february

as february decided to show it's face again, like every year, i openly dread it. 

i don't know what it is about february. it's cold, bleek, gray, there's no longer a nice coating of white snow to blanket the drab, it's just soggy, cold, and unbearable. 

i went into february thinking maybe this february would be different.

it's not.

 how is it that my temperature gauge, for the past 5 days, has said 27, but then read the fine print, and it says, but feels like 12. really. 5 days in a row. 

i could sure use some of this!!!

c'mon on warmth!!!

more shenanigans

yesterday, C helped herself to some snack, in the process, she dumped the entire bag of pretzels. she immediately burst into tears. (i didn't even say anything to her) pretty sensitive little gal.

maybe not too sensitive, because she managed to give B a good bite through his shirt, poor boy. those teeth marks were there for a while.

b managed to find some lipstick of mine (don't ask me how because EVERY pen, pencil, marker, crayon, lipgloss, lipstick, has been confiscated and put under lock and key) but somehow he managed to find this and gave he and c a little make over.

how could anyone get mad at those lips.

pucker up

the derby

the boys did the pine wood derby. G came in 4th out of 12 boys.

K came in second. 

they had a great time!

cake smash

 i think i forgot to post these.

this was K's birthday cake. i told him i was throwing out the rest. he said, 'can i please just eat some right out of the pan. i've ALWAYS wanted to do that' how could i say no to something he ALWAYS wanted to do. little did he know that dad was standing by.....

 dad shoved his whole face in. K did think it was pretty funny. 

not too bad of a mess to have to clean up.

lipgloss. coolwhip. markers. yogurt

what do lipgloss, cool whip, markers and yogurt have in common?

these two kiddos. 

all in one day.

phew.

i need a vacation.

this gal got a hold of big sis lipgloss and decorated her cheeks with it.

yes. i have a lock on a fridge.

no. it doesn't detain these two.

yes. they found a big tub of cool whip and devoured it.

no. i didn't cry. but almost.

it wouldn't have been so painful except that they were already in their church clothes. sigh.

 notice the black marker on her cheek and chin

once again, raided the fridge. got yogurt and cheese. please notice B's lower lip. he wasn't too pleased when i said no more!

ooohhhhh. sigh.

can kids under 2 qualify as hoodlums? 

does anyone think this is funny.

 i guess B wanted some cereal

this is pretty much a constant in our house. if there's a stool down, B is next to the sink

the derby

the boys both got to do the pinewood derby this year. 

G took 4th and K took 2nd. 

G did a police truck.

pretty great time!

hula hooping

 the kids school held a talent show. J was adamant she wanted to do it. and that she would be hula hooping.

i honestly thought she would back out. she proved me wrong.

she got up in front of half the school and hula hooped to chubby checkers 'the twist' she did amazing! i am so proud of her. i wouldn't ever have the courage to get up in front of so many and do any type of performance.

I was so impressed!

all snuggles

about a week and a half ago, this little girl was so unhappy. she also laid down on the floor and was about falling asleep. so uncharacteristic for her. should have known she was sick.

 she loves to be all cuddled up

 snuggling with my girls

 this is how J prefers to sleep.

hot water bottle in hand and ear muffs to muffle out baby c's crying at night.

grandma B

a few weeks ago my sweet grandma passed away. she was 88 and had lived an amazing life.

oh, how i will miss her. 

her spunk and sense of style. 

her red hair. 

her kindness. 

her smell. 

her hostessing.

her sense of humor.

just all of her.

I have so many amazing memories of her and the time i spent with her.  i loved going to visit in idaho-going to ben franklin-and finding anything your heart desired, or the soda fountain and getting a  lime rickey, going to  rigby lake (and her pointing out cute boys) and playing hours of gin rummy and laughing til we cried. i love that she used to hide peanuts for easter and give us bags of corn nuts. i love that she was old school and always tried to offer her guests food or drinks when they got to her house. 

she was an amazing lady. 

the stars aligned and we were able to make the worlds quickest trip to be there for her funeral. (although, I don't know if I could convince the nicest friends who offered to watch our 5 kids, while they have 5 of their own- that it was the quickest trip :)

BUT we were able to be there for the funeral and it was perfect.

It was so nice to see extended family that we haven't seen since we moved 6 years ago. It was a sad occasion, but also a happy family reunion. I know my grandma was having so many reunions of her own with loved ones who passed before her. 

 i love seeing pics of my grandparents and catching small glimpses into their earlier days

 my bro and his baby

 sister in law and cousins we miss so much

 love this pic of my aunts walking up the hill

 when they went to load the casket into the hearse, the locks were frozen and took about 10 minutes to open. it was kinda funny.

 cute nieces

 my younger bro

 my uncle

grandma we will miss you.

make sure you have your stash of raleigh salve and red hair dye ready to go.