February 14, 2014: Valentine's Day!

Oops, it's been a while...But better late than never, I'm going to try to catch up the last 6 weeks!  We had a fun little Valentine's Day weekend this year.  The kids loved admiring all their festive work I hung up...

We met our playgroup for a fun lunch, friendship trail mix, and carousel ride at the mall...

 Who sleeps through the carrousel ride?!

 Love our little buddies...Mia, Jackson, Liam, Bryn, Emma Kate, and Cate

 LOVE my play days with the kids!!

 On our way out, we saw a little puppy adoption booth.  The kids went crazy!  Liam picked out this pup however he knows our agreement on when he can get a dog.

 But I almost broke down for Bryn.  She was so excited to see the poodle: "Look, he has curly hair like me!"

 After the mall, we drove through the neighborhood delivering valentines to our friends...

 The kids also picked up their valentines boxes from school, full of sweet cards and treats!

 After naps, we played outside...

 And then the kids had a romantic dinner by candlelight, while Nick and I got to have a sushi date night of our own.

 The next night, we took them for a special treat...Steak N Shake for dinner...

 Where Liam "took down" as he would say, 2 kids meals!

February 7-9, 2014: Alex and Tippy's Visit

Friday morning Alex and Tippy joined us for jumping at playgroup which was a funny experience. I couldn't take any pics, but Alex was a good sport playing and rough housing with all the boys.  Then we headed to our favorite sushi spot for lunch...

Friday night we made our homemade pizzas and celebrated Tippy and Dallie's birthdays...

On Sunday, we went bowling.  Nora thinks she's "sooooo biiiig" :)

 Our bowling fashionista...

 Tippy giving my arms a much needed break!

 Liam loved playing laser tag with the guys...

 Bryn was the big winner in the arcade!

February 2, 2014: Ference and Football Weekend!

We started off February with a fun visit from the Ference family of 2...soon to be 3!  Of course our first event was a poker night with Kate and Alex...

 We had to take them for some great bbq at Hard Eight...

Saturday we had fun dinner at Park City Tavern and continued the night at Top Golf with Kate, Alex, Linds and JE.  We (parents) even stayed up late enough to get to check out the Truck Stop...

 It was such a fun visit, here's our original Cali group!

 We spent Super Bowl Sunday with the fam playing games...

 and playing with our toys...

 and eating!  We ward the game a little too :)

January 2014: Coldness, Carrots, Curls, and Cabinets

It's finally feeling like winter around here...cold temps, ice, and a few hours of snow flurries.  Basically none of the fun parts of winter, just the cold!  But that hasn't stopped us from venturing out.  Here's Bryn on her lunch date with Mal and Lynn...

Poor Nora has a cute puffy coat but because it's so thick her arms stick straight out to the sides a la Randy in a Christmas Story...add an extra hat and 2 blankets and she basically can only move her head :)  She's tolerating it pretty well considering we do this bundle every day before heading out!

 The frozen ballerina on her way to class...

Staying warm by keeping active...

Liam finished another great soccer season with TNT...

Coached by Nick of course ;)

 On really cold days stuck inside, we've gotten creative.  Liam begs to 'organize' the pantry.  The OCD in me is proud he wants to organize, but cringes when his form of organizing is to basically take everything out of the baskets they are organized in :)

 Still loving our games...

 Espeically Liam's new favorite Trumpet (a game of sets/runs)...

 Playing with the ball popper (aka loudest, most parent-hated toy ever) when I'm really desperate...

The hardest part is that they still beg to go outside everyday and don't understand why they can't in 30 degrees.  So we bundle up and get a few minutes of (cold) fresh air!

Then we take warmy baths (sitting up in tub!)...

And snuggle during naps...

Nora is finally doing better with solids, although she's still warming up to some foods.  She like oatmeal and pretty much all fruits and carrots/squash/sweet potatoes, tolerates meats and green veggies, and dislikes yogurt and lentils.

She's feeding herself little pieces of table foods...

 And is by far the MESSIEST eater I have ever fed.  She needs a bath and outfit change after every meal!  Hence feeding her without a shirt :)

 Lately Bryn has been asking for "beautiful hair" and when she gets out of the bath she tries to slick her hair straight.  This drives me crazy because I love her hair and always want her to feel beautiful.  I know this will only getter harder, but my solution for now is to try to be a good curly hair role model :)  This is not easy for my thin hair which does not hold curls well, but the burns on my arms prove how hard I am trying for her.  She loves it especially when I tell her we are the curly girls :)

 

And last, just have to document the kids newest game.  They love to hid under the cabinets while I'm cooking dinner.  They take games, flash lights, and have so much fun giggling together in their secret hiding place :)