January Phone Favorites

Oh January, you are usually my hardest month. I feel so sad after all the holidays are over, It's cold and dark and there isn't much generally to look forward too but this year was so different. It was slow, relaxed and calm. It was a month full of random business that kept me on the go, but very few large things that needed my attention and it was glorious! Cheers to this months phone favorites.

Okay blue eyed babe, you are stunning!

The constant hand washing and sanitizing at school has destroyed Duke's poor hands. Using allllllll the lotions. 

Happy Birthday to Gram.

First time we've had stroganoff in years and it  was delicious!

I love

you!

I threw out my back in the middle of January. Literally could not stand and it was awful. After a week things were still tender and so I started seeing a chiropractor. Turns out, I need to learn how to squat properly. 

Sibling snuggles are the best. E is such a wonderful Mini Mama.

Spring Cleaning!!!! AHH this cupboard feels SO much better!

Our first Zoom church and it was so strange! 

Its our least favorite time of year again. When a busy Daddy becomes even busier. Jakob is ramping up for his CFA test in June. You've got this babe.

took some pictures of Millie and Sprout. They look like prom photos and a cannot stop laughing every time I look at them. 

Duke's teacher asked us parents to make up a wall of affirmations for the school to come by and take one. This is the card that E chose and it makes me smile. 

We were supposed to decorate our car for teacher appreciation day. There were a total of five cars decorated. We had so much fun!

GO BEAR GO!!!!!!!

 

 

Duke also won at Catan with his little glasses road. Good job dude!

Boys *insert eye roll*

These amazing children BOTH got the ROAR award and other certificates at school today. Oh my loves Mama is so proud of you. 

Okay February I'm ready for you bring on the valentines, cupids and candy hearts!

December Phone Favorites Pt. II

 December in Kansas Phone Favorites pt II. Oh Christmas time, you are magical! 

Cozy blankets, poofy pillows and Charlie Brown. Be still my heart!

There is a street in Missouri where EVERY SINGLE HOUSE is done up and decorated like this! EVERY. SINGLE. HOUSE!

Watching a show during quiet time all snuggled up.

Could he be any cuter?!

This month we went to war with the IEP team for Duke. Most IEP meetings are about 20 minutes long. We were in there for 2 1/2 hours. Jakob Skyped in there with me and we pushed HARD. Duke's speech therapist called me the morning of the meeting and told me that she was pretty confident that my request to have him expand and keep his IEP would be denied. To say I was upset by this information would be a serious understatement. My soul was on FIRE! I called all the people I could think of, people who had experience with IEP's, previous retired teachers that know my children, my Mama. We set up a game plan, said a prayer and we went to war and we WON! I was so grateful to have Jakob there as a "educated" person who felt more than just "mom." After the meeting, I sent gift cards and a note apologizing for taking up so much time and this is a letter that I got from Duke's teacher. I just started sobbing. It's a hard battle but so worth it.

 Deanna Rose Christmas lights.

We had too many card this year and had to find a new loctaion and my goodness it made my heart so happy to see so many people I love in one place!

I read 69 books this year and man was it a good year for reading. This series was absolutely my favorite. Fantasy, dragons, and a super cute romance. Phew, okay. 2021 let's do this!

Cocoa Bombs

 Hot Coca Bombs where a big fad this year and I knew that I just had to try them. I learned quite a bit from the experience like

1. Do two layers of chocolate so that they don't melt and fall apart when you handle them.
2. Make sure you fill the cup allllll the way to the top of the circle or else the lip will be uneven and you'll have a hole when melting them to seal together.
3. Always handle with a cupcake liner to avoid them melting.
4. When sealing together run your finger over the seam to get a good seal.
5. No matter how ugly they are on the inside they'll be pretty on the outside. If adding a drizzle make sure it isn't too hot or it'll melt the ball. 
6. When pouring the milk, pour on the seam if looking for a good "breaking open video and have your milk boiling.
7. They are VERY sweet. One bomb is probably enough for 3-4 cups.
   

 

We made ours with several fun flavors like White chocolate or raspberry white chocolate or salted caramel. It was really fun!

 

 

 Ready to make them (before we knew about tip number 7.

 

 

They were fun to make but a lot of work, perhaps theby will be fast next year now that I have some experience. 

August Phone Favorites

August went by in a blink. Summer ended and school and new routines began. And here we are in September! Here are our August phone favorites.

Bear went to the park one day and I totally didn't notice that he had two complete different shoes on. 

Mom win!

For Jakob and my anniversary, he had scouts and I had a YW activity at the swimming pool. It wasn't the most romantic date but these three treated me well. 

Sandwiches in all forms of the term. 

Nothing quite like snuggles with Daddy. 

Rainy days call for forts!

Decorations for our New Beginnings activity. 

Sprout is all about towers. 

And Pans.

Fixing the doors like Daddy.

Our first solo day together while the kids were at school included a date at IKEA. 

We went to the library and the kids had a grand time playing with puzzles and reading stories. 

Someone has been waking up rather early and coming to snuggle with Mama while Daddy was gone for a week this month.

Photographic evidence of how our bed look after I slept in it alone. I don't move much in the night. hehe.

Sprout helping me with the laundry.

He's a big fan spoons.

The cords hanging has been driving me mad! I have had the stuff to fix it for the last year and a half, so it was time to get it done.

Took two minutes. It's funny how the little things get put off when they are so easy. 

Yoga time with my littles.

He's a big fan of play doh!

Becasue sitting on my lap was too much commitment but sitting on the floor was abandonment. 

No more high chair for this little man. 

 Playing with Mama's eyeliner. 

I started watching a three month old named Millie. I get to have her three days a week. She is dang cute and keeps me on my toes.

How we do chores.

Best helpers.

E got her first zit.

E drew a beautiful picture of our family. I so love these little people of mine!!