January (a visit from the Iowans)

Preschool with Maddie;

and PE with Papa!

 It was a nice change for them to be playing outside in January!  (It is significantly colder up North.) 

 Cate and Nana had some game time in clubhouse: 

We even took a picnic to the park.  In January!  Without coats!  Sometimes Mississippi is wonderful.  :)

 

New Haven's Heros

At BMC, students and faculty are encouraged to "give back" on Martin Luther King day, and our guys spent some time at New Haven- a local school for special needs adults.  They repainted the lines in the gym, and wrote notes to leave for the students (with game passes.)

Fun Fact:  When Beau and Jermael spent some time there a few months ago, they both received marriage proposals.  Ha!  :)

January (2.)

When we're stuck in the house for days on end, the good old beans come to the rescue!

JD is on the road a lot this time of year, playing and recruiting both.  This was the kids' activity of choice the evening he got back from a four day trip:

Cate sleep-walked into the living room, crawled up on me, and didn't move again:

 Ty got a big bag full of "little Cars cars!" from Aunt Steph and Uncle Tyler:

 I caught Isaac catching up on some reading (an upside-down Frozen book!)

 Halle is playing Upward basketball this year.

The first game was painful (to watch.)

 It wasn't too bad for these guys:

 Watching the Toppers game (livestream):

Yes.  Isaac still sits in the baby swing.  He asks for it: he gathers his blankie and pacifier and says "'Wing?  'Wing?"  (Which may be a sign that he's entirely too old for it- ha!)

 How I keep Isaac busy while I finish up baths:

January (1.)

This weather.

It's beautiful, and then cold.

 

 

Here's some January Beautiful:

 

This Week

1.  No school Monday, due to "potential frigid temperatures."

 2. Report cards came out. 

3. The team is back in town!

 

not pictured...

 

 4.  Isaac liked the bathtub for the first time since he was sick (before Christmas.)

5.  The kids have rediscovered the Wii

6.  Sunshine (our cat) seems to have found a second home.  She does eat here though...

7.  Storytime at the library!  In RIPLEY!!

 

Life is so very exciting.  (Sarcasm.)   :)

 

 

 

 

 

Sidenote:

Usually January is a rough kind of gut-it-out month around here.  Christmas and all the excitement is over.  JD is gone.  A lot.  Like- we MIGHT have a family supper once a week if we're lucky.   It's cold and we're stuck inside.  And the end of all this seems nowhere in sight. 

This year it seems a little different.  I don't know if it has to do with the fact that we stayed here over the break, or if it's because we feel connected and excited about the new church, but whatever the reason, the January grumps haven't hit.  At least not yet.  Ha!     

 

 

Twenty Fourteen

2013:

 

In 2014-

• I have already written the wrong year.  Twice.  Writing the same check. 
• We have eaten supper with 3 different groups of friends. 
• We have discovered Apples to Apples (big picture version) is a new favorite.
• The girls are quickly becoming roller skating experts.  (Okay.  Maybe not.)
• Isaac has the worst diaper rash we have ever dealt with.  After a week, afternoons with a bare bottom, cloth diapers and a prescription, I think it's finally clearing up.  Not cool.
• Halle has discovered the joy of sleeping in.  9:30- 10:00 am for three days in a row!  Now if I could just get the other kids to try it...

Happy New Year, everyone!