January

Let's just roll right into 2019. Somehow we took no pictures of whatever we did to ring in the New Year. And without picture proof...did it really happen? What definitely happened was the last few days of Christmas break and the kids playing with ALL the Christmas toys. Felicity seemed to receive the "crafty" gifts and enjoyed them so much!

Miriam did her first science fair project. She can give you all the fun, germy details. Short version: She rubbed cut potatoes on various surfaces in and around the house to see which potato would grow gross-ness the fastest. Not to spoil the surprise...but go out to your car with a tub of clorox wipes and use the WHOLE THING on the steering wheel. Then get another tub and scrub down your toilet seat. Then do it again. She did very well and earned fourth place at the regional science fair out of all the 3rd graders in the area.

When the girls went back to school, Simon kept Mommy entertained with his new "smile". It's just about the cheesiest thing you've ever seen. 

Though occasionally we capture something closer to his real smile. 

And Aunt Bridget and Elijah did fun activities with us!

Papa, Tim's dad, celebrated his 75th birthday in the middle of the month.

But January was really about snow and cold. Sometimes it was the perfect snow and cold for playing and fun.

But most of the time it seemed to be the kind of snow and cold that trapped us in and tried to come indoors with us.

There was an entire week of no school. Which Mommy loved. Keep them all here warm and toasty! The teachers arranged e-learning days and the principal even got involved letting the kids build forts and read for 10 minutes x their grade level. Around here, Mommy kept the kids busy with pretend pizza parlor playtime, play dough, castle crafts, vinegar and baking soda science, reading, paper bag puppets, movies, and SO MUCH hot chocolate.

 It may have been the coldest January on record, but we kept plenty warm together!