It's Melting!

 The snow is melting!  I have no doubt we will get more at some point soon, but it's predicted that we'll have some (relatively) higher temps this week; I'm assuming most of the snow will be gone by the end of the week.  The kids took advantage of what we do have left this afternoon!

Caleb and Meredith have loved trying to "snowboard" down this little hill in the cul-de-sac across from our house.  They can't stay up for more than a second or two, but they don't seem to mind the frequent falling!

 

 

Norah liked marching around in the yard stomping on and smashing big balls of snow.

30 Degrees and Sunny...

 ...feels almost like Spring!

Learning

On Monday I took Shane to visit Bethlehem, where he will attend 4-year old preschool next year.  He is crazy excited about going to "real preschool" (trying not to take too much offense to that one!) and part of me is just as excited.  But a bigger part of me is a little sick over it.  I feel like my kids are just dropping like flies over here!  One by one they each keep leaving the nest.  I know, I know...I'm so dramatic.  But seriously, this is tough!  

Anyway, while I still have him home full-time with me, I've been cherishing the opportunity to not only spend time with my Bug, but to do some basic (and super informal) preschool stuff with him.  It's nothing fancy, but just enough.  One of the things we stay try to stay consistent with is our daily calendar time....and one of the things that Shane has been working so hard on this year is learning the Days of the Week song.  To the tune of The Adams Family, here's how it goes...

There's Sunday and there's Monday,

There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,

There's Thursday and there's Friday, 

and then there's Saturday.

Days of the week (clap clap),

Days of the week (clap clap),

Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (clap clap).

He's had very little trouble with most things we've done this year...numbers, letters, etc.; but this darn song has been tricky for him!  And today, he finally did it - all by himself - for the first time!  He was so proud!

 And another special accomplishment today....he finally figured out how to use clothespins to hang up these felt clothes on the clothesline!  In the past, he has struggled...despite having the fine motor skills to open and close the clothespin, he had difficulties actually doing that in sync with holding the article of clothing with his other hand and then coordinating it all in a way that would actually get it to stay on the line.  But today, he did it!

Love his concentration face!

 

Proud!

 This kid has such a great personality.  He gets so incredibly happy when he does something new, and I can't even describe how awesome if feels to see him in those moments.  Whether it is getting his undershirt on the right way all by himself or learning to write a new letter, he is stoked when he does it.

I am so proud of this kid, and I am so grateful that he's home with me every day so that I can witness all these fun accomplishments first hand!

Norah's 1st Time in the Snow

 The kids are so excited that it is finally warm enough (relatively speaking of course) to play in the snow.  After Meredith got home from school today, the little 3 bundled up and headed out.  Norah was a little confused at first, but quickly warmed up (not literally) to the idea and had a great time picking up snow and tossing it.  She lasted the longest, as both Meredith and Shane got really cold really fast (it is sunny but still only about 15 degrees out, so I don't blame them).   Norah stayed right outside the patio door and did her thing for a good 15 minutes. ;)

 

 Of course, we followed up their cold play with a hot treat.

We Love Our Church

 

 This weekend our church celebrated its 30th anniversary!  This morning's service was God-honoring and reminiscent.  And we all got new shirts (and cake pops, yum!) as a fun bonus!  

After lots of years, memories, friends, and familiarity at our former church, the transition to this new one a year and a half ago was not super easy for me (although everyone else in the fam was just fine!).  But the Lord showed His faithfulness (like He always does) to me in so many ways and He brought me to a place of true thankfulness for our new church home.  It's a warm and safe place where His Word is foundational, His name is worshiped, and His people are loving and compassionate.  We feel cared for and our kids are cared for.   Everything there is done with such intentionality and thought.  We have learned and grown and made new and wonderful friends.  I'm so excited to continue living life with people there, and I am beyond grateful for the children's and youth ministries in place that will help us in guiding our kiddos to love Jesus and to be more like Him.  While we haven't been there for much of its 30 year existence, we have been there long enough to know that we really do love our church!

Chicago

 Somewhat last minute, we decided to take a little excursion downtown.  We rode the train (more cost-effective AND more fun for the kids), stayed at a hotel (with a pool!), and enjoyed the Chicago Children's Museum (Thursday evenings are FREE!).  The kids had such a fun time, and it was a great way to end the last full week of break.

On the train, headed down!

What's more fun than jumping on the beds in the hotel room?

 Some pics from the museum...

 The last time we visited this museum was almost exactly 5 years ago.  Here's a picture Meredith and I took that day...

 And, an attempt at recreating that picture on the same canoe...

 And....Shane being silly in the hotel...

Breakfast!

 Quick swim before checking out...