February 2018

Well here it is September and I'm just getting around to actually posting our February blog update.  I always take pretty good notes of what I am going to include in each blog post, but then I just have to make the time to sit down and the computer and actually type out the blog and pair it with pictures.  This takes more time than making my little notes on what to post.  I have started working on getting caught up several times, but each time I have it feels so lacking without a picture of Pop and the kids to share...each month I always try to include a mixture of pictures to show what we have done and I ALWAYS try to include any pictures at all (even if they're just silly pictures) that we may have take of the kids with their grandparents.  I have thousands of pictures of the kids, but I always try to be mindful to take pictures of them with others too.  Anyway, I'm thankful that I have done this because we have LOTS of pictures of the kids with Pop (and their other grandparents), but when I sit down to actually post these I always am reminded of the pictures we can't take anymore...but I need to keep going and keep posting these anyways, because even if no one ever reads these, I enjoy looking back and reading these to remind myself of what our lives were like at different stages with the kids.  

So, enough of that, and on to "the great blog catch up"-I'm hoping that over the next month, I can get it caught all the way up to present.  Thank goodness I've taken notes or I would never remember what to blog about for each post! Hah!

So, February....

Nora Kate has been requesting that I French braid her hair regularly now, and she always wants me to take pictures of her with her hair like this.  Love it!  It's hard to braid her curls, so we have to do it when it's wet.

Nora Kate always does this pose where she crosses one leg over and asks me to take a picture of her.  She says it's a fancy way to stand.

Although we have had some snow, we have also had plenty of days pleasant for playing outside...so we have taken advantage!

The boys finished reading their book for One Book Blitz (a program where the whole school-and now really the whole city- reads the same book).  This year the book was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  On this dress up day they were supposed to dress up as characters from the book.  Dawson was Grandpa Joe and Carter was Mike Teevee.

To wrap up one book blitz the school's Winter Blast was on the first Friday night of February.  I was the chairperson for this school carnival again this year.  It's a lot of fun, but sadly because I was busy organizing I only got these two pictures.  BUT more importantly the event went amazingly well AND the kids had a blast! 

The boys were digging through "snow" for one of the games.

one Saturday after both boys' basketball games we took them to starbucks for a special treat-cake pops!

Saturdays in January and February were filled with basketball.  Dawson and Carter were on separate teams and John coached both teams.  Grandad was the assistant coach for Carter's team, so it was super special for Carter to have Grandad and Daddy as coaches his first year of basketball.

Happy days

As I mentioned in Nora Kate's 4.5 year old update, she got her hair cut for the first time ever this month!  This was her "before" picture.

And after

Kelli, who does my hair gave her her first haircut.  Nora Kate thought this was so great to go to this salon, sit in the chair, and be so big.

Look at that pose!  Can you tell she's totally loving this salon experience.

one more after picture

Cold February days are perfect for making forts in the sunroom and wearing pajamas.

When the snow melts, and you just have to get outside and RUN!

This day was sooo special!  I took Nora Kate to her first play in February.  We had a Mommy-Daughter date, and it was SO fun!  We went to see the Primary Players' production of Beauty and the Beast at the Clayton Center, and it was WONDERFUL!

Nora Kate and Cogsworth

Nora Kate with the wardrobe

Nora Kate with Lumiere

Nora Kate with Belle, the beast, and the prince

We are in full swing with potty training which means Clayton is usually in underwear and a longsleeve shirt when we are home.  He's also really gotten into looking at his books again lately. Love!

On Valentine's Day, Lolly gave Dawson's class these hilarious suckers with mustaches and lips attached.

The boys celebrating silly sock day!

oWhen you still have on your pajamas and a bedhead, but are jealous of the boys getting their silly sock picture taken before school...you throw on some shoes and a coat and pose and request to have your picture taken too!

I've been teaching Dawson to cut things using a sharp knife.

It's nice to be able to get outside and play in February.

Dawson started putting these big limbs and branches between these three trees and calling it a treehouse which officially started treehouse planning for this exact spot. 

oAs I mentioned earlier, between both boys games, practices, and John coaching, it feels like we have lived in the church gym for upward basketball.  Nora Kate has been so responsible and packed her own bag or suitcase full of entertainment for the games.  She and her friend Harper just sit in this corner and play (sometimes allowing Clayton to join in) during their big brothers' games  Sweet friends.

This month we said a sad goodbye to the crib/toddler bed we used for all four kids!  Clayton has been sleeping in it as a toddler bed for a while now, and since we have a extra twin bed we figured it was time to upgrade him.

Clayton's new big boy bed.

The same day we transitioned Clayton's bed, Carter had a friends birthday party to attend at an indoor pool.  Perfect idea for a February party-everyone was so excited to swim!

Look at that sweet excited face going to bed in his big bed for the first time.

Remember how Dawson asked for a treehouse...John delivered!  I was so impressed, John designed and built the whole thing!

Visiting the baby chicks at Rural King

The kids had a random day off school and the weather was oddly pleasant for February, so we went to the zoo!

I taught Carter how to play war...and he's obsessed now!

(see how we are in shorts-February weather was so oddly warm this year) Clayton had a sweet playdate with his buddy Griffin this month.

AND Nora Kate got her first bike! 

She loves it, and I'm so impressed at how well she does riding it.

Always my yogurt-lover

Nora Kate had a couple playdates with her sweet friend, Finley.

Dawson had Market Day at school.  He decided to make and sell (for tickets) balloon animals.  This was a sweet project because he and John worked on it together.

We enjoyed several bike rides through the park now that NK has a new bike!

Dawson's booth set up for market day!

Hopscotch with my girl

Dawson's scout troop had a group hike, and the weather was AMAZING!  Our whole family decided to go on the 3 mile hike and we took Dawson's buddy Carson with us too.  Clayton rode on my back and did great!

Take a hike

The boys sang in church

Dawson's basketball team.

Carter's basketball team.

Dawson's scout troop designed this flag, and then they asked a parent to turn this design into a real flag.  John volunteered me.  I sewed the flag and then used my vinyl machine to make the design.  I was pleased with how it turned out...but Dawson was VERY excited to take it to scouts and give to his scout troop.