4.23.2020

Pictures too good to get lost...

Over Valentine's Day I had the idea that everyone should write a heart/vday message to everyone else in the family. The kids loved getting them from each other. I think we'll do this as a new tradition.
Hannah bought a drawing tablet for herself. We love seeing her drawings go digital. I know I say this all the time but she spends at least an hour a day drawing.
The kids conned their Nana Jake into buying the game of Life for them. Then they played all afternoon.
Randomly I'll find pictures on my phone like this. Love her creativity.
One day I bought them all new bubble wands and they were so happy!
This little girl gave up her naps and has adjusted pretty well. But once every couple of weeks we'll find her passed out somewhere right around the 2-3pm hour.
The girls and I had a water color Sunday on Easter as we tried to paint the Resurrection.

4.04.2020

Sophie Turns 1

I failed at documenting Sophie's first birthday. Mallie baked her cupcakes and we gave her a toothbrush that she loved and crawled around with for the rest of the day!

Here's a picture my friend took of the kids through the front door. I love that Sophie is smack in the middle.
She's 1 though! She's a really great sleeper, has no interest in walking and loves when her siblings spoil her with attention. She is probably my most needy baby so far but that's okay because she's the last and I think she knows it! We love her and I love seeing these big kids adore a little baby. It's so weird to think I was the Sophie of my family. Happy first birthday Soph! Now please walk!


4.03.2020

Our New Normal

With official word that school is canceled at least through May (probably longer but MN hasn't made the call yet) we are getting used to a new normal. I am grateful that Corona has freed up some time to blog.

We've developed a new routine around here.  In the morning the kids hop on their Ipads and Chromebooks to do their assignments from their teachers while I try to help them with assignments they don't understand. David is usually on Zoom meeting with his fellow residents doing some sort of online classes. After a couple of hours he's done usually helps one kid or another finish with their homework and we all eat lunch. When Sophie wakes up from her afternoon nap around 3 we all go on a family walk down to Bailey lake that just happens to be border the backside of our neighborhood. It's beautiful and yesterday I took pictures of what this looks like.

The kids cruise in front of us on their rollerblades while David and I lag behind with the double stroller chatting and the littles ride beside us on plasma cars. Rachel rode her bike one day and for a 4.5-year-old on two wheels, she gets where she needs to go without falling but man she scares the daylights out of us.

Heading down to throw rocks in the lake.

Lucy decided not to get her shoes wet.

I dressed Sophie up all warm and clearly didn't want to waste time on socks. She must be the 8th.
All the kiddos smooshed on the bench.

 I tried desperately to beat the timer while David was pretending to swing the plasma car while I was running. We both lost.
Minnesota's beauty takes out breath away even in the winter. Spring will come soon and really blow us away.
And then on the walk home, this little gal decided she was done and put on her best pout face. We were enjoying a week of sunny 50 degree days and I knew the weather was going to turn. Sure enough, as I type this the kids are out playing in a dusting of ice and snow. I'm crossing my fingers that it's our very last for the year so we can enjoy the outdoors while we are all at home