It has been a very cold and snowy winter. Our first one here was impressive, and we've heard it was a pretty bad one compared to most years. We got down to -40 below and pretty big snow storms, though nothing we haven't ever seen before. But the consistent frigid cold days were a little hard to handle day after day, we found plenty of ways to stay warm. There were even weeks the temperatures didn't reach above zero!
I decided hibernation for humans is a thing. Head out once a week for groceries, and we're good! Dave took the kids to school when it was below zero (though the kids have the option to go out for recess up to -10 or stay indoors until it gets above 0) and so Cov and I stayed home many days. Luckily, I'm a home body. Lots of jammie time, reading, snuggling, trying to keep Cov active indoors, mommy preschool activities and hot chocolate! The kids love sitting on the heater vents...and I do too, sometimes. It's pretty funny!
Since it was so cold, a few times, we had to bring the snow in. The kids did an array of snowman art, which was so cute. We made indoor snow and made mini snowmen with it and played in it for hours. And we got giant cardboard boxes to "sled" down since it was too cold. We went sledding a few times when it was around 0, and the boys only lasted about 10 minutes. So we did what we could inside. Once we got some warmer temperatures, the kids were taking off their coats in 35-40 degree weather saying it felt very warm. We were able to get out to do some snowmen, watching the owls in the trees and on power poles, digging trenches in the snow, sledding at the school, creating snow forts, jumping on the tramp. The kids all agreed "it feels good to get out again!" Nothing like fresh air!
We also celebrated some little holidays to keep the good times rolling. For chocolate cake day, the kids all helped make our own chocolate cake, which turned out tasty, especially in our new oven. Our appliances just came, hooray! Just took two months to get here. ;)
We had a Chinese New Year festival and had so much fun! We had Chinese food for dinner (orange chicken, fried rice, and oranges), made a rooster craft since it's the year of the rooster (which made rooster sounds, the kids got cracked up over that - "It sounds just like a rooster!"), had a little red packet (hongbao) scavenger hunt, read some books on the holiday and the country of China. Last, we had paper and paint and told the kids to think of some words they wanted to learn how to make the characters. Emma wanted to learn how to write this. I thought it was so appropriate with the condition of the world right now. Reading the news lately everyday it can be overwhelming and scary. I'm thankful for what I know, for the future generations and have confidence everything will work out. World peace is an ideal we should all shoot for and it starts with each one of us doing our part. To a prosperous and peaceful year! We also celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday, of course. We had Green eggs and ham and Cat in the hat pancakes for breakfast, then we made a mess with oobleck, read lots of Suess books, and we designed new hats for the Cat in the hat and the kids made some snazzy designs. "It's a troublesome world. All the people who are in it are troubled almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not." -Dr. Suess We also celebrated Pi day, Emma had to come up with a menu and make it for a GS badge and so we did it on pie day. She made biscuit pot pie, and then Butterfinger and banana cream pie for dessert. She did a great job!
We did make a getaway one weekend. We went to Williston for a routine shopping trip, oil change, haircut, etc. But we also went out to eat and went to the awesome Rec Center there. The indoor playground was a hit and the kids were impressed by how large it was. They loved the flow rider, the current pool, the water playground, the splash pad, large pool, and the slides. We stayed there the whole time it was open for open swim on Saturday. Great to get away sometimes!
Emma's been staying busy! She's been practicing with the girls 5th grade basketball team, who has a few tournaments against the other schools in the closest towns. Unfortunately, she won't suit up, because the games are all on Sundays, a choice she made. But she's been doing well sticking with it, though it's not her favorite she is making some good progress and having fun with her friends. She's been enjoying Girl Scouts. She's also been practicing hard for the music festival coming up. She was chosen to sing a duet for her fifth grade music class, and everyone in band is required to do a solo. She's excited and sounding really good, I think! She also was able to do a boxing class with a pro boxer that came and loved it! Emma also had her first music festival. She sang with her grade, the girls in her grade, sang duet "You are my Sunshine" with friend Joy, played a few songs with the 5th/6th grade band and performed on her trumpet "Theme from New World Symphony". She did awesome and scored almost perfect scores! A 23/25 on her trumpet solo. Her first note was rocky, but then she got going and sounded great - even remembered dynamics and changed her tempos to give it some character, which was awesome! We are proud of her hard work this year! She also is so great at home to help out with the kids and keep the peace.
