January Phone Favorites

 Usually January is dark, depressing and LONG. This year January was my FAVORITE! We were unusually busy, and we did a lot of snuggling. I've taken a bit of a new approach to my parenting style, whenever my kids are driving me up the wall I take a deep breathe and say "Present/Perfect, I will never get them like this again." I find that so often I am always saying "Well, once he's potty trained, once they are in school, once he's sleeping through the night... things will be easier. I suppose it's true in a way but it's also true, that I end up wishing my days away and I will never get my kids, in this stage ever again and it kind of breaks my heart. So, I want it to be the best. Not perfect, most of the time the kids don't remember if the house was perfectly clean, or if I did all the "big" things. They remember laughing until they peed, or laying on the floor reading books. It's the little things that make the biggest impact and I want to be the kind of Mom I want them to remember. Wow that was long winded, so here was a month that was full of lots of little things and a very random list of phone favorites.

This year, I bought some ceramics from a friend to give as Christmas gifts. I saw this little pot and immediately thought of my next door neighbor. I'd be lost without Michelle. She put a little plant in the pot and I am completely obsessed with how cute it turned out. 

 Jakob shaved his beard... Not going to lie, I miss the beard. He had fun shaving however.

Daddy's Spotter.

It was Duke's turn for date day with Daddy! For his date Daddy took him to the theater to see Star Wars. Duke was thrilled!! They got snacks, popcorn and drinks and they had such a great time bonding! I love the relationship the kids have with their Dad.

Sunday snuggles while watching the CHIEFS!!! WE'RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hygee is the art of coziness. We had a cozy ladies night at a friends house and it was the coziest scene. 

Redd fought off this random rash for a few weeks. 

Five kiddos is a lot of kiddos but they make me so happy. I love watching Duke with Millie. That boy was made to have a little sister.

Sweet blue-eyed boy!

E's super awesome hair. She got it all fancy by jumping on the trampoline. Love my little earth child.

Double chin and we are here. for. it!! Also love this onesie. E said that the big whale was her, the blue what was Duke, the little whale was Sprout and then there was Baby Redd.

No caption needed!

We started Redd on a bottle and he was all about it! Here's to keeping this going!!

Side by side play. 

Helping with dinner.

Namaste.

Love this kid and his glasses!

This one makes me chuckle.

Asking Google how to spell words because Mom knows nothing. 

This boy LOVES Dory. He was locked in, chatting, cooing and smiling for the entire movie! No joke!

Movie night with my crew!

Nurf gun wars.

Finger printing.

And a lesson in germs.

Bear lost his first tooth! He let Mama pull it out and didn't even cry until he saw the blood. this kid is a champ!

A favorite Mama snuggle picture!

"Mama? You help me milk my boo boobs?"

Like father like son.

We take home defense very seriously.

Sweet note from E!

My happy place!!

Dancing time with Daddy!

 Eating pizza like a champ.

Phew!!! What a rush! Such an awesome month.

Tobler Igloo 2020

 There was a big dumping of snow and we couldn't be more excited!! School was cancelled and you know what this means??? It's time fro an igloo!!! 

 Sprout just mowing the snow. I love this picture.

 

Oh look, there's a moose outside my window. 

It was a bit tricky trying to balance Redd inside and building an igloo outside. But, I'd go out for about a half n hour and then come back in to tend Redd, then back out again. I taught the kiddos how to build and they did a great job while I was inside. 

I specifically bough this tote to build igloos. It worked out great! I think we need two though for next year. 

Such great team work!

After about 3 hours, we had an igloo and gosh darn it she was beautiful!!!

She ended up being about 5ft in diameter and about 5 ft tall. 

Peanut could lay out inside and all of the kids fit too!

Then Duke made a snowman. He was darling, and at this point there was no snow left in our yard, or driveway or part of the neighbors driveway.

All the kiddos inside the igloo the next morning. The kids got up at 8:00 a.m. begging to go outside and by 8:45 everyone was bundled up playing. They may be more Canadian than I thought. 

Baby starfish! 

Two days later, we a had a bit of an ice storm. Nothing too major. Jakob said the roads were slick, but not too bad.

It was pretty though.

This is my happy place!