this year.  I took Theo into Urgent Care on Christmas Eve for an ear infection.  The children's immune systems succumbed one by one, I stayed home for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

We celebrated quietly at home, no visitors.  We opened a few gifts everyday, ate a bit, and took long naps.  It was simultaneously lonely and welcome.  Chris and I can't remember the last time when we purposefully did nothing and had nothing to do except be together.  It was kinda nice.

Another virus swept through during the first few days of the New Year.  Hopefully we will stay healthy for a while now!

3.  These rolls are fantastic.

4. Chris:  "Gus?  Where do pork chops come from?"
    Gus:  "Tigers."
    Chris:  "Nope.  Try again."
   Gus: "Chickens?"  (pronounced shickens)
   Chris:  "Nope.  Pigs."

5.  I have more resolutions and goals for 2013 than I should.  Lots of painting and home decor projects.  I'd like to start running again.  (I was really good for two/ three weeks in November, but gave up.)  Start using cloth napkins.  Become a more disciplined user of the envelope system.  I'd like to finally read Anna Karenina (it will be my gazillionth attempt) before I watch the movie.  Start dressing a bit more 2013 and a little less 1999 (skinny jeans and colored denim make me feel very nervous!).