Clara's Birthday Party!

This picture is just proof that earlier in the day Clara didn't look like such a ragamuffin! ☺

 Crystal and Ashley were making cakes for an upcoming wedding and offered to bake a cake for me, which I was thrilled about, and then they ended up making a little cake and cupcakes too! That was a complete time savor for me. (Thanks ladies!)

 We went with the usual pizza party because we had a lot going on that weekend.

 I waited too long and all kids had left by the time I took this picture.

 The joy that is taking a family photo...

Oh kids...

I'm always thinking I need to make more of an effort to take the kids pictures on Saturday morning before we go to church because they are all dressed up and looking nice for a few minutes. ☺ Then I quickly remember that Saturday mornings are a zoo trying to get all of us ready and out the door.

Last Saturday morning it was Clara's birthday and the kids had gotten us up around 7:00, so we had time to take a few shots. Clara wouldn't let me take any of just her though...

More Warm Weather

Lazy Sunday reading books, and Ella hiding under the blanket.

 Sharon got me a fitbit for my birthday,  and I bought one for Cary so we have been more motivated to get moving,  Since the weather is still nice we try to take every opportunity to get us all outside when we can...plus I like the scenery. ☺ On days that Cary is out of town and the afternoons get kind of crazy after the kids get home from school I definitely encourage (force) outside activity.

 Ella didn't bring her bike on this day, Aidan was riding way ahead of us on his bike and Ella and Britton were fighting over who got to sit in the wagon....I won't make the mistake of letting Ella not bring her bike.

 Britton pulled the wagon for a minute.

 I'm so good at selfies.

 It was just Clara and Britton this cloudy day.

 On Sunday our temps were in the 70's (!!!) so I thought I better get some water on the yard. Our poor yard looks like a war zone, but I figured I better try to keep the plants alive so Ella was watering the front yard and Britton wanted to water the back yard.

Of course, they were both soaked and had to change their clothes after a while...

January Catch Up!

Clara's first ponytail.

What happened when I told the boys to go clean their room...

Britton is usually loving on Clara or beating her up.

It was cold for the first part of January and then it warmed up, so we've been taking every opportunity to enjoy the nice days. On this particular walk, part of the water was still frozen, but the edges had melted and Ella got her shoes stuck in the mud.

Cary retrieving Ella's shoes out of the mud.

Britton - "Mom, take a picture of me!" and then proceeds to hop and run around.

I have a lot of pictures from our walks, so these were not all taken on the same day. I guess walks are when I actually stop and smell the roses (or take pictures) ;)

Clara is really into rocks right now... she could spend a lot of time collecting and throwing them. 

We stopped at the cemetery on this particular day.

I usually dread January and February, but if this is how they are going to be I may have to change my mind. ☺

We did spend most of January fighting colds and sickness, and I can do without that part, but we haven't had very much sickness this school year, so I can't complain too much.