Go Broncos!

One fan threw a fit because she wanted a number eighteen on her shirt too, and then did not share in the team spirit- she wanted a picture ALL BY HERSELF!!

Scott recently had career day at school.  It was so cute!  If you can't tell by the outfit, Scott gave his talk on being a farmer. 

Natalie:  Mommy, you're invited to my hop party, but I'm not so sure you'd like it.  You have to hop and jiggle. 

(I must not have had that hopping and jiggling look in my eye.)

Natalie got an Accelerated Reader certificate in chapel last week and was just a teensy bit excited about it!:) 

 Scott and his sweet teacher

Scott told me that he created new earmuffs.  Good thing he's not planning on being an inventor when he grows up.  Stick with farming, Scott!:)

The crew at 3, 5, & 7

Time for an Update, Time for an Update...(sang to the Doc McStuffins Time for a Check-up Tune)

Jon and I finally got smart phones.  I've loved having the camera and the ability to type in the kids' quips into my phone as soon as they say them.  However, getting them onto the computer in blog form has been a harder task.  Here goes...

We took a trip to the museum just after Christmas.  It was one of Scott's big requests to do while on break.   When asked what part he was most looking forward to, he said that he couldn't wait to go in the elevator.  That was sure one expensive elevator ride.  We ended up buying a year's membership so that we can partake in such fun again soon.

Scott bought Natalie a ring from the school's Holiday Shop prior to Christmas and was so excited for her to open it.  When she opened it on Christmas morning, Scott excitedly said, "So when you get married, you won't need to buy one.  AND...it only cost $4 and it usually costs like $100, so I'm saving you a lot of money!

Natalie:  Well...that's nice!

The kids continue to play "God's Best Church" multiple times a week- sermons, singing, interpretive dancing and all!  It delights my heart to hear them say, "Let's have a GBC service!" and then run downstairs and start practicing.  They belt out praise songs and tell different Bible stories.  I must admit that the services do run a bit on the long side, so I sometimes cringe inside when I get invited (yet again!).  However, these are certainly memories I'm sure I will cherish someday. 

Me:  What's Daddy's job?  What does he do?

Kate:  I don't know. What?

Me:  He drives around in a....?

Kate:  Gator!

 A lesson in shoe tying...can't we just wear velcro forever?

 This girl never does this anymore, so I just had to get a picture. 

And as usual, the dressing to go out in the snow takes much longer than the actual playtime in the snow.

 The gator saves the day again!:)  Scott was thrilled that they needed to get it out. 

Scott:  Did they have electricity when you were born?

Natalie's been wreaking havoc on any new year's resolution healthy eating plans.  She keeps wanting to check out cookie and cupcake books from the library.  It's hard to think about lettuce when I keep picking up treat books!

Kate had scooted a chair over to her dresser and was climbing up when I caught her.  She said, "I found something to do that's not dangerous."

Ready for spring already...  :)

Christmas 2015 in the books

Christmas was nice.  We enjoyed celebrating our Savior's birth and spending time with our families.  

 Kate and Mazie make such a cute combo.  It's fun to watch the cousins interact!

 "Remember all those new toys you got for Christmas??  GO PLAY WITH THEM!"  -the parents

Part of Natalie's homework was to make a birthday cake for Jesus.  I followed a different recipe and it said to spray the pan with cooking spray (something I normally don't use).  When we were eating the cake the next day, Kate said, "The cooking spray tastes really good!"

 Scott's really not flashing a gang sign in the picture above...promise.

 Two full weeks of break and lots of time together can call for a few minutes on the punching bag!:) 

Jon's aunt and uncle visited from Michigan and brought the kids some U of M paraphernalia.

 A cheerleader in the making!  (I would usually take the picture again since she wasn't looking at the camera, but the dreamy, flighty look up into space seemed to fit perfectly with the cheerleader's outfit.  As a former cheerleader, I can say that!:) 

Better Document Thanksgiving Prior to Christmas...

We are celebrating Christmas with my family in a few hours, so I am kicking the blog posting into high gear to first record 2015 Thanksgiving memories!

 

We celebrated with my family on Thursday, had a pizza day on Friday, and then celebrated with Jon's family on Saturday.  

Some of us wore the same clothes to both Dinner #1 and Dinner #2 (well...at least the ones of us who did not spill Dinner #1 on our shirts).  

Sometimes, the paint shirts don't provide enough coverage. 

The kids both had Christmas performances at school.  One enjoyed being on stage, and the other was relieved when it was over.  :)

My poor children have already done so many pictures in front of Chirstmas trees, that they may be out of smiles come Christmas!:) 

 

 Even a photo op at Arby's...who knew?!:_)

Kate was crying one morning.  I picked her up and she said through tears, "The whining doesn't stop!" 

Jon & Scott have been continuing with the projects and have been enjoying such a mild December. 

Scott had a small piano recital in early December.  He's making great progress and was excited about showing off four Christmas selections.

Other random happenings...

Jon and I have given up all carbonated beverages for the past 52 days (but who's counting?!).  We still are missing it and think about it with each meal, but it may be getting a little easier.  One of us has cheated 3 times...but once again, who's counting?!  (As a matter of fact, the lady who has had ZERO cheats is the one who is counting, that's who!)

I love Christmas and could genuinely sing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."   However, I am secretly excited for Saturday because that's when I will get to take down our Christmas tree.  Yes, I realize it may sound a bit Scrooge-like,  but I prefer it put away.  Weird?  Maybe a bit.

Natalie was following me around the other day wanting me to give her different scenarios.  Like, what would you do if you opened a Dora the Explorer ("soooo baby-ish") toy for a present?  Or, what would you do if the smoke detector went off?  I had almost exhausted all of my "What if..." questions, and then I asked her, "What would you do if another kid came up to you on the playground and told you that she really wanted to go to Heaven, but that she felt like she was too bad of a person and did mean things like hit her sister?"  Natalie sweetly said, "I would say, 'It's okay!  You can still go to heaven.  I hit my sister too!'"  I laughed and she realized that was not the exact answer I was looking for, so she expounded a little making it a bit more theologically sound.  :)

 Scott was excited about pajama day and specifically asked for me to have his "fox pajamas" washed and ready to go.  He said on the morning of, "I wonder if any of the girls will wear nightgowns?!?" 

It's getting louder...not only does Scott enjoy using the pedal to amplify the volume, he recently decided to add the kazoo for accompaniment.  

Update blog
Ta da...another thing crossed off my to-do before Christmas list.