Bus stop

Late start Mondays. Our favorite! Every Monday the girls start late! So we don't have to be to the bus stop until 9:20. So nice to have a slow start to the day after the weekends.... It was a gorgeous morning! Blankets of fresh snow covered the streets and trees....

rainbow loom

the latest and greatest since christmas time.... the kids are crazy about the rainbow loom! kate and caelan loomed for hours this weekend! such a fun thing for the kids to do.... so many kids are crazy over it! its the top toy of the year.

bracelets.... 3d animals. food. phone cases. purses. you name it, it can be made out of the rubber bands and loom.

im crazy over the deer caelan made me :)

cupcake charms with the rainbow loom

Kelly Klossner turns 40!

we went to aunt susie and uncle mikes this past weekend to celebrate Kellys 40th! a 970's themed fondue party! i made a yummy artichoke dip to bring...

our gift :)

Memorizing scripture

Since right after the new year we have really focused on memorizing scripture. It's been such a neat thing to do as a family..... It's been such an encouragement to us.

Emery's birthday!

We went to Emery's 2nd birthday celebration yesterday. The big girls enjoyed rainbow looming and emery provided much entertainment singing and dancing for all of us. So adorable and sweet!!!


Bummer is I wasn't feeling well at all.... In fact we left abruptly because I took a turn for the worse.... We didn't make it 2 blocks and I had to open to car door and got sick. :( such a bummer not feeling well. I've been taking different medications for cold/flu and hoping its just from that and not the flu. So weird how it came on suddenly.... :(

Valentines day

We had a nice relaxing valentines day.... Went and picked up a papa Murphy's heart shaped pizza, and cheesy bread.... Made a big yummy salad..... The girls made cupcakes all by themselves.
We watched movies and had a fire in the fireplace. Best nights are like this. Simple.
Sweet.
Spent together.

We gave the girls little fun things to celebrate the day. A small Lego set. Thermals. Rainbowloom bands.

Valentines day at school

The girls are out of school for the next 4 days for the holidays, so today was party day for valentines day! We started off with donuts on the way to school! Yum! Then I split my time in both classrooms but caelan didn't want me taking pictures.... Sadly we are in that stage.... That's embarrassing mom, stage. In 5th grade there aren't many moms helpin and attending parties, where as 3rd grade was full of parents and camera flashes going off every 2 minutes.... Middle school is fast approaching and its sad in many ways, watching caelan be independent and not wanting me around, but then that's a neat thing because we wanna teach that to our children! Independence is a good thing.... I'll celebrate that she's growing up into a neat young lady :)
Riley wanted photos of her and Presley! And a photo with Mia, Taylor and Beckham! Love that boy! He's the one that blessed my heart with my Ethiopia bracelet I BLOGGED about in previous posts.... Love their family! Consider it sheer blessings to know such amazing people up here with hearts like theirs!!!! Love that! Nothing like it.

Valentines day prep

All set for their parties!!!!! Rainbow loom bracelets and candy.... Riley also opted to add fruit roll-ups in each of her bags :) fun stuff! Loved watching them take the time to make each classmate a bracelets! Took so much thought and so much time. Riley made each one special for each kid.... Chose complicated designs!!! Caelan thought about school colors! Each one was purple and green to show school spirit! Loved their thought process!!!! Sweet girls. So proud of them. :) (Riley loved her shirt Mimi!)

Painting!

More painting!!! It continues to brighten up the room! Loving it!!!! So much work but so worth it!

adoption: bumps in the road

well.... we finally had selected an agency, International Adoption Guides and we sent for paperwork and got our application fees ready..... and literally the same day, there were 4 people arrested for corruption in Ethiopia that are involved in this agency....

we were devastated... but also, knowing full well that we have been praying for the right agency to come along, that would help us get to our son....

we know he is out there, all four of us feel that in our hearts.... and now we just have to find the agency that will lead us to him....

praying and trusting that what ever agency we go with will be ethical. work under high standards and are not operating falsely....

praying....

on our knees....

Old man winter....

Old man winter, is this some kind of joke? This cold snap is crazzzzzyyyyy! -5 today with a "feels like" of -23...... Bring on spring :) ready for some warmth! It is absolutely gorgeous out though, I must say! When the snow blows from the trees it looks like glitter! Its gorgeous! But I would love spring to start appearing :)

Icey!!!!

Icicles!!!! Crazy large ones!!! And frigid temps!!!!