January 5th

Another day of sleeping in!  YEAH!!  (Does life get any better???) And yes sleeping in still means 8 AM in my book.

I loved taking Alaina to the theater to see Frozen even if we had a rocky start in the morning.  I loved that despite the cold we were warm inside watching a cold movie.  I loved the irony that a huge cold spell was moving into our area today and we weren't expected to be above zero for the next few days.

I loved watching her excited to see what we were going to (I am a mom who likes to surprise.)  I LOVED the fact that she didn't know anything about the movie--showing how I still am the main influence on her life and can shelter her from the commercial world until she is ready to understand and decipher the meaning of commercials.  I loved how she stood instead of sat in her seat as the move began.  I loved how she sat in my lap most of the movie and I was able to stroke her hair.  I LOVED having special time with my girl. 

I loved that after lunch we assembled the gingerbread trains I bought on clearance.  I loved how there was a car for each child.   I loved watching their excitement.  I loved that they snitched candy when they could and discovered making the train look like the box was much more difficult than they thought.  I loved how we relaxed and played games for the day.  I loved how I got all the paint things finally out of the girls room.  I loved knowing that there was no school the next day due to the cold weather and that we would all be safely at home, snuggly warm.

January 4th

I loved this day!

After sleeping in, we went ice skating.  Talia went boot skating.  We had a wonderful time.  I loved watching Talia try and fall and try again.  I loved watching Alaina watch others skate.  I loved watching Kylan skate without fear, fall, laugh at himself and start all over.  I loved watching Rob just be a tad awkward, not completely understanding how to move gracefully (or being fearful of falling.)  I loved watching the kids push each other around on the ice skating aids.  I loved looking at my community and the beauty of the park.  I once again was reminded how much I love this community!  I love our park system for supporting skating rinks where we can skate for free.  I love how eco-conscious people are.  I love how Alaina asked why "that adult was using an aid--she is too big for it!"  I loved how warm it was before the coldness was going to set in.  I loved returning home for lunch that included hot cocoa for the kids.  I loved running to the store by myself and grabbing a few awesome Christmas clearance items as well as NAPKINS for cheap--we love cloth napkins!  (Have you seen my kids eat?!)  I loved going to the Princeton Club for a quick workout for church (though I did not love how crowded it was.)  I love being able to attend church on a Saturday and not having to worry about going out in the bitter cold on Sunday.  I loved returning home for pizza and movie night and watching the VERY lame Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  (Mental reminder to not ever record that Christmas special again.)  I loved once again ending the night with my husband in front of the fireplace. 

Jan 3rd

I Loved sleeping in again.  I loved that even though I was angry from messes, Ky told me that he was going to try harder to pick up after himself.  I love how the kids immediately pulled it together, cleaned up and we were able to go to the Y to swim.  I love that the Y is open to anyone this week.  I loved watching the kids play in the pool.  The girls chased after each other down the slide and giggled.  I love that Ky did the swimming test and passed (though I wasn't surprised--I was just proud of his courage to do it.)  I love that the girls wanted to go in the big pool.  I love how Alaina is getting confident in her swimming and can swim comfortably with just a noodle.  I love how Talia still has no fear of the water and kept trying to swim in the deep end.  I love how both girls jumped in.

I loved to be able to paint in the girl's room and to finish it up!  YEAH!  I loved having lunch and watching a movie with the kids in the family room.  I loved when daddy came home and joined us.  I loved anticipating the cold weather that was coming and the possibility of having the kids home for a few extra days.  It was sad that break was coming to an end so soon--it was so busy it didn't seem like we had enough time to enjoy it.  I loved enjoying time by the fireplace with my husband at the end of the night.  I loved that he agreed to this "Clean Eating Detox" with me.

