Caleb's 1st Orchestra Concert

Caleb has been working so hard since August to learn to play the viola, and it was so fun to see it all come together tonight.  The beginner's orchestra (3rd graders) performed 7 little songs...I have some videos on my phone that I'll upload eventually, but here are some pics in the meantime...

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 I've always wanted to get some fun centerpiece for this coffee table in our family room.  But realistically, this is what it's for!  And, honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way right now.  As much as I would love to have more "style" to our home, what's most important to me is that it is a comfortable and safe place for guests, and most importantly - our kids.  And for right now, that looks a little bit like this!

Uncle Kyle got us a year's subscription to Kiwi/Koala Crate for Christmas...we got our first boxes yesterday...SO fun!

 

Kris' carpenter friend built us this unit with the intentions of putting it into the wall.  But upon learning that the wall is actually a foundation wall and can't be messed with, he instead just attached it to the wall like this. I love it!  It takes up a lot less space than our other TV stand, and it's off the floor which means no toys get lost under there!  And props to Kris who set everything up so that the cords are all hidden behind the wall.

I've been wanting a way to put up pictures of the sweet kids we've cared for through Safe Families, and finally got around to doing this:

 

Still need to get this guy's picture up there!

 Lunch time!

 I've been trying to be better at eating breakfast.  I typically just drink coffee in the morning and that's it. I finally found something I like to eat in the morning.  Scrambled eggs and yogurt w/ granola and extra almonds.

 Clean and Sparkly in her Elsa towel from Grandma!

 One day after school, everyone was just wiped.  I let them just lounge and watch a show.  You can tell how tired they are!

 A friend gave us some of these Jelly Beads....they are so fun!  They started out as tiny and hard beads.  After soaking in water in the fridge for 6 hours, they became these fun jelly-like balls.  The girls have been loving playing with them!

 This boy loves MarioKart.  And he stands to play.

 Caleb has been working hard on his latest school project - a Family Tree.  He's finishing up this week, and preparing to present it next week.  I'll post pictures of the finished product later!

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 Coloring in our "fancy" coloring books...

One day over Christmas break, we went to Panera for breakfast.  The manager was so kind....after complimenting the kids on their behavior, and encouraging me in immeasurable ways, she gave the kids free cookies!  Gigantic cinnamon rolls and frosted sugar cookies - the breakfast of champions!

Yummy latte with a generous amount of whipped cream in a REAL mug.  Bliss.

 5-year and 3-year well visits for these two December babies!

 Breakfast for dinner on paper plates.  This is the life people...

 She was calling this headband her "spy glass"....

Best babysitter ever...she brought the kids gifts!

 Our latest #5...sweet little 18 month old A.

 Christmas break was a bit rough for this one....lots of activity meant not a lot of naps.  One day she just took matters into her own hands and fell asleep in the living room.

Daddy putting together HIS Lego set!

 Seriously, is there anything cuter than a little one all bundled up like this?

 Lazy Saturday playing some Mario Kart in our PJs...

 Trying on new basketball shoes!

 Meredith (who prefers that we call her "Merry", spelled just like that thankyouverymuch) and her BFF.  These girls LOVE each other.  They are in the same class at school, same class at church, same group at AWANA and her mom and I are friends....doesn't get much better.

These two had their first basketball practices last night with Upward Sports.  We have heard really great things about this program, and I am so thankful to have found a league that has no games on Sundays and no practices on Wednesdays (AWANA nights).  They both did great last night at practice, despite never having any real basketball "training" and I am so excited for games to start (1st game is 1/16 and you know I'll post pictures)!  Selfishly, I'd LOVE for one (or all) of my kids to love playing basketball as much as I do.

Captain

 Our "Captain Caleb", as Daddy affectionately nicknamed him when he was a baby, is getting so big. 

How is it possible that this baby, in a picture that I am pretty sure was just taken yesterday, is the same kid as the one in the picture above?

Time is just not going as slow as this momma would like.

Sledding!

 There's a great hill at the park near out house.  It's within walking distance, and it's big enough to be super fun but not so big that it's a pain to walk up.

Ready to head over!