Yay! We got outside :)

As you've probably heard it's been pretty cold in these parts. The last couple of days it has been in the thirties and ALMOST 40 degrees! We have played outside everyday for the last few days. 

Tuesday we spent almost two hours trekking across the park. In some places the snow was above my knees. Lucy was a trooper and crawled/stomped through it the whole time. Cole (I cannot blame him) didn't last very long. The poor kid was getting swallowed by the snow. We finally figured out if he followed behind me, I could make a path for him through it all. It was up To his waist the majority of the way around. We got to swing, we went down slides covered in snow, it was a blast. 

Wednesday the snow was all melting. There are streams and puddles all over our driveway and the roads. It looks like it has been raining. 

Sadie eating snow..I cannot describe how hard it is to teach her what good and yucky snow is...

We FINALLY got the last of the stubborn ice off the driveway!

The kids have been having fun riding bikes outside again, as opposed to the basement.

Their most favorite thing ever.  

Face down in the snow, just chomping away.

Cole quickly joined when he realized what he was missing. 

So thankful to have been able to get outside and enjoy God's beautiful world.

February thus far

Watching scripture movies on Sunday afternoon. Cole still loves to hold hair, and Lucy is incredibly kind I let him hold hers.

Sadie's Sunday style. Devin: "Sadie, you're going to give someone a seizure." She had to have her pretties (dress) and the butterfly necklace....it didn't quite go with the outfit she was already sporting. 

Kids getting creative, thy made Sadie a bed...she slept in it for all of 30 seconds. 

Had to go buy some snow shovels to get all the ice an snow off our drive and walkway...these two have been wanting to help so we got them some small shovels to help Daddy.

This is what happens when you give a 13 month old a stamp pad... She is still in the oral stage...the other day she put something in her mouth and I said something along the lines of, "Baby, why did you put that on you mouth??" Lucy's response was priceless, "Mommy that is how babies learn. By putting things in their mouths."

This is what happens when I try to take a picture of me and all the kids....it doesn't.

But I will take the blurry smiles and all. They make me happy.

Running to get in the picture. I love this kids eyes!

Lucy the pirate. We have been playing Jake and The Neverland Pirates all month long. This one was special because she packed up her horse with all the necessities and went on a journey. I thought it was very creative of her to find all the food and things she wanted to take and strap it all to her horse. If you look closely there is a basket under the horse.

This lion hat is the popular accessory among the kids this month...

Lots of snow and negative temps again. But we've been better about getting out on the warmer days so the kids aren't getting cabin fever AS much ;) 

Sadie just peeped so I should save her from her bed!

Sub Zero January

Due to the negative temperatures that ransomed the first month of the year. We spent many a day indoors. We had loads of fun, watched lots and lots of TV, definitely got cabin fever, and made WAY too many treats :) 

The highlights?

 The kids surprise me everyday with something new. I am blown away with the things they come up with that they learn all by themselves. 

Lets start with Lucy Mae. Since she is the oldest. 

We've been working on really getting her preschool time in while the others nap. She enjoys it and its good for both of us. While practicing writing our letters Lucy decided to dot her T, so she could follow the line :) I usually dot numbers, shapes, letters, etc. If she isn't sure how to do it or if she just wants a little help. But this time she insisted on doing it herself. 

As of January 25th she knew all but the following letters, E R W I J T Z N! I was AMAZED! I had no idea she knew that many. 

Lucy's drawing has taken off as well. She asked me the other day to draw a horse for her. I told her she could do it all on her own by using ovals, circle, and lines. I took out a piece of paper and showed her what I meant. Then she asked me to tell her the instructions while she did it. 

Here is her horse and rider by a river. 

Cole Buddy.

This little guys talking has become non-stop. The other day I'm pretty sure he woke up talking and didn't stop for at least 2 hours. 

He has decided to take matters into his own hands. For awhile he was informing me of what he was going to do but now he just does it. 

Here is my proof. He started to say, "mom, can I-" then he just stopped and went to grab the table. He pulled it all the way to the counter and started to climb up to get the rice krispies. 

There was something else he wanted, I think it was some treat, I heard him in the kitchen saying, "my parents said I can" over and over. I went over and he just looked at me, "my parents said I can". I about DIED of laughter!!!

Cole wants to be like Devin. Whenever Devin is out switching the cars around or shoveling the walk Cole wants to be right there with him. The other day we were brushing teeth and Cole asks, "can I use daddy's toothbrush?" 

Me: "you should just use your own bud."

Cole:"but i'm a big boy! Can I please use daddy's?"

Cole is also improving in the art area. He has been drawing circles for sometime but just recently started drawing triangles. 

One thing that hasn't changed is his goofiness...

Sadie baby.

I don't think we should call her baby anymore because she insists on being big. We got the kids a table for Christmas and that is the only place they will eat their food. So Sadie loves to eat at that table too. We tried putting her bumbo on the table but that wasn't good enough. As you can imagine mealtime has become very messy! But she's getting pretty good at feeding herself!  

In the car one day I looked back and this was the face I saw. She just makes me laugh all day with her funny expressions. 

Sadie loves to color. Probably more than the other two did at this age. 

She is always coming to me with books, paper or markers if she can get her hands on one. I'm just happy she still comes to me so I know she wants to draw and doesn't do it by herself.

My mom got Sadie this bunny for Christmas and it is one if her favorite toys. She has also hijacked Cole's favorite puppy and claims it as get own....

We're hoping February brings warmer weather but so far it isn't looking to good. Praying for inspiration and creativity to get us through these cold cold months!