week eight

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Elise:  Practically in snow clothes before we'd finished breakfast!  (P.S. - She knit the scarf she's wearing!)

Caleb:  First missing tooth!  A two dollar bill under his pillow and this sweet "new" smile!

Lucas:  Goofball alert!  We had a lovely romp around the block and met a sweet neighbor, too.  (She left us a note and bag of chocolates the next day...with an invitation out to lunch.)

Eden:  When the big kids are busy playing Monopoly Empire, we sneak downstairs for a tea party!  (Everybody wins!)  Tea parties these days are not complete without slurping sounds and splooshing water out of tea pots. 

week seven

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The Trio:  An explosion of valentines!  We had lots of fun spreading love in the kids' classrooms and in the mail to some of our nearest and dearest.  Loved seeing these guys hard at work!

Elise:  Her class is doing an author study on Kadir Nelson and look who came to town!  It was great to hear the story about how he worked to become the amazing artist and illustrator that he is.  We're big fans!

Caleb:  Serious "locals" right here!  Made it to Ted Drewes on the opening day of the season.  Can't believe my handsome guy is turning six next week!!!

Lucas:  Guess who helped momma make the chocolate cake for V-Day?!?

Eden:  My cute little love bug.  You can join me in praying that the terrible bruise she got on Christmas eve will continue to heal so I can eat up those sweet cheeks again.

week six

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Elise:  Loving our weeklong visit from Grammie! (and one of our favorite new books...Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser)

Caleb:  Learning to crochet.  (Sweet Grammie left us a crocheted heart washcloth for a Valentine, too!)

Lucas:  Friday night game time with this family fave.

Eden:  Vanilla steamer, anyone??  (Poor little one has a drippy cold this week.) 

week five

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Elise:  Inspired to be an author this week; she wrote two different adorable narratives about a horse named Winter.  She worked so hard and has such a cute writer's "voice."

Caleb:  Followed suit with his own story about "Howsis" (horses!) - One of my favorite things about watching the kids grow up is seeing them take chances with their reading and writing.  This is just thrilling!

Lucas:  Dinner menu by Lucas.  An old tradition from my growing up, but the first time I've made stuffed shells in my own home.  Yum!

Eden:  The girl with ever-strengthening opinions...she insisted on wearing Lucas' shoes out to play.  Sigh...

week four

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Elise:  Lots of Saturdays have been dedicated to "settling" in here lately.  Yesterday, the kids helped Josh put together at least 6 pieces of furniture...kind of like giant lego projects, I suppose!

Caleb:  In an attempt to save my sanity, I asked the kids to each pick a dinner and help me plan for it.  Caleb had just tasted a nibble of these BBQ meatballs at Trader Joe's and was desperate to make them at home...a tad on the spicy side, but for the most part, a hit!

Lucas:  I'm pretty sure I posted a similar picture in December when he first mastered the two-wheel bike sans training wheels, but he asked me to take a picture of his new helmet and that smile just melts my heart.

Eden:  Stickers, again!  Also, needed to remind myself that she's not always walking around tearing the house apart...

week three

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Elise:  The kids are signed up for a local event called “Read, Right, & Run” with the idea that for each week over a 26 week period they will run one mile, read (at least!) one book, and do one act of kindness.  The culminating event is a one mile run around Forest Park with thousands of kids from around St. Louis to complete this “marathon” of activities.  This week our act of kindness was making vases for teachers at school to say “thanks a bunch” (of flowers!) for all you do.  My sweet girl, hard at work…always so earnest. 

Caleb:  Runs in the door after school and can barely give me a hug OR unpack his backpack before he’s involved in some creative endeavor.

Lucas:  This has to be one of my absolute favorite doodles by our Lulu!  It’s from a few months ago, but I found it in a pile of things I was putting away this week and it made me smile.

Eden:  In love with stickers these days and grinning away after Caleb “caught” her sticking them all over herself.

week two

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Elise:  Hello 80's!  Elise is enthralled with cursive and has spent lots of time practicing lately.  We also recently taught her how to draw some 3-D shapes along with the all important infinity sign we learned in grade school.  Throw back!

Caleb:  Backyard art project.  He made this nature sculpture for me using bark, moss, magnolia leaves and sticks he found in the yard.  He later requested it back because he really liked it, but he has allowed me to keep it on the hutch in the dining room.  :) 

Lucas:  Quiet time project! (A favorite for my puzzle guy.)

Eden:  Yup, just about always by my side in the kitchen.  Pesto anyone??