Wintery Week

This week I started to finally appreciate this winter here in the Midwest. It began to warm up and we could venture out of doors a little more! Today I woke up and it was like a beautiful winter wonderland outside. It seems like the trees transformed into sparkling crystal.

I read online that this called a hoar frost.

I've been thinking about just how fast my kids are growing up lately. There are a million little moments that I wish I could capture forever. How thankful I am that I live in an age with cameras and videos…even pencil and paper to record the everyday things. I have decided to seize the moment and take advantage of the wonderful things around me. Such as blogging. So I apologize if my posts from here on out become numerous and uninteresting. I'm going to try and record just as possibly much as I can of the simple things in our lives that bring me laughter and sometimes tears. I really want my kids to be able to look back someday and see how God was protecting and teaching them(and me). My hope is that they will be able to see His working in their lives at an age that they won't even be able to remember. So anyway, you can take me off your blog feed if you get too bored. I promise I won't be offended.

Here's what was going on this week:

Rylan: Still a little obsessed with the legos he received for Christmas. Happy to be back at cubbies after Christmas break.

Bree: Her first night at AWANA cubbies!!! Aunt Michelle(who works with the cubbies) said she was stellar! Her first AWANA verse- "Evening, morning, and night, I cry out"

Elle: Suddenly talking! She started saying "yes mom!" It comes out more like "muh-mom," but we know what she's saying. Also giving tons of kisses to everyone. SO sweet!

Grant: Reaching for toys in his bouncy seat! That is, when he will sit in it. He's just a cuddly little guy and would prefer to be held every waking moment. Of course if you read the blog earlier in the week you already saw his trick with Daddy. I won't say anymore about that :)

Melissa: Wonderfully fun week for me! Aaron was so generous and devoted a good part of both of his days off to watching the kids so I could have a break. Monday was lunch with Erin, Tiffaney, and Lydia. Spend the afternoon shopping at Regency Court and POTTERY BARN! Tuesday was coffee downtown and junk shopping with Stacy, my favorite "junking companion." She has wonderful decorating inspiration. Here's a link to her decorating blog. http://thecccottage.blogspot.com/ CHECK IT OUT! You will LOVE it! Especially if you are budget conscious. She does amazing things with little moola.

Wednesday: Jenn, Stacy, and Kalia came over with their kiddos for brunch. I so love talking with those ladies about mom stuff and just life in general. Their friendship is invaluable to me.

Aaron: Had his first LAN party experience at the Mackey's house. Fun stuff, although I think Stacy rightly noted that he was "in over his head." Definitely something he wants to do again!

What we did as a family this week:

Tuesday: Tom and Jenn Potter came over for dinner with little Tommy. Oh boy, is that kid ever cute. We had a great time with them!

Wednesday: The Zoo and The Rock at UNO.

We also made tents.

(Grant even got one)

And had a delicious snack of powered sugar.