School Picture

School pictures really are a rip off. They are expensive, boring, and you only get one shot (pun intended:). They are a big waste of money to me. But I could not resist getting her picture this year! She looks so grown up and cute! She told me it was her "best one yet!" She is very proud of her short hair and glasses. What can I say? I love my precious girl!

Pie Anyone?

November brought us a pie eating contest:

 M was the only child who really participated. She had so much fun and thought it was hilarious!

One of our favorite outings is going to our local theatre. We can each get a treat, a drink, and a ticket for under $20! It's a deal! M got Milk Duds "like Grandmoma!" She also saves her treat until the movie starts-unlike J who tears into his cotton candy the second he sits down!

This is what my desk at work looks like on Fridays! So much paper work!

A dear sister in our ward volunteered to give M cake decorating lessons so here they are on the first one:

 M had so much fun and used every. single. tip!

I think my favorite moment of the day is the evening time when we can read stories and snuggle with the kids. After the hustle and bustle of our busy day it is so nice to have peace and quiet and hear about how their day went and catch up on sweet hugs and kisses. Here are my handsome boys doing just that:

So sorry this picture is upside down. This is a picture of the first love note to M from a boy- a boy named Jayden. Jayden and M have been buds since kindergarten. Apparently the relationship has progressed despite our constant reminders to M that right now boys are just friends! Here's how the story goes: the note was deposited in M's locker. Now that he has confessed his love to her they are both too shy to speak face to face. All communication between the two happens via a mutual friend named Tyler!

And now for "the rest of the story" (Paul Harvey anyone?) A week or so ago (Feb 2015) Jayden asked M if she wanted to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. M came home pretty excited and nervous at the prospect. She wanted to play, but didn't know anything about the "teenage pootant ninja turtles" as J calls them. So Jared told her all about how to be April so she could play TMNT with her old pal Jayden. The said recess play date has not happened yet. We will see how this little second grade social drama plays out...

Eight is Great

It is really hard for me to believe my sweet girl is eight years old. She is so precious to me. She loves to be in the kitchen cooking, cake decorating, baking, and mixing up "science experiments." Nine times out of ten she will give up what she wants for someone else-especially her brother. She is loving, generous, helpful, silly, sensitive, and full of life. She has really improved in her reading and will speed through a Junie B. Jones! She is learning how to manage lots of friends at school and really enjoys her teacher.She loves listening to music and dancing. She loves to get"dolled up" -whether it is a special occasion or not. She will paint her nails, pick out a cute outfit with earrings, and gather her essentials into a coordinating purse.Her testimony is growing and she loves her Heavenly Father and her Savior. She is perfect in our family and I am so thankful for her each day.

 Here she is opening presents:

 She asks to go to Olive Garden on her birthday every year:

Opening more presents:

She invited her BFF to spend the night to celebrate. They played Chubby Bunny:

She asked for a giant Twix bar for her birthday instead of a cake. It took a long time to make and wasn't nearly as good as a regular size Twix! Sadly I didn't take any pics of it. Another memory I didn't get any pics of is when Mr. J and J brought treats to her class on her birthday. M really loved having them there. Overall I'd say she had a great birthday!

Fall Fun (cont'd)

J's preschool had a family night and the children performed. It was cute. 

We spent an afternoon at the park. The kids love it so much when they get to play with their daddy. Mommy is not so fun. But they will take Daddy in a heartbeat!

Halloween:

Introducing a rock star, Obi Wan, and Flash: (I went as myself because that is scary enough.) 

It was too cold and snowy to go trick-or-treating (for us anyway- the weather did not stop most Michiganders). So we went to the ward party. It was pretty fun.

J's babysitter is the best! She sends me pics (occasionally) of the fun things they do.

M's party at school:

One day after school I told the kids we were going to rake for a while. M took a minute before she came out and joined us. She had changed into a "good raking outfit." Apparently she has to look cute while working in the front yard in case people drive by and see her??!

Fall Fun

#johnnywon'twearpants even when it is 55 F outside!

Caramel apples at the neighbor's:

Every time he got the slightest amount of sticky on him he had to go upstairs and wash it off.

Down Syndrome Buddy Walk 2014!

I love having an actual fall season and the beautiful colors. M took this shot from the car window:

We went to watch Miss P's brother's football game and just did a lot of playing with little Miss P:

Before I started my job I was helping in M's class once a week until lunch time and then I would get to have lunch with this delightful bunch:

Random selfie:

I also helped at J's school once a week. It was really fun to play with him at school and watch him interact with the other children too.

He was very helpful at clean up time:

Raking leaves: