Philip has the camera . . .

 I never would have thought of taking the photos he does . . . the world through his eyes . . .

 the jewelry box Grandpa Phil made

 hmmm . . . he really thought this one was cool

 the new canvas Mary had made--isn't is neat?

 Our family in the beginning . . .

playing at Grandpa Phil's and Grandma Mary's :)

 UNO

 Battleship

 Geotracks

LEGO time

 This morning, the kids really needed to have a few good hours of playing upstairs together.  Every so often, there is this need to just play, unsupervised, for a long chunk of time.  It's been a while.  And, I do mean "unsupervised".  They would come to me about their disagreements over what and how they should play from time to time and I only gave general suggestions, if anything at all.  Most frequently, I just reminded them that they can get going on workbooks now instead of later--or--they can figure out a plan together, nicely.  I think they needed to have some time to practice working things out for themselves.  They often emerge closer together and more confident after these times.  One of the activities they did was play with LEGOs.  I am so proud of them.  They each brought different personalities to the table and had to remember how to treat each other.

Sophia was very excited, as usual, to do her work books.  Here, she is doing her new dot-to-dot book that we found at Barnes and Noble. 

happy Mommy moment

 A couple of evenings ago, I had a "happy Mommy moment".  You know, everything works out smoothly and you just treasure that moment in your heart forever.  I was making dinner.  Not just that, but I was actually making fried chicken! (Okay, so they were from boneless, skinless tenderloins; that's as good as it gets around here!)  During my "actually wearing an apron to cook" activity (as opposed to just warming up the usual nuggets, corn dogs or fish sticks), Jess is being his usual handy-man self and changing the oil in the vehicles, the boys are watching the news that I have on in the kitchen (I think they are just happy to have the t.v. on!) and Sophia is reading in the chair.  It was such a pleasant time!

Here, the story is about test-tube hamburgers . . . hmmm, glad we can have fried chicken, but interesting . . .

A Day at Grandma Helen's

 I had a great day visiting with these two lovely ladies!

  . . . and these two lovely lady-ettes!

 The Beautiful Mommies with their Beautiful Baby Girlies!

 The race is on!

Nap time again!

Playing chess!

Furry Friends :)

Philip and Sophia used some money they received in a Valentine to purchase these at Kohl's.  So cute.

Happy Valentines Day!

 The kids received a few Valentines in the mail today!

We finally got some snow!

 We made a valentine snowman first.

 Then, the kids made their own.

 Samuel worked on his a long time.  He definitely had a vision of what he wanted!  And, boy, I thought I'd never get the second roll on top of the first--it was heavy!

 Herb came out and threw snowballs with the kids!!!  Such fun!!

 forts

 lunch outside . . . the younger two eventually came in for a quick warm-up--for their food and their bodies!  Then, they finished up their snowmen . . .

 "football player"

 Samuel

 Sophia made Josie (her baby cousin)

hot cocoa :)

Grandpa Phil and Grandma Mary sent a kit home with hot cocoa, marshmallows and chocolate chips!  Yum!

100th Day!

 100 snack mix:  100 of each ingredient

 Sophia had to place each marshmallow in a special crevice in the pretzels.  That was definitely the slowest 100 to count out!

100 M&M charts
awards
"If I had 100________, I would_________." worksheets
jumped 100 seconds--well, Philip and I were the only troopers there!
LEGO creations with 100 LEGOs
made a cake and wrote 100 on it

Addy ad Sophia

 This is Sophia's friend who had a birthday party when Sophia was sick.  She finally got to give her gift to her!  yay!

They had so much fun together!