Cal started up with gymnastics in January and has been loving it! They have an excellent gymnastics program here. He cartwheels and does round offs all day at home too. He's only hurt himself/others a few times. But he just can't get enough and is so glad he decided to do it. His teacher told me he has great ability and good muscles for a gymnast, so if he listens to her instructions carefully and follows suit, he will move up quickly to the show team. He also loves time with his friends, including fun birthday parties! He's still enjoying Cub Scouts, too, and making everyone around him laugh.
Lucy participated in a cheerleading camp that the high school cheer team put on. She had a blast! She was doing cheers all week at home and loved doing the "starfish jump" the best. They got to perform for half time at a basketball game. She wasn't nervous at all. She enjoyed it so much and said after "It's amazing! I don't know how, but my body just did it. It remembered it all!" We talked about how that's why we practice. We can memorize the words we read and the songs we practice on the piano because we do them over and over and our minds help us to be able to do that. The things she says are great! Lucy also just joined in the Girl Scout fun with Emma, since she usually has to come and ends up participating anyways. They've been working hard towards some badges and the girls have been starting to sell Girl Scout cookies. Samoas or Thin Mints, anyone? They're doing well! They went to the radio station with the troop to promote the sales and went to the library for a taste and order event and thought that was great! Lucy also lost her first tooth, which was totally a big deal! She loves brushing her teeth and always comments about how they are so shiny and white and sparkle. So her first one came out at school as she was wiggling it with her tongue. She was so happy to come home and tell us all about it and show her the bag. She couldn't wait to leave it for the tooth fairy to see what she'd get! The tooth fairy did come, with $5 and a note back, she was super trilled! She also lost her second tooth that week, and she took up the opportunity to find out more about her tooth fairy. She's a girl and her name is Grace Azure. Lucy has been very sweet lately and asks often "Does somebody need a hug?!"
if anyone in the family is sad or struggling and she'll proceed to embrace them. When some of our kids are whiny or complaining, I get annoyed mostly and a hug is the thing furthest from my mind for them. But Lucy helped me remember that when others are acting up, usually it's because they need an increase of love.
Covey's been doing great at home. He loves learning during our Mommy preschool. He loves going to Story Time at the library, which is really great, and we go to the Kid's Club at one of the local churches, which is good too. He loves getting to play with the kids when they get home. He's very excited about "Mom's baby" and always touches or kisses my tummy and says "Awww, your baby is so cute!" He's also been quite the buddy with Jazzy lately and loves to snuggle with her and play with her. Cov also had his first dentist appointment, and had a lot of anxiety about it but did really well! He said he was "cool dude" with the sunglasses on.
We've had quite a few illnesses and sick days around here. Makes me sad but thankful that most of the time we are healthy! I love seeing the kids take care of each other and help each other out. They get drinks for each other, help get blankets, do puppet shows to keep bed-ridden ones entertained, write notes or cards to get better. So sweet!
Dave's been doing awesome at work! He's working on the conversion for the hospital right now, it's a big job but he's handling it well. He also recruited a new doctor, who started about a month ago, who is fabulous! It's great having he and his family here, and we've heard nothing but great things from patients and the community. He's also been working on lots of projects around the house during his "spare time".
I've been keeping busy doing sewing project for the house, painting things around the house, taking care of the kids, exercising, and have been working on accompanying kids for the music festival here and the regionals coming up. Here's one of my favorite projects I've done lately. This eyesore turned beaut with the help of a little chalk paint!
It feels like it's been a long, cold winter, but at least the sun comes up once in a while giving us hope! And we have these good times that keep us going. :)
