A thank you note.

I love him. 

Olympic Dreams

Another Olympics has come and gone...

I think this might be the year we have watched the least. 

Not sure why, other than that we didn't have a ton of those BIG names we were interested in and the Winter Games are just NOT the Summer Games. 

But the kids were all into it nonetheless. 

We did some fun Olympic themed school projects.

I am not even sure what event Avery was watching when I took this photo. 

But she was locked in. 

And not responding to me repeatedly saying her name from one seat over. 

She was dreaming, Olympic Dreams. 

We've all done it. 

At least all girls!

I remember doing 'flips' and somersaults and cartwheels all over the living room as a child. 

And ending in the characteristic Olympic pose. 

Man I wanted to be an Olympic figure skater or gymnast!

I could just taste it. 

The only thing I lacked was talent and years and years of dedicated practice!

I love watching the Olympics through my kids' eyes now. 

And knowing that they too are dreaming of how they could make their way up onto that medal stand. 

Good bye Olympics...for just a couple years.

Smarty pants

School time can get long for Torrance. And sometimes I feel really guilty that I can't spend the time doing 'little girl' things with her like I did with the others. 

Today she was determined to take part in school. Here she is calling out words for me to spell for her. Adorable.

And then she and I played this shapes and colors game for awhile. She was really good at it and stayed interested for much longer than I would have guessed.

She hasn't been feeling the best this week and her cranky attitude has about put me over the edge more than once....but really, she can stay 3. Forever. 

Winter Blues

This winter has been terrible. We are having another blizzard today...or as we've come to call it...Thursday.

Seriously it's every week, another storm.

After a very productive morning of school we hunkered down with some library movies, candy, rainbow looms and books.

And of course Falstaff...he does not mind the winter and he will definitely miss us when spring comes and we are all outside!

Tonight will be game playing and fajitas!

Side note: Days like this make me miss my mom so much that it physically hurts and makes me ache. She loved a good snow storm. I'd love to go visit her and give her the biggest hug she's ever received. 

I am sure when I am 80, I'll still ache for my mom on snow days.

i like it

Oh puke

The worst word parents of young children can hear late in the night is, of course, puke.

Tori came into our room about 1 am saying, 'mommy! Tessa puked and is crying in her bed!'

Happy valentines day!!!

Once Tess was calmed, cleaned and had new bedding I was laying with her and she said, 'well, I guess I really did eat too much candy.'

Yep. Valentines candy 1 - contessa 0.

(She is 100% fine this morning.)

Jordan sent this awesome picture to his mom this morning...with this hilarious text:

'Grandma Cindy thank you for my pretty puke bucket.  It came in handy last night at 1 am when I hurled my candy eating binge all over my bed.'

Art at UNI

UNI hosted an Art Workshop this week. 

One of the things I love most about homeschool is that we can participate in things like this!

They met 2 days this week and then they got to show off their work to the parents. 

They made games out of trash...

:)

Lauren made a mini golf hole. 

Sully's was a type of 'flicking' golf game. 

Even Contessa got to participate! 

Ellie had an adorable princess game. 

Avery's obstacle course. 

The UNI students had made a skee ball game. 

Torrance and Owen loved it. 

Seriously

(all the kids (minus Owen) with Morgan, one of their teachers)

(The only downside was that we brought the creations home...so now these FOUR wonderful, HUGE contraptions are residing on my front porch!)

:)

HaPpY vAlEnTiNeS dAy!!!!!

Oh Valentines Day. 

Its corny, and cheesy, and commercialized and I love it. 

Seriously what is better than a day about love!?!

When we got home yesterday Grandma surprised the kids with a little hedgehog love!

 They were thrilled! 

And certain ones had their pail of candy emptied in about 20 minutes. 

(oops)

They woke up to a special Valentines breakfast and surprises. 

I could have stopped at the table cloth...that alone caused adorable squeals. 

We did a short devotion while we waited for breakfast to cook. 

We talked about how we are to love like Jesus loves us. 

We discussed what that looked like.

Then I told each of them something I've noticed lately about them that I appreciate and treasure. 

Tori could NOT WAIT for me to get to her. She was squiggling and tugging at me, 'Do me mommy!'

When I was all done she put her hands over her mouth and gasped and said, 'Im special mommy!'

Yep, mission accomplished. 

 Their surprises were all supposed to fit in this basket. 

Well we will be finding a new use for this basket and replacing it with a bigger one! 

