February 27 - Monday - Back At It

I'm back on the healthy wagon again. I'm especially trying to add more veggies and eat less carbs. We'll see how long it lasts.....

Nora Jane has had a little cold. She makes the cutest/funniest faces when she's trying not to let that snot sneak out.

It for sure lasted until lunch time.....

One of my favorite things to do with Andlie's homework is erase her name & put something that I want. In the past, I've used "Andlie Glitter Bum" and many other like it. Now she just leaves the "name" space blank and waits for my masterpiece. Though she rolls her eyes and says, "Moooooom," when I'm finished, I know she loves it just as much as I do.

Andlie's "Doubles" Work on the Whiteboard

Biggest & "Littlest." But those thighs.....

Tonight for FHE, Haze led the music during our opening song. He was SO PROUD.

 

"Fairy Princess Nora"

February 26 - Bryan's Talk

Bryan spoke in Sacrament meeting today! He spoke because it was the Elder's Quorum Presidency that spoke and he's the secretary. He spoke on two talks from General Conference: Elder Devn Cornish's "Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?" and Elder Neal Maxwell's "Brightness of Hope" and did an excellent job. He got many compliments after the meeting and in to the night (by text) - all very well deserved. One quote from his talk that stood out:

"Those with true hope often see their personal circumstances shaken, like kaleidoscopes, again and again. Yet with the 'eye of faith,' they still see divine pattern and purpose."

- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Crosby has almost mastered a new trick - sitting!

The perfect picture of Sunday. Still in church clothes with no shoes making cookies.

Nora Jane couldn't hang tonight at bedtime and zonked out before the TV show was over.

And a picture of one of my favorite places to be: Sitting on my bed with worksheets from the big kids' Primary classes (and our bed time discussion) strewn around with me and holding a warm, sleeping baby with milk drool. I sure love being Mommy.

February 25 - Mindy's Here!

Mindy's here! She arrived last night and tended while Mom & Dad went out and then we got her all to ourselves all day today!

Played & giggled downstairs with Mindy.

Went to Barnes & Noble and got spoiled by Mindy.

Went to Costco and got more spoiled by Mindy.

Went & got lunch at Chick-Fil-A (spoiled again).

Read our new books at home.

Went to Target & giggled & visited & ate candy.

Went to the mall & got spoiled by Mindy.

Played at the mall play place.

Came home & had dinner at home.

Went to bed (after many giggles with Mindy).

Fun, happy day with Mindy! Happy to have her here with us!

February 24 - Books & Braids

Cut Crosby is really growing up lately! He's becoming more & more aware and interested in his surroundings and gets so excited by something he likes. When he's excited, his limbs go stiff & wiggly and he starts panting & giggling.

He also loves reading books and gets very slappy when he does (another sign that he's excited).

After so much excitement, sometimes little Crossy gets sleepy. But don't you try to lie him down and give him a bink. Nope. You gotta trick this one. He was so tired today, but didn't wanna sleep. So instead he just stood up on my and then buried his face in my shirt while half crying. I finally stopped laughing at how cute it was and put him to sleep.

Nora Jane was so proud of her beautiful hair today! She slept in braids last night and then was AMAZED that it turned her hair curly today!

This afternoon, Andlie & I were writing notes. I thought I was pretty funny to change "book" to "boob" and "cheeta" to "cheeto." Total Mom joke and I totally owned it.

Andlie, Haze, and Nora all love their new Winter gear that Daddy bought them and they all look adorbs.

February 23 - Nora is Cute

Nora must have looked super cute in her braids today because all of my pictures from today are of her!

Building her favorite puzzle: the princess one!

Hugging her new "Frozen" gloves from Daddy tight! (And wearing her princess light up boots on the wrong feet.)

Giggling with me and making funny faces while waiting for Hazey to get home.

Left: Nora's Artwork, Right: Mine

Play-Doh! One of my favorite smells!

Working on decorating her wand.

She squished out some glitter glue & calmly said, "Mom, it's like a squishy little penis!" "WHAT?!" [Repeat & add some giggles at the end.] I guess the words we are learning for body parts in our house are sticking.....

February 22 - SNOW, Kindergarten, Deodorant, Anna Braids, Baby Biscuit

Woke up to about five inches of snow! And it continued to snow all day long!

I got to help in Hazey's classroom this morning! I LOVE being in the classroom with my babies. So much. Today I helped with centers. Even though it wasn't Haze's center, I still got to sit close by him and tickle his back. I also got a super sweet, "Bye, Mommy!" when I waved to him as I quietly tried to leave. I heard him yell & had to go back & wave one more time. Bonus: Ran in to Andlie's class on their way to art so I got to kiss her too!

"If I were President of the United States, I would: sleep so I have energy. Go to other countries."

After Haze's class, I came home & water colored with Nora. I love sitting down & hanging out with her because she often tells me, "I love spending time, Momma." And most of the time, she's quietly singing made up songs under her breath (pictured).

Tonight at Activity Days, we learned about personal hygiene and health! Then passed out goody bags to all the girls. Andlie was thrilled and proud to get some deodorant in her bag! She put some on after her shower tonight.

Cros tried his first baby biscuit tonight! (Fine, I've given him tastes of baby biscuits, Wheat Thins, Doritos, frosting, cucumber, and pudding.) Okay, fine. Tonight was the first night that I took a picture of him eating and it was legit the first time he held his own food and brought it to his mouth! And he wasn't screwing around either! As you can see in the picture, he had a tight grip on that biscuit and it was held snugly to his mouth until he sucked a piece off and had a mild choking episode.

Nora's dreams came true tonight when I braided her hair in "Anna braids" (from "Frozen")! She was so proud and so happy when she looked in the mirror!

Crosby. That dude. We put him down for bed at 9:15. After almost two full hours of screaming and crying and fighting it, he won and we got him out & let him sit with us for another half hour before trying again.