February Happenings

February continued to be freezing cold here in Idaho.  We had the most snow I could remember since I was a child.  We tried to keep getting out of the house so we didn't go stir crazy!  I put the kids in swimming lessons and Tommy got much better and Whitney & Tucker now know how to swim too!

 Whitney did a science experiment and reported on it and made the front wall at her school!  Tommy later did a very detailed report on butterflies and he made it on the front wall as well.  I have such cute little hard working smarties!

 It finally started warming up and melting away the snow enough that we could see the sidewalks again!

 Valentine cuties!

 Tucker & Whitney got to go to a Valentine party.

 Sometimes these two look like twins!

 My mom helped the kids craft some Valentine chains.

 I sadly had to work on Valentine's Day so my mom made us a festive dinner. 

 Whitney's teacher is so creative with her crafts!

 The kids love taking baths at Grandma's house!

 ...and then we did start to go a little winter crazy... Tucker started to love dressing up like a girl!

Tommy started his first basketball team.  Vic and I help assist coach.  It was so much fun, I loved helping and watching the games.

 Tommy got really good at getting the rebounds and taking it to the other end of the court.  I think he did great, but he hated how much running was involved.  Hopefully I can convince him to love it!

Tucker's Paw Patrol Birthday Party

Tucker is in love with Paw Patrol and has known for a year that his next party was going to be Paw Patrol.  Zuma, the water dog is orange and is his favorite so we made sure to buy orange wrapping paper.

 He was excited to have an ice cream cake and I was happy to give it to him as that meant a super simple cake that didn't take much time!

 Here is his party table.

I made lots of fun and clever signs for the food.  I was going to try to skip it this year and the kids were too excited about it so I made some last minute ones.

First I had the kids put on Paw Patrol tattoos and eat lunch while everyone arrived. 

 Our first game was pin the badge on Chase.

 Then I told the kids they had to go through puppy training school.  I taught them to beg, sit, roll over, and shake hands.  They loved it!

 Next we trained them to play fetch.  Pretty sure they could've done this all day!

 Then I set up a doggy training course in the basement for their final test.  Here is Tucker going through.  Isn't he such a cute doggy?!  

 Proud Puppies with their Paw Patrol medals on!  Tucker has such cute little friends.

 Blowing out the cake

 I asked the bakery to make a little cake that looked like Zuma, his favorite dog.  It doesn't look very close, but he still loved it!

 One happy little 4 year old with his new presents.

January Happenings

After Christmas and New Year's was done I took down the decorations and put up our snowflake decorations.  I then found the kids camping out on the stairs and when I asked them all why they excitedly replied so they could lay under the snowflake lights!  I guess next year I'll find them a safer place to hang! 

Whitney was gifted her cousin's collection of ponies for Christmas and they had some crazy hair so Whitney & I spent a day doing a pony salon.  I was pretty impressed with the results!

Poor Tucker was just getting over the cut on his forehead and then ran into the coffee table and game himself another scar on his face!!

 The weather was SO cold in January!  We went to the movies and tried other indoor activities to get us out of the house.

 I did the mystery reader one Friday and I came dressed up as "Fancy Nancy" and read the Fancy Nancy books.  I knew the girls would love it, but I was surprised when all of the boys were just as excited!  Whitney's teacher declared me the best mom ever.  That made me feel good, but my kids make it easy, they love all the stuff I do and it encourages me to do more.

 Our kid's main Christmas gifts came a few weeks late, but they were just as excited to get them late! 

 We took the Wheelers up to the cabin for the weekend and went to Lakeside Lodge while the cabin warmed up.  The lodge and it's grounds were so decked out with lights, it was fun!

 Birthday Boy!

 John started digging this hole and Vic & Tommy finished it into a tunnel.  I wish I had taken a picture of John and Vic snowmobiling.  John taught Vic how to really explore and climb on a snow machine and Vic was in heaven!

 I got called to be an activity days leader so for my first activity we painted owls and hearts for Valentine's Day.  I am so sad to not have my visiting teaching calling, but I'm sure I'll love this one as well. I have a cute group of girls.