These games/toys/brain teasers will be our new 'BUSY BASKET' for school. 

When I need to focus on one child or need them to sit quietly while I read or ect ect ect....these items will keep them busy and quiet. 

We are really excited to learn how to play it all. 

They are all educational type toys...I'll post about them all another day. 

But thank you to Holly for the idea! 

Happy Valentines Day to my 5 little sweethearts! 

Our mission for the weekend is to 'tattle' on each other for doing good things!

'Catch each other being good!'

(Who will all be in bed promptly at 7:45 tonight so that I can 

celebrate with my main Valentine when he gets home! )

Read away..

Nothing, I repeat nothing, makes me happier than when they ask to take a break from school so that they can read.

The Jersey

Sullivan had very few birthday gift suggestions. 

But one thing he did ask for was a Russell Wilson jersey. 

Grandma Cindy came through. 

Sadly, I was not ready with my camera when he opened it. 

But I love that I can see in his eyes, just how excited he was! 

This smile here was all for Grandma. 

He was SO happy. 

Overly excited here! 

:)

Thank you Grandma! 

Happy 8th Birthday, Sullivan Joseph!!!

Oh Sullivan Joseph, 

First I want you to know that in my heart this will always be you...

5 year old you. 

Toothless and so full of energy, love and boyness!

 Then there is the 8 year old you. 

Still full of all those same things...but older. 

A bit more, reserved? maybe?

You getting older is hard on your mom! 

Do you know that? 

Sully, I am not even sure where to start on your birthday. 

You are full. 

Full is the best word to describe you. 

Full of energy, charisma, dreams, jokes, ideas, plans, strategies, smiles, drama, jumping, shouting, noise, thoughts, laughter, appetite, cuddles...

You wake up the day with your mind already racing. 

You fill more spoken words into 1 hour than most people put into 1 day. 

You get more out of a day than most people get out of a year. 

Your dad and I always say, 'whatever Sullivan is going to do, he is going to shoot for the moon while he does it.' You ALWAYS give your all. You always go for the top. You do not even know what 'settling' is. And while that exhausts me, I know that there is no greater quality I could desire for you. I see things in your that I wish I saw in myself. I pray that you never, ever lose your zest for life and your passion for all things BIG!

I love that I get to be the one to sit beside you as you learn and as you figure out how to always strive for the top. What a lucky mom I am. 

Sullivan, your dad and I are so blessed to have the front row seats as your incredible life unfolds. We are in awe of you and who you are becoming. 

You are the most fantastic kid I can imagine..and you are ours! 

Keep dreaming big Sully, big things await you, I have no doubt. 

Happy 8th Birthday to our only boy, to the one and only, Sullivan Joseph!

We could not love you more. 

Sullivan's Sleepover Birthday Party

Sullivan begged for a sleepover birthday party. 

I was hesitant, as any mother of a second grade boy would be. 

But I gave in and told him the guest list had to be small and that they would not be up past midnight.  

After we established that it would be a sleepover he got into the real party planning. 

He loves to select a party theme!

I was happy when he chose the Olympics!

Mandy did an AMAZING job on the cake. 

Sully and I were both thrilled with it. 

The guests arrived right after school. 

The boys headed right out to the frigid temps to sled and play football in the snow. 

After warming up with some pizza it was cake time!

 Um cuteness much?

Judd, Sullivan, Jalen and Tate

Bite the medals boys!

I love him. 

This is so Sullivan...really getting into it while the boys sang to him. 

And really getting ready to blow out those 8 candles!

Make a wish!

The boys all did great and as promised...were asleep before midnight!

One on one

Sully and I needed to do a little shopping for his birthday party so on Thursday night he and I got to head out just the two of us.

He chose to eat at Village Inn. He was sure we should sit on the same side of the booth.Um, yes we definitely should.

We played tic tac toe while we waited for our food.

And I let him order pop. He about fell out of his seat. 

He talked the entire time. 

And I smiled the entire time.

(I'm terrified that next year he will want me to sit on the other side of the booth.)

Super Bowl 2013

The Yoders were kind enough to open up their place for a big ole party last night. 

Lauren made some decor...freehand I might add. 

Really if you have an actual football field in your house it's basically mandatory that you host the Super Bowl party. Right?!?

Sully loves the Yoder house!

He got dad to play a bit in between quarters.

And the adults had some fun bets going throughout the game.

Fun was had by all and Sully's team pulled out the upset. 

Until next fall football!!