Leap Day!

What a fun night!  Leap Day only comes once every 4 years so we partied for Family Home Evening tonight.  We played all sorts of "Leaping" games.  Leap frog, hopscotch, musical frogs, find the frog Prince, pin the crown on the frog prince, and we danced to songs like "Froggy Went a Courtin."  It was such a fun evening and we ended with peanut butter chocolate covered frogs.

Watching Doc McStuffins

Ashley was holding Katie while she watching Doc Mcstuffins one day and it appeared Katie had turned her head and watching the TV, too.  Ashley is such a sweet big sister and has the special gift of being able to make Katie smile and laugh more than anyone in our family.

Bed Head and Sniffles

Ashley and Adam are sick with the sniffles.  I made them a little bed on the couch with a little table next to them to hold sippy cups of water, a few snacks, and a couple of quiet activities.  But not before I took a picture of Adam's cute little morning bedhead.  

Sleeping Babes

I took these one evening around 10:00.  It's a peaceful time of day with the girls asleep in their room and our babies asleep in our room and nothing but the glow of my computer and whir of the fan.  Don is usually asleep by now, too, unless he is out flying.  The whole house is quiet and it becomes my special alone time.

Ashley's Tree House

Ashley built this little tree house toy out of some cardboard boxes and construction paper and enjoyed playing with it for days before it fell apart.  It was already starting to come apart so I took a quick picture for her.  

Sleepy Cuddles With Daddy

The Difference Between Girls and Boys

For Family Home Evening tonight I made cardboard swords covered in aluminum foil for all the kids to use as we acted out the story of the people of Ammon burying their swords (under a blanket on the living room floor) and covenanting with the Lord to never fight again. While I was relating the story to our own lives and how we can "bury" certain things we want to stop doing to become more Christlike, Ashley and Adam "unburied" their swords from under the blanket. Adam began to wave his sword around "fighting" pretend bad guys and Ashley sat down quietly with hers and began fiddling with it. The next thing I hear is Don asking, "Ashley, what are you doing?" I looked over and she's unwrapped the aluminum foil from her sword and is making herself little silver slippers for her feet. Alexis pipes up, pointing to her two younger siblings, "Well, Dad, that's the difference between boys and girls."

Sweet Sisters

A Visit With Great Grandma Flo

Crazy Weather

Two days ago the kids were bundled up in coats and mittens playing in the snow.  Now they are running around with no jackets riding bikes and flying kites. 

Once There Was a Snowman

Visiting Grandma

We've still been going back and forth and visiting Grandma and supporting her in her recovery.  She is dong so well and has been enjoying getting to hold baby Katie more.  

Lazy Morning

I told everyone to gather for our morning time together and that it was a pajama day.  Most days everyone is dressed before we do our morning time.  They are supposed to get dressed, eat breakfast - self-serve most days - do their morning chore, and gather in the living room by 9:00.  Then we sing a hymn, say a prayer, and then read history stories together and usually one other thing - like maybe poetry, logic, grammar, a read aloud, a gospel message, a story for our mathematicians book, etc. After that everyone scatters for individual learning, projects, and play.  Today I told the kids they could have a pajama day.  Alexis had already showered and dressed but the rest decided to stay in PJs.  When I came in they were just hanging out, talking, Ashley playing on the Wii since she had finished her chores and I allow them a few moments if they want before we start, Adam watching Little Bear and Emily holding her favorite doll - Katie.  Definitely a slow, lazy type of winter morning.  

Adam's Characters

From the time he was teeny tiny Adam's favorite toys have been characters.  It doesn't matter what characters but he just loves little figurines and stuffed animals.  I remember people telling me boys are all about vehicles, sports, and legos but he really hasn't been, as of yet.  Just give him a couple of little figurines and he can play for hours talking to them, acting out all sorts of stories and scenarios, and he just uses whatever is around him at the time for props for whatever game he is playing.  I just love listening to him and his little imagination - which is quite big.  :) 

Three Months Old