Days go by. . .

. . . and I can feel them flying! It's already almost mid-March! I have lots to share since I've neglected this blog for over a month!

Graydon and I did some snow day baking. Banana muffins are my favorite way to use overly ripe bananas.


Curtis earned his yellow belt!




Our youth group had a chili supper fundraiser after church one Sunday and the kids helped serve.




Dinner with our neighbors and a belated birthday gift for Graydon!


Science experiments with baking soda, vinegar, and a balloon.


All three of them love to drink smoothies.


She doesn't quite understand personal space.




The kids like to watch baking shows and Graydon was really inspired to make French Macaroons. This is not an easy dessert to make. The first step is whipping eggs to make a meringue - which I had never done before.






For first timers, they didn't turn out too bad. We got the "feet" that you are supposed to get. I just left the in the oven a little too long, so they were a little crispier than they should have been.


Doctor check-ups for the older two. When I scheduled their appointment for 8am in early February, I neglected to consider that we'd be in the height of cold and flu season (and this season has been particularly rough in our area). The waiting area was packed when we showed up for our scheduled appointment because first thing in the morning was also walk-in clinic hours. Even the well section of the waiting room was filled with sick kids. I was so concerned that we were going to pick up something while waiting there. Fortunately, they called us back right away so we didn't have to wait out there as long. This is how the kids feel about their paper gowns.


But neither had to get shots! And, it's been a month and none of us have been sick!


More of Mabel trying to get just as close as she possibly can.






My friend Jessica's husband passed away a year ago on February 10th. We had a little girls' night to take Jessica out, remember Jesse, and support her as best as we could. There were tears, of course, but lots of laughter too.




Time to assemble valentines!


Curtis was probably the least happy about having to write out all of the names. I overheard him say to himself, "Thank you, Ava, for having such a short name."








I made valentines for all of my first graders too.


And we made little gifts for the teachers. I crocheted some washcloths to go with the scrubs.


Graydon did a research project on John Adams.


This was his final product! I should have taken a photo of it right after he finished. This was after it hanging at school for a week. Some of the labels are starting to peel away. But I think he did a nice job on it.


On February 12, Andy left for a ten-day adventure to the Holy Land!


I kept tabs on him through the Find Friends app on my phone. Who knew it would still work from so far away!

He was gone for Valentine's Day, but I did receive this flower from him. :)

I made our traditional heart-shaped pizza. Not a pretty picture, but it tasted good!


I also make chocolate-covered strawberries every year.


My mom came in that evening and she stayed until the morning that Andy got back. It was so nice to have her here and made Andy's time away easier and more fun.


By this point, Andy had moved on to Jerusalem.

I believe this is the Garden of Gethsemane. Andy has lots of photos to share. Maybe one of these days, I can get him on here to share about his trip.


After church one Sunday, we took the boys' youth group to Urban Air. They had a blast!




More of sweet Mabel.


Bella's class did a STEM project where they build cars using mouse traps and recycled materials. She and her partner were chosen to present their cars at a school board meeting.


On February 22nd, Andy came home from Israel! We were glad to have him back!


The following Saturday, we went to a donkey basketball game at the high school. During half-time, the kids got to ride donkeys.




Curtis also rode a donkey, but his photo ended up super blurry.

Bella's basketball team was honored at the sports banquet.


Friday night selfies. (Graydon was away at a sleepover).




She really likes to be on my lap when I'm doing my school work. Maybe both of us will end up with a Master's degree at the end of all of this.




Mustache Monday!


Getting ready to spring forward tonight! I'm not looking forward to losing sleep or to it being so dark in the morning, but I do love having it stay light longer. Spring is coming!

January days. . .

Bella had a little oral surgery a few days after we got back from Wisconsin. One of her eye teeth has not been coming down, so the doc sliced into her gum to reveal her tooth, attached a bracket to the tooth, and connected it to another tooth with a chain. I was in the room with Bella (she was awake for all of this). There was a fair amount of bleeding, so I couldn't look exactly at what they were doing (I have been known to faint when I see too much blood). So I just stared at her legs! She was such a champ. We treated her to her favorite soup (broccoli cheddar from Panera) that evening and for lunch the next day.


A few more birthday cards trickled in with some birthday money! Funny story: two of his cards from two different people who live in completely different areas were both addressed to Curtis!


Twinning!


It wasn't until looking closer at these photos that I noticed that they were each wearing a black glove.


And one sock!


I love their relationship. They do bicker from time to time, but not actually that much. They are such great friends!


Bella's confirmation class prepared and served the meal for our church's free Monday night meal that is open to anyone in the community.


Bella became a Hope Jet Pilot for the third time! We're so proud of her!


Confirmation retreat at church this past weekend.


The boys played their last biddy ball games of the season on Saturday. (And I am rejoicing that we are getting our Saturday mornings back!)

Graydon's Birthday Party

Our kids get to have a friend birthday party every other year. This was one of the years that Graydon got to have one. He wanted to have it at Sky Zone (a trampoline place in Indianapolis) which was fine, but it's kind of expensive, so we only let him pick a few friends.






The dodgeball spot was definitely a highlight for the boys.




Afterward, it was back to our house for cake and presents!




Who knew that just a few boys could sing so loud!


Graydon and his friends had fun playing and celebrating that day!

Happy birthday, Graydon!

Christmas in Wisconsin

We loaded the van and began the trek up north on the day after Christmas.


While on our journey, Bella used her new stylus from Graydon. It still makes me laugh!


We celebrated with the Kilps side first.






Uncle Tom and the cousins are into RC cars these days, so they all went to a track to race some cars.


The weather was absolutely FREEZING! But the kids really wanted to go sledding










Graydon also got a little early birthday celebration.


After a few days, it was time to move on to Kenosha. Auntie Kristen bought Graydon the Pie Face game for his birthday, so they of course played it right away!




Ready for Christmas Number Three!


These cubes are quite a hit with Graydon. He's gotten really good at solving the pyramid and is working hard on some of the others.


Bella's future kitchen is already getting stocked!


Pillow fight! I have no idea how this got started, but I'm amazed nothing got broken in the process!


The next day was Graydon's official birthday! He wanted me to wake him up when he officially turned nine. He was born at 8:21am Eastern Time, so I woke him up at 7:21am. It was still pretty dark, so the photo didn't turn out great. But this was the moment he officially became a nine-year-old.


A few hours later, he was a bit more ready for the day.








All three kids screamed with delight when they saw this new basketball hoop!


That evening we rang in the new year with my parents.  We watched "The Little Rascals" and "The Parent Trap". The kids enjoyed some kiddie cocktails!


The next morning it was time to head back to Indiana. Uncle Scott surprised Bella with a case of the beverage he'd been drinking that she really liked!




There's always mixed feelings about heading home.


When we got back, Graydon still had his gift from us to open up: laser tag guns!


We had a day to unpack, do laundry, and restock the pantry; and then it was back to school. Due to the cold weather, we had two-hour delays each day that week! That was a nice way to transition back into the school routine.