January 2nd

I loved that it was another day of sleeping in (8 of course!)  ( I didn't love that my husband had to go back to work.)  I loved the fact that it was our first day of our Clean Eating Detox and the breakfast shake was pretty good even if it was full of spinach.  I loved watching my kids finish the lasts of the cinnamon rolls.  I loved Julie's email saying how wonderful they were--and I loved Rob all the more!   I loved going to the Princeton Club and being able to stay for a full session of punk rope.  I loved how it kicked my butt and reminded me I needed to start running again.  I loved taking the kids to Walmart to exchange a few gifts (things they already had.)  (I did NOT love the customer service and I was reminded once again why I don't shop at Walmart as my heart ached for those that work there full time and still need food stamps to live.)  I loved watching Ky pick out another Lego Set. And guiltily I did love the Christmas clearance where I bought lots of jars for gifts next year.  I LOVED watching my kids tear open the new Lego sets they bought  (Yes they got more Legos!) and play so nicely with each other.  I loved the dinner we had as a family--hummus chicken--despite the work and it being so "lemony".  I loved watching Rob read the kids their bedtime story.

Another attempt at blogging....

Well blogger has been frustrating.  I have battled with picture uploads and that has just made me leave it for another day...and then another day become months....

Well a friend of mine started posting daily "I loves" at the end of the day on Facebook.  This has motivated me to try to type my own "I loves" each day on blogger (no picture--unless I get something figured out.)

I have missed recording so many wonderful moments, so here is my attempt.  I will start with Jan 1 (even though it is the 8th today) and hopefully catch up.  (I may have to reorder my blog entries later to work...so here we go...

Jan 1st --I LOVED sleeping in again. And well that only means sleeping in until 8--but I will take EVERY BLESSED MINUTE!  I love that Rob made pumpkin cinnamon rolls and shoveled the driveway while they baked.  I loved watching the kids, especially Kylan, play with their new Legos!  (How long have I been trying to get them to like Legos??!?!!)  I love that I got to spend time with Julie's girls Katherine & Angela and even her (even though it was a short amount of time.)  I LOVED listening to the kids sing while Ky played piano--and yes it was horrible--and yes I did get video!  I loved that they played well together and that I was able to almost finish my photo book from 2012.  (BTW--I don't love Winkflash and will hopefully not use them again for photo books.)  I love that the kids got to exchange gifts and that Julie gave me awesome Christmas socks!  I love that she took the bigger kids to the Y and I was able to paint in the girl's room while Talia napped.  I LOVE books on tape.  I love that Rob offered to get the kids so I could paint, but I went and got them anyway.  And--well I don't remember much of what happened after that, but I know it was good becuase my day ended with my husband next to me.

Fancy Nancy Party 2013...Backwards...

We had our second annual Fancy Nancy Party on Talia's b'day this year.  It was originally planned in March, but I got sick the week of the party and had to postpone it.  Talia's b'day just happened to be the best day--even though it was really Alaina's party.  The pics loaded backwards and I am not fighting with Blogger anymore--so enjoy the party from finish to beginning! :)

 

 Ice cream parfaits for the kids--complete with a cookie cup!  These were lots of fun to make!

Pictures with Teyla

Ashton--Talia's buddy

 Ashton is just a month older than Talia so we try to get cute pics of them together.  Isn't he adorable in his tie!?

Playing with Laura

MMMM...this ice cream parfait ROCKS!
 

The kids enjoying their ice cream parfaits.

Cindi with daughter Teyla

Lunch at the party 

 The adults "lunching"

 Violet--isn't she adorable?!

Some of the kiddos!  Laura & Zac--and Ashton walking into the pic.

 Laura arrives!

 Lexi!  One of Alaina's best buds!

 The party table

 The food!

 The drinks--yup--the kids drank out of wine glasses...we go ALL out for this party!  (Two years and I am the only person to have broken a glass!)

 A strawberry bouquet

 

The food! mmmm..... 

 My beautiful girl (notice the remainder are pics of my girls...because, well, they are mine and this is my blog and I LOVE to show off these beauties!

 My FAVORITE pic of Talia!

I asked Alaina how I could be a better parent last month--and she told me "Buy me 4" white high heels with a strap around the back."  Well they are actually 1.5" wedges--but she was very happy when I pulled them out for the party.

The party was a success again!  The kids had a great time getting tattoos, playing and eating lots of yummy food in their Fancy attire.  We will definitely do this again next year.

BTW--Alaina picked out my outfit for me--a red bridesmaid dress and brown heels...I wish I had taken a pic with her, but I forgot.  She was very proud of the "Ensemble" she made fo me.