It's a Wonderful Life

Oh man, I have gotten suuuper behind on the blog again.  Time for a little catch up.  Here are some random photos that were taken in February! It was so fun helping Wyatt get his first library card.  He was sooo excited!  We've been going to the library a lot more lately, because the downtown library is right next to his preschool.  The last time we went over there, I was thinking this is the exact type of thing I will miss so very much when my kids are older.  Spending the afternoon with a 5 year old and a 3 year old, picking out books at a beautiful library is exactly why I am so very grateful I get to be a stay at home Mom! I think this was from Oscar night, but it made me laugh.  Erik taught the kids how to put the magnet darts on their ears like earrings and they though was just about the funniest thing ever. Of course, we've had lots more snow days in the past few weeks.  Because this winter is like boomerang and...

Another winter, another Academy Awards ceremony has passed!  This year out of the 9 best picture nominated movies we had only seen 2, and frankly had no plans to see the others.  Some years that doesn't bother me, but this year I've just been so annoyed that people can't make more smart, engaging, adult movies that aren't "edgy."   It bugs me that I have to be shut out from so many movies that sound fascinating and tackle subjects I think are worthwhile because I don't want to hear profanity or see gratuitous sex or violence.  Where are the Casablancas or the It's A Wonderful Lifes or the North by Northwest?  Those weren't movies for kids in the least, and yet somehow the film makers were able to get their "vision" across without all of that.  Anyway, I'm kind of digressing, but suffice it to say,  this year I decided to represent the animated movies through food instead of the best pictures nominees as I usually do.  It was fun t...

A few weeks ago, Jackson had his taekwondo test for blue belt!  He had been a purple belt for twice as long as the other belts, because of trips and other things that made him miss some taekwondo so he was very ready to advance! He did such a great job!  It's always nerve racking watching them break their board during testing.  They have to break it to pass and each belt level, the kick that they do gets trickier and trickier. I love that the Moms get to tie on the new belt.  Seriously, we love taekwondo and Master Kim, especially.  It is so family focused and teaches great values that we try to teach at home as well.  Go Jackson!

Jackson participated in his first cub scout pinewood derby race a couple of weeks ago. He was of course, so excited! Erik had a lot of fun with it too!  Between our trip and Jackson's baptism, we never got the pinewood derby car that the primary gave out, so we went to Michaels and just purchased one those pre cut cars a few days before the derby.  This cut down on a lot of time.  Jackson had fun sanding and painting it (with Erik's help), and then Erik had fun adding the perfect amount of weight to the car :) I loved watching all of the younger siblings play together. haha can you see Anna and Heather hiding behind the chairs? I love finding Wyatt selfies after he has played with my phone. Jackson's car did great.  His was even voted one of the two "best looking." We love our Cub Scout!

A couple of weeks ago, Anna and I got an invitation to go a little circus that was in town.  It worked out great, because Greenwood Mill was having a movie night that the boys wanted to go to.  So Erik took the boys and I took Anna to her first circus. This circus was . . .. unimpressive.  But, to a two year old it was pretty darn cool.  It was fun to see how excited she got to see the animals. Waiting in line to ride the camel.  This girl was not afraid at all. There she goes!  I was happy she got to go on with Matthew, so that she could have a buddy. Andrew, Matthew, and Anna. That's the Berryville ward nursery gang right there! :) Anna was a fan of Andrew's funnel cake :) Yay for the circus!

Finally we got a thaw day!  The temperature was about 55 degrees and we couldn't have been happier!  We decided to take a little walk to a new play ground that was put in, across the street from our cul-de-sac. But boy was it muddy!! The next day the warming trend continued and Wyatt had a couple of friends over to play.  I think this was the first time the trampoline had been used since probably November! While I was inspecting my garden for the first time in ages, I noticed something move and I realized there was a big, ugly rabbit hiding in my asparagus bed! Can you see it??  The moment I had the realization that rabbits are just big rodents, I have been utterly disgusted by them.  Not to mention they eat up garden!  I'm already trying to think of ways to protect my spring veggies that will be coming up from these wasically wabbits (ha, I couldn't resist).

Well I finally was able to make a trip to the store with only one little person :)  It seemed so easy, I even let Anna do cup stacking in the party aisle for awhile.  Don't worry we put everything back in it's proper place.  But in case you ever though other wise, you should always wash your Walmart party cups before using them! :) Very excited about her Anna clips! And then of course, we had some sort of freeze again and the kids had a two hour delay.  It was pretty cute though to find them snuggled up together watching Tangled (so embarrassing to admit that there is indeed a TV in Anna's room right now.  This is only temporary as we just moved her into this room that was previously the guest room-- so that's why.) Oh gosh, Anna was so obsessed with this baby doll at the store.  I let her hold it while I shopped and then she had to say her good byes.  I think this was from a Chick Fil A lunch that we met Erik for